First time owner?

For the longest time I've seen pythons/boas/corn snakes etc. in the pet shops when going in to buy supplies for my fish tank and dog. I always spend a fair amount of time looking in the reptiles section, but I've always had a fear of snakes specifically. They're amazing creatures to watch, but touching? that just seemed insane to willingly handle a boa/python. Until recently, I had never touched one, but i visited a friend with one and finally worked up the courage to hold one. Ever since them I've been fascinated even more, and wanted to own one. I'm just not 100% sure what I want to get.

I have learned the hard way that if you ask for advice at a pet store, 90% of the time you'll get a lot of nonsense while they're just trying to make the sale. So i found this site to look for some intel :D

I've pretty much come down to 4 snakes that I want to get. Ball Python, Sand Boa, Pastel Ball Python, or a corn snake. I'm more leaning toward the boa or python though. In all honesty, I don't really know too much about snakes, but from what I've read all snakes are an individual and will have their own personality, so you can't expect a specific breed to be more docile, or less aggressive while handling, which is my biggest worry. How aggressive they'll be when being handled.

I have an empty 30gallon and 10gallon fish tank, glass. I'm not sure if it's better to have glass or plastic. So don't be shy when telling me as much info about snake keeping is possible, that is after all why im here :) Don't want to jump into something and make the snake suffer from my stupidity.

From your experiences, what would be the best snake to get as a "starter" snake if you will?

Our first and only snake is a ball. I would suggest starting off reading the various care sheets and beginning there. Lots of great info on this site and many many members are always willing to come up with good advice for the novice like myself.

I acquired a ball python from my son. She is roughly 2 years old and absolutely adorable. I think that a ball is a great first snake as they are generally quite docile, easy to handle, low maintenance and they don't get too large. My little girl is roughly 30 inches long and quite easy to handle - they don't move fast so you can easily keep an eye on them when they are out. This is my first snake (had her for three months now) and it all seems so natural now. I think that a ball would be a great first snake for anyone but so would some of the smaller boas, etc. This forum is great and the folks here will assist with all of your questions.

They are all great snakes but for someone who is a bit iffy on handling them I would go for the ball python very easy too care for super docile and not quite so intimidating like a boa can be when they reach adult size and if not handled frequently can sometimes be a bit doggy so I'd start with a ball python for sure :)

All of you selections are good beginner snakes. Sand Boas won't get that large. I am kind of partial to the rough-scaled sand boas, and hope to get one this year.

I love my BP but I'm kind of partial to colubrids for someone's first snake (mostly since their temp/humidity requirements are easier to stay on top of). But all of those seem like good choices :) BPs are really easy to handle and generally pretty slow moving, so a great idea if you're not 100% confident with handling.

I can only vouch for Ball Pythons since it's the only kind of snakes I own. I personally love them. They're don't make very great display animal and sometimes they go on hunger strikes so that's something to consider. Other than that, they're pretty hardy animals. One more thing, a Pastel Ball Python is a Ball Python, he just has the Pastel "paint job".

Like you every time I was in pet stores getting fish supplies I would look at every reptile in there. I never owned one or had a friend who kept them either. I was always fascinated but never had one largely because I wasn't allowed. I live alone now so I first started looking at lizards but they didn't fit my lifestyle. I thought about snakes and like you was unsure about holding them so I went to a reptile store to see if I liked it. It all went downhill from there. I was unsure just holding one in my hands much less having one around my neck. I spent 2hrs in the store chatting with the guy with a mostly full grown BP on my arm. I went back a few more times for information on caging and hold another snake. My comfort level and confidence grew each time. After owning my BP for 2 months I can sit on the couch with him around my neck watching TV or have him stare me in the face and his tongue flick my nose and be completely comfortable. I didn't like the 'constant escape mode' of the corns. When I held one i hand to move my hands one after the other like a treadmill. With the BPs they just hang out and slowly explore. I also have a cat and a fast moving snake is trouble where a slow moving BP would just confuse her. It comes down to your own personal preference in looks, temperament etc. I'm happy I made the plunge and a BP fits what I wanted. I work a lot so an inactive snake isn't an issue for me when I'm busy working all week but can take him out on a weekend for awhile. I just bought my BP a new larger cage and will be getting a childrens python to take up his current home.

I've been talking to friends about the idea and everyone seems to be against it telling me it'll escape and cause some sort of trouble and "every snake escapes at least once". The only problem I'm worried about with a possible escape is my hound dog who is 50lbs. Obviously I'll take all the precautions if I get it, but all it takes is 1 time.

So any of you have dogs in the same household, what measures to you go to that assures you no escapes?

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Originally Posted by oopslala

I've been talking to friends about the idea and everyone seems to be against it telling me it'll escape and cause some sort of trouble and "every snake escapes at least once". The only problem I'm worried about with a possible escape is my hound dog who is 50lbs. Obviously I'll take all the precautions if I get it, but all it takes is 1 time.

So any of you have dogs in the same household, what measures to you go to that assures you no escapes?

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I have a German Shepherd and a Rhodesian Ridgeback and haven't had any trouble with them in regards to my snakes. The worst thing that my Rhodesian did when I was handling one of my BPs, was lick it.

I do have PVC enclosures that have glass sliding doors so the only way my snakes are getting out is if I forget to close them.

Welcome to Forum Oopslala.
:welcome:
I very reluctantly inherited my Ball when my daughter went off to college.

My only instructions were to give him a rat every week or two.

I did more stupid, ignorant things than I care to admit. However this just caused me to bond with him. Bond with a reptile? Yes I did.

I finally got smart and learned about care on the internet and eventually found this forum.

Now that I have the knowledge, and am still learning, I find Ball Pythons amazing, beautiful, gentle creatures. I would recommend them to anyone as a first snake.

You are smart doing your research first, thus, way ahead of the curve.

Have fun with your new venture. :snake:

To address the dog issue. I have two lage dogs myself, and a cat.

Since you have acknowledged this already, I'm sure you will be very cognizant of lockup.

After one careless episode on my part, I now triple check the doors every time I'm in the room. For I know that I can get distracted and forget. And these snakes like all snakes are truly escape artists.

I do let the dogs and the cat come in the room with me now. And the door to the room is always open now. So now there no longer that curiosity and dying need for them all wanting to get into that room.
They only want to go in when I go in.
I feel that this is safer and less stress for the snake, at least in my situation.

So far I have only introduced the snake to my youngest, most gentle dog. It is rare that the two dogs are alone. I was very guarded and it went well.

At some point I will try the other dog all alone.

The cat could care less. She just walks on by.

I think the key is to take things slow.

If it's a secure enclosure, there should be no problem. I have heard of owners coming home after a night out partying, taking their snake out and falling asleep while hanging out with their snake and wake up to a missing snake. Ball Pythons are great couch potato, tv watching buddies so it's easy to get real relaxed while hanging out with your snake.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Misha

I have a German Shepherd and a Rhodesian Ridgeback and haven't had any trouble with them in regards to my snakes. The worst thing that my Rhodesian did when I was handling one of my BPs, was lick it.

I do have PVC enclosures that have glass sliding doors so the only way my snakes are getting out is if I forget to close them.

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Depending on the size of the snake, that may not always be true. My Burm will figure out how to open the sliding doors if they're unlocked. I don't think this would ever be a problem with a BP or Cornsnake though.

I use PVC snake cages with hinged front door that come with keys to lock it. As long as you don't forget to lock it he can't get out.

I use a glass tank. If you decide to use glass, set it up a couple weeks before you get your snake. It allows you to fine tune your humidity and temps. I have a 20 gallon tank, I use cypress mulch because it helps with humidity, two hides, a grapewood stump, large water bowl, for heating i have an under tank heater that covers a third of the bottom on a dimmer switch, I would strongly suggest a thermostat though, i have a lamp with a red bulb also on a dimmer switch, it has a screen lid with locks. I have two digital thermometers on each end for ambient temps and a probe thermometer under the substrate above the UTH, as well as a humidity probe in the middle of the tank. Humidity is an issue with the screen lid, I took a piece of cardboard and cut it to fit the lid, I cut a large hole in it for some ventilation and to fit the lamp, also a few more tiny holes for ventilation. I wrapped it in tinfoil after. This helps hold in humidity and keep ambient temps level.

As far as the snake I have a ball python, I would reccomend one for your first. Mine is super friendly, loves being held and just chilling. Hope this helps!

I can gladly say I've learned quite a bit about ball pythons in the past few days, but there are still a few questions that I'm not able to find without digging deep here, or the net.

Posting reply here in hopes of someone knowing the answer to help prevent spamming with new threads constantly.

What is the difference between a baby snake and a well started snake weight wise?

When you look online at websites that sell snakes, is the image that goes along with the kind of morph/gender the exact snake you get, or do they just put a good looking snake on there and send you one you haven't seen?

Also a random question, that may play into which snake I get right now. What snakes can be bred to pied ball pythons, and still have the pied ball trait show?

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Originally Posted by oopslala

Also a random question, that may play into which snake I get right now. What snakes can be bred to pied ball pythons, and still have the pied ball trait show?

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the pied gene is a recessive trait meaning both parents need to carry the gene in order to produce visual pieds. So you can breed a het to a het, het to a visual, or visual to a visual and with those pairings you should produce some visual pieds.