Favourite BTS Species.

[jesswebb93]

For those of you with experience with multiple different species, which would you consider to be your favourite and why? So far, I've only had a halmahera and s/he is super friendly, healthy and has a great appetite. I can definitely see myself getting another BTS in the future, but I'd like to experience a different species.

[splashy07]

My favorites as far as looks are the Halmaheras and Meraukes. Personality wise, Northerns all the way! Not saying the Indonesian species do not have great personalities, don't get me wrong. My Halys are a bit secretive, my Merauke a little more outgoing but they are all awesome pets. Just that the interaction I get from the Northerns never ceases to amaze me.
Every day I thank God for the Northern I tripped over on Craigslist while looking for a snake rack, if that had not happened I never would have known the joy of keeping them. The young man I got her from had to move for business reasons and couldn't keep pets for a while. He was nearly in tears when I drove away. Went to get her to keep out of the hands of the reptile flippers, and fell in love on the way home. One of James's 2011 babies! Always kept Indos, now have two Northerns as well!

[jesswebb93]

Just that the interaction I get from the Northerns never ceases to amaze me.

How are Northerns different in terms of interaction? Thanks for your input!

[splashy07]

Well, mine are never hiding except to go to sleep. They watch everything I do, like my bearded dragons. They love to explore, and every time I go into their cages they look up at me like, Do you have something for me?? Never, ever run and hide if I walk into the room, just look at me expecting a treat or some play time. I tell all my friends, if you can't have a dog or cat, this is the pet for you! Great fun and almost as easy as a snake to keep.

[jesswebb93]

Well, mine are never hiding except to go to sleep. They watch everything I do, like my bearded dragons. They love to explore, and every time I go into their cages they look up at me like, Do you have something for me?? Never, ever run and hide if I walk into the room, just look at me expecting a treat or some play time. I tell all my friends, if you can't have a dog or cat, this is the pet for you! Great fun and almost as easy as a snake to keep.

I wish my halmahera was like that. She loves to snuggle in my bed and explore when she's out of her enclosure, but runs and hides if I come into the room and she's out basking. She's very friendly and doesn't puff at me anymore, she just doesn't like to be seen by humans when she's in her enclosure.

[Richard.C]

ive only kept aussie species,blotcheds,easterns and northerns,westerns,centralians,rugosa aspera and rugosa rugosa

blotchies win hands down for me,but they are all pretty nice animals

[Scotts1au]

We've had polls on here before, but people just vote for the species they own. I suppose everyone has their own reasons for owning what they own.

[jesswebb93]

We've had polls on here before, but people just vote for the species they own. I suppose everyone has their own reasons for owning what they own.

That's true. When I got my bluey, I didn't care what species it was, I just wanted some type of BTS really badly and when a reptile store owner/friend got a halmahera blue tongue from a breeder she knew, I just had to get it. I'm pretty sure I want many more now. In fact, my bluey is cuddling up to me in my bed right now. Gotta love those lizard snuggles!

[splashy07]

They are VERY addictive. There is no way you will end up with just one....

[Dakota]

I just have experience with 3 species: Irian Jaya, Merauke, and Halmahera

Halmaheras win hands down. I have wanted them since they first started importing them by the loads by Bushmaster a few years ago. How can you not love their black?

Halmaheras are my favorite of all BTS, but as far as Australians go, I really like the Westerns.

[starscream3232]

I've worked with two species. I had an Irain jaya for 15 years when I was younger. She was a super friendly awesome skink. Now I work with 5 northens. All 5 have different personalities. One is very shy and hides most of the day. Eats great and responds well to handling. The other 3 are always out exploring. One of them climbs right onto my hand when I go into his cage. My big male tolerates short handling sessions. He's supper strong and when he doesn't want to be out he'll let you know about it. I know these are not blue tongues, but I have to give a shout out to pink tongue skinks. I have a trio and they are just a blast to keep. Super calm and a ton of fun to watch. Just as easy as blue tongues. Such an underrated skink that I wish more people would give a shot.

[wermy]

Ahhh I really want a gargantuan Northern and also a Shingle someday but good ole NZ, despite our proximity to Australia, has importation bans on just about every non-native reptile. All we've got to pick from are leopard geckos, red ear turtles, beardies, or Eastern bts (and that's got to be NZ-bred from a very small pool of stock that managed to cross the border years ago before the import bans went up). Sometimes I camp on Reptiles Down Under just to drool at the pretty snakes and adorable stubby rugosa cutiepies.

So near yet so far...

[JoshChimera]

My favorite looking species was the Centralian bts and the Western bts. I loved how the Tanimbar looked and I was happy to find a baby from Ray Gurgui back 2009.