I agree - ATBs are great,
and less dependent on rigid attention to husbandry details (like temp & humidity) than ETBs...in other words, though you still have to keep them within an acceptable range, they tolerate a wider range.
As for attitude/temperament, it varies. After a while, you get a feel for them, and even the ones that are inclined to bite can be easily dealt with if you pay attention to the cues. The whole "once they are out of the cage" thing is only slightly more pertinent with any other snake, and that is because you often have to get them off their perch (and when they don't want to come off, that can be an adventure in itself, lol). Move too fast, or do things they don't like, and you could find yourself with a few new holes - regardless of how long it is out of the cage, or how often you handle it.
A couple of hints - they tend to prefer thin branches/perches
- they will spend more time on the ground than you expect
- use long tweezers/tongs to feed them (unless you plan on using live
)
- don't overfeed
- if it regurgitates even once, figure it is something you are doing wrong. check and correct all husbandry issues, and make sure you give it time before feeding again. If it regurges again, get it to a vet for a fecal