beginner snakes

I love reptiles, specifically snakes. I work for a snake breeder as well as have a few of my own... my younger bro wants a snake, he's 11. I'm thinking maybe either a corn snake, milksnake, or a western hognose. I want to get him something docile that will stay generally small or at least not grow fast... what do you guys think? I think a ball python would be a little too much for him because it's his first snake and he's so young. any input would be appreciated!

I've never had a corn snake but I have had a milk snake and as a youngster he was very flighty and quick. Holding him was a challenge as he was like a little coiled spring until he got some size to him. I understand many corn snakes are the same way.

My California king snake was chill even as a youngster and is fun to fool with. OTOH my female will still musk even as an adult no matter how much or little she's handled.

Maybe something like a Dumeril's boa would be better, especially if you're getting a real reptile enclosure and not a tank for housing. They have a good food response, don't get too big too fast, and tend to be laid back.

I would think a bp would be better than any of the others you listed as far as starters. Colubrids may be more tolerant of husbandry variability and feeding response, but I think in terms of ease of handling and preventing escapes... bps are much easier.

I think the main question first should be are you ready to take care of your brothers snake. Kids (not all of them, but most) can loose interest fast, an 11 year old is not financially able to purchase an enclosure (or any husbandry item) for that matter and food on a weekly basis, as well as maintaining a clean environment, so I assume even though you are getting it for him, it will be an addition to what you have. If that is the case then I would say get something that interests you both. I have had corn snakes that never stop moving and I have had others that are completely calm. The only problem I would see with a ball python would be the potential for them to be picky eaters. Does he have any reptile experience, what does he like?

ball pythons are his favorite because that's what I have and what I work with

but they're a bigger commitment and grow much faster just from my personal experience, I think their husbandry is much more difficult

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but I've heard kingsnakes are the farthest from docile...

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I'm honestly leaning towards a cornsnake at this point... I just feel like it would be easier for him to care for as a first snake

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Originally Posted by maudie

but they're a bigger commitment and grow much faster just from my personal experience, I think their husbandry is much more difficult

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but I've heard kingsnakes are the farthest from docile...

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I'm honestly leaning towards a cornsnake at this point... I just feel like it would be easier for him to care for as a first snake

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There is a kingsnake that stands out among all other kingsnakes in their temperament and that is the Arizona mountain king. Truly a very docile king that is really overlooked. They stay relatively small and are very brilliantly colored. Also, they are relatively cheap at all the expos and online. I don't know if you are familiar with them but once you see them and handle one you will remember them. Good luck. :gj: They will change your mind about kingsnakes not being docile, trust me.

In my opinion, a ball python is the perfect starter snake. It was my first and so far only snake (my next will be a corn snake or hognose). Even the biggest BP isn't too much for an 11 year old to handle, and they are so docile that my 7 year old cousin handles her own without any problems.

I would have to go with a corn snake. Although a BP is a good snake its just they are super inconsistent and that might be a problem with some kids. Corns are perfect beginner snakes, easy to care for and are great feeders because whats cooler to a kid then seeing a snake eat. The only problem with corns is some do like to run a lot when they are small. Either way your bro is going to get an awesome snake.

My motto is if you like corns you'll love kings. I have 2 kings and 2 bull snakes. I think they're both great beginner snakes but they tend to get a bad rep. Neither of my kings have bitten or even struck at me. My Cal King would rattle his tails or musk when he was a baby. The MBK was flighty and very shy until she got comfortable. One of the bulls was a bit hissy and bitey when I first got him but a week later he was over it. They're all puppy dog tame now but they're land sharks at feeding time. Bulls do get a little larger, but they're awesome snakes to keep.

It depends on the way he reacts to snake behavior.

In general BPs do not bite too often, and as you know are relatively slow moving animals for the most part.

I don't have any experience with captive Corn Snakes, but I've played with a couple in the wild and they've flat out refused to bite. But they are a much more flighty and quick moving animal.

If your brother is nervous of that sort of thing, I would definitely go with the BP.

The biggest advantage to the cornsnake would probably be that I think you can keep them cooler than a BP. But in my experience, other than feeding inconsistencies BPs are near bulletproof.

I'm "temporarily" taking care of a corn snake for a school. He's very friendly and doesn't bite, but he moves quickly and his scales are sharper than a ball python's. He isn't headshy and ate a frozen thawed rodent after years and years of live. He doesn't need as much heat as a ball, either. A nine year old kid took care of him for years (not the best care, but he tried). Basically, he's a beginner keepers dream.

Ok, now for the negatives. A baby corn snake is very difficult to handle, and somehow I doubt you would be finding it anytime soon if it got out. Mine is quite the escape artist and somehow got out of a locked exoterra. Their lighter weight makes them feel a bit fragile and their quick movements intimidate some people.

If the kid's favorites are ball pythons, get him to research them (good life skill, and you may as well get him involved in choosing the animal). A corn snake may be the perfect beginner snake, but that doesn't mean they're perfect for him. Make sure he knows about the issues, but don't discourage him. If he doesn't see a problem with hunger strikes and isn't put off by it, I see no reason not to get a ball python. If he likes them, he'll stay interested longer. That's the most important thing. :)

Just make a sure that he does the research. His pet, his responsibility to learn. Let him choose what kind of snake he's looking for. You can give him some recommendations to look into, and obviously tell him to stay away from super difficult stuff, but an eleven year old should do the research and choose a pet. If he can't do that, he may not be ready for a snake just yet.

I grew up around my cousins bps and Burmese but my first snake of my own was a corn snake and I was only 8. Bps are good starter snakes too but when you consider a kid is the intended caretaker, corn snakes are much easier to house and maintain. They also have a much better feeding response. They are faster then BPs but not too fast for an 11 year old to handle and they are more active during the day so they would be more interesting for him to watch in his enclosure

I bought my corn snake when he was 2 years old, was raised in the pet shop his whole life and they just couldn't sell him. They took him out of his cage once a week to feed him, that was all the handling he got, some workers even seemed hesitate to hold him. I bought him, didn't handle him at all for 3~ months and just cage fed him. One day decided to give it a shot, was very nervous as I didn't know his temperament. Put my hand in slowly and just aligned all my fingers so he couldn't just snag one, and after a while picked him up for 5-10 mins over his cage. After doing tat 4 times a week for around 3 weeks, I held him fully, and brought him upstairs. Most people I know say they're hard to handle, but this snake was rarely ever handled yet he was amazingly calm. He doesn't try to squirm away, he just likes to move and as long as you let him move he'll be happy and calm down and sometimes even rests on me. One thing you must keep note with the child though, is do not grip the snake, they're quite thin and it could hurt him. I'm very happy I got my corn snake, it got rid of any instinctive fear I had of snakes. Corn snakes are also very easy to care for, mine eats like there's no tomorrow, sheds perfectly, and best of all is timid. I know baby corn snakes like most other snakes are nippy, but I don't think you'd want to give someone with little snake experience a baby snake. Also as a other person has said, they don't mind colder temperatures than a bp. My corn snake tends to like it colder than warmer in his cage and is 99% of the time on his cool side. Only thing I can see bad with a corn snake is the need of cage upgrades. They seem to grow quite well, especially if fed enough. My 2 year old is 3 feet and I may have to get him a 55 gallon tank soon as he's outgrowing his 40 gal. Also no real worries needed for humidity for corn snakes unlike for bps which is great.

Have you looked into Kenyan sand boas? They stay small, require smaller enclosures (20gl long for adult female, 10gl for adult male), and don't require as-specific humidity as BPs. Generally they have a good feeding response (unlike some hognose and BPs), and they are pretty docile as long as you are careful holding them and taking them out of their tank... The only downsides are that they stay below the substrate a lot of the time and that they don't "climb" so you have to take care when handling as they will crawl off of you and fall. I like my two KSBs and would recommend them to anyone (as long as you don't want a display snake).

They also come in many morphs and don't have a high starting price.

I think one of the temperate colubrids like a corn would be a good choice. If your brother wants to try and do most of the husbandry stuff himself, something that is more tolerant of varied temps and doesn't require a lot of extra equipment is a good choice.

My first snake was a garter that I got when I was twelve. They're probably the most forgiving snakes out there when it comes to husbandry, and the average lifespan is 8 years, so less of a commitment than most snakes (I have one that's 16 though, so they can definitely live longer). A baby garter would be a bad choice as they are extremely fragile, but adult females are generally quite docile and not very flighty. They can be a bit messy because of their faster metabolism, but they are by far the most interactive and social snakes I've ever seen. As far as keeping a young kid's interest goes, I think a snake that actually actively tries to interact with them is a plus. In a month or so, the major breeders should be selling off adult snakes at the end of the breeding season, so that may be something to look into.
I'm just partial to garters because they were my first and favorite snake :)

I don't believe in "beginner" snakes, or any reptile for that matter. Get what you want, as long as you research and are responsible.m


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Perhaps an adult ball python would be good for a beginner - not so small or squirmy (used to being handled) and generally very well mannered when out of their enclosure.

For me, the ball python was the perfect snake to start with and made the addition of a boa that much easier.

another option that hasn't been mentioned is a rosy boa. they are similar to a bp in temperament but stay smaller and eat like pigs. they are also pretty forgiving with husbandry.

It's funny you say your bro is 11 cus I was 11 as well when I got my first bp, Raven! My dad was a big part in helping me clean her viv and feed her properly but Raven was great for me. She ate without any problems and I loved watching her grow and as I grew into a teenager, being able to care and raise her all on my own! Since they live to be like 30 getting one as a young kid/going teen is a gift to have a snake and be able to have as you grow up yourself!! I had a lot of pride in her. Anyways, haha, my vote is deff get a bp!!! Good luck getting your bro a new snake!! xx