Beginner Snake

Ok, so I'm stil new to the forums, so sorry if this isn't in the right section.

So I want to get my first snake in a few months ( the next expo is in April, sadly).

Ive heard various people say a corn snake is better than a ball python, and vise versa, for a first snake. For those of you with experience, which do you prefer, and why? Also, if any body has any care tips for either they would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kat

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Originally Posted by kc.exotics

Ok, so I'm stil new to the forums, so sorry if this isn't in the right section.

So I want to get my first snake in a few months ( the next expo is in April, sadly).

Ive heard various people say a corn snake is better than a ball python, and vise versa, for a first snake. For those of you with experience, which do you prefer, and why? Also, if any body has any care tips for either they would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kat

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Corn are a lot more forgiven when it comes to husbandry issue however both make great snake the key with BP is to meet their husbandry needs to a T which a lot of new owners fail to do.



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My first snake was a high white California king snake. He's an awesome little guy and I still have him. I'd say he's also a better pet than 90% of my ball pythons, and a better first snake than all of them. Handling doesn't throw him off of food, he's very laid back, he's one of the snakes I use to introduce non-snake owners to snakes, he's more forgiving of husbandry mistakes than pythons or boas, he can be kept in a tank rather than a rack or T8 (though he's in a rack now), etc.

I would agree with Kings as well, though they can have attitude.:rofl:

Are Californian King snakes good beginner snakes? What is the general cost of one? What is the basic care for them ?

Thanks,
Kat

I think king snakes are easier to take care of as a whole. They also are more active and entertaining typically, which might keep people's interest longer.

They are one of the more personable species that I have owned. LOVE kings. They are pretty easy keepers and generally have good dispositions which would make me recommend them as a beginner species. Babies tend to be a bit nippy, but they usually grow out of that. They are usually voracious feeders. Meal time is never a problem.

I would suggest looking into king care sheets before purchase of one. There are a couple different methods of keeping them (ambient temps, heat lamp, uth, heat tape) and you need to pick one that works best for you and your animal.

They are great snake you can find kings as low as $25 for the rest YOU need to do YOUR homework, and see which species will be the best fit for YOU

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Thank you guys!

We have two Mexican kings at home (one mine, one long-term boarder). They're both sweethearts. My girl nipped once in the first week or so, due to a handling error on our part; the other one hasn't at all. My girl actually has a mellow feeding response: leave the f/t mouse at the entrance to her cave, and it disappears; but she's also a reliable feeder, as is the other (who strikes and wraps his f/t).

Diaval, our boarder, likes to come out and watch us in the evening. His cage sits on an end table next to the couch, and we see him frequently. He's not *quite* crawl-up-your-arm friendly, but he doesn't try to to get away, either; nor does my Scatha. When out for handling they move around enough to be interesting, but aren't crazy fast, and will settle down and sit with you. Scatha was more flighty when I got her as a little 15-gram worm, but settled in a couple weeks to a month.

I don't have experience with California kings specifically, but I understand they're all very similar in temperament.


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We got our corns as adults, they're also great in personality and for feeding. Tanis, my husband's big female, does seem to have a minor grudge against our husky-mix, but we just keep him off the couch when she's out. The beagles, OTOH are just furry furniture in her opinion. [emoji4]


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don't get an Anaconda for your first snake.


Edit: and i think either a BP or Corn or King/Milk Snake would be a great place to start.

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Originally Posted by kc.exotics

Ok, so I'm stil new to the forums, so sorry if this isn't in the right section.

So I want to get my first snake in a few months ( the next expo is in April, sadly).

Ive heard various people say a corn snake is better than a ball python, and vise versa, for a first snake. For those of you with experience, which do you prefer, and why? Also, if any body has any care tips for either they would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kat

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As others have said, cornsnakes are more forgiving and generally easier to keep. They do very well at average room humidity in most of the US and in many areas do well at room temp or very slightly above-- this makes them a very simple snake to keep. In addition, it is rare for cornsnakes to refuse or go off of food, while in ball pythons it can be a semi-regular thing depending on gender of snake and its temperament. When I was a new snake keeper, having a snake stop eating for no apparent reason would have been very stressful for me. I think it scares new snake keepers, especially if they are totally new to reptiles.

Also I've seen some really gorgeous corn snake morphs in the $50-100 range, so it doesn't break the bank to get one that's a looker.

The classic beginner snake is the garter snake. A species often forgotten and neglected as a great pet and even a better breeding snake. Garters come in varying morphs as well as normal types. They also are reliable feeders that can attain surprisingly large sizes. Especially some of the Plains garters and the checkereds. Particularly the albino checkereds and the females in both species. Garters are not constrictors and don't have the heavy bodies of most constrictors but they have something else going for them. Most people don't know that garter snakes are considered a "mildly venomous" species that is harmless to mankind. However they possess enlarged rear teeth that they use to chew and inject a neurotoxic venom to subdue and stun their struggling prey. Garter snakes are very adaptive as well to life in the terrarium and do very well on a rodent based diet. Unfortunately they are missing from the reptile expos and pet shops but seem to be making a very slow comeback. We do have a few breeders out there with some amazing morphs and terrific looking normals. :salute:

I like ball pythons cause they seem to be alot slower then corn snakes, my corn is super fast and my bp is alot easier to handle for that reason

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I'm stuck between the King, Garter, Corn, and Ball. I've never had a reptile before though, so that might be a factor.

I'm leaning towards the Garter, mostly because I have pet rats. While I have no problems separating my pets from the feeders (those guys aren't exactly cuddly), I mostly just don't want any escape accidents. I've also read that they eat mostly bugs and fish, so that makes feeding a lot easier. I've bred tropical fish, so I can't imagine goldfish or guppies being much harder. (I have a deep dislike for mice, so that's another thing I don't mind feeding.) And I don't want anything I have to buy a 50 gallon tank for, so that seems to knock out the ball. (Though I have a tendency to go overboard, so if I end up with a 100 gallon tank for a corn snake, don't be surprised.) My only real reservations are about temperament, as every garter I've handled has been kind of testy. Nips and full-on bites.

I'd like my first snake to be something colorful I can hang out with. And while garters fit the bill in habitat, they don't seem to have the right personality. For something that can live 10 years, I would like to actually be on good terms.

Garters are amazing , I have three Albino Checkered garter snake youngsters all living together in a little commune :)

They eat fuzzy mice , tiny white fish and earthworms .
Very tame and active 24/7 as they are very inquisitive .

I'm actually amazed to hear you cane across some feisty ones .

Maybe I got lucky with Albinos as these are all puppy tame

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Originally Posted by RatAtat2693

I'm stuck between the King, Garter, Corn, and Ball. I've never had a reptile before though, so that might be a factor.

I'm leaning towards the Garter, mostly because I have pet rats. While I have no problems separating my pets from the feeders (those guys aren't exactly cuddly), I mostly just don't want any escape accidents. I've also read that they eat mostly bugs and fish, so that makes feeding a lot easier. I've bred tropical fish, so I can't imagine goldfish or guppies being much harder. (I have a deep dislike for mice, so that's another thing I don't mind feeding.) And I don't want anything I have to buy a 50 gallon tank for, so that seems to knock out the ball. (Though I have a tendency to go overboard, so if I end up with a 100 gallon tank for a corn snake, don't be surprised.) My only real reservations are about temperament, as every garter I've handled has been kind of testy. Nips and full-on bites.

I'd like my first snake to be something colorful I can hang out with. And while garters fit the bill in habitat, they don't seem to have the right personality. For something that can live 10 years, I would like to actually be on good terms.

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Garters can be very musky/flighty. They are great display snakes and can be good for handling depending on personality of the individual. Most garter keepers today recommend transitioning garters to pinkie mice because of the lack of good quality feeder fish available. The ones in pet stores are lacking some sort of nutrient that can lead to nutrient deficiencies of some type. I'm not a garter person myself and don't know the specifics.

If you want a snake you can regularly handle without it going off feed or anything, corns are seriously your best bet. Some BP's tolerate handling better than others, but nowhere near the way a cornsnake will. I have my cornsnake in my very busy high school science classroom all year long, and he is handled more than most snakes and STILL never misses a meal. They're ironclad.

So far as escapes go... don't have one. Set your habitat up to be escape proof and develop the personal habits to ensure that it stays that way. Escapes are bad for snakes and for the public perception of reptile keeping. And also... most adult corns aren't going to be able to kill and feed on fully grown, adult rats. Babies? Sure. But adults not so much. In fact I would worry more about the corn in that case. Adult rats are nothing to mess with.

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Originally Posted by Hypancistrus

And also... most adult corns aren't going to be able to kill and feed on fully grown, adult rats. Babies? Sure. But adults not so much. In fact I would worry more about the corn in that case. Adult rats are nothing to mess with.

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Lol, you don't have to tell me twice. I've always had big boy rats. They're sweet. But I've worked with cases where that rat wanted nothing to do with me, and I have scars to prove it. Besides, there's usually three to five of them, depending on the time of the year, so sadly, I don't think a corn snake would stand a chance. And any time I have babies, it's a half inch bar spacing/mesh, so I don't think a full grown corn is slipping through that.

Mice, in my experience, are also easier to breed than rats. Less resources.

And that hardiness is what I've heard about the corns. I thought a ball, who hasn't, but like you said, they're finicky. (I worked in a nature center at a summer camp, and we couldn't get it to eat.) More so than an escape, I'm concerned about getting bitten. Rat smell = food. And while I'm accustomed to washing up after handling, crap happens. I feel like a ball would leave a nastier bite than a corn. I'd eventually like a rainbow boa, but that might take some getting used to, and I'd definitely have to wait until I no longer have the rats.

I have garters and don't care for them. Even at two years old they are still defensive, musk, and bite. My only successful escapee is a garter.

When they are tiny they eat small fish and night crawlers (get them from a bait shop), but as they get older you can switch them to mouse pinkies and then larger mice as they grow.

DO NOT FEED GOLDFISH, ROSIES, GUPPIES, FROZEN SILVERSIDES, OR ANY OTHER "FEEDER" FISH FROM A PET STORE - thiaminase is deadly and I lost one to it before switching to fresh tilapia "worms" (I ate the rest of the filet) along with night crawlers. I did use the fish to scent the mouse pinkies to get them switched over when they got big enough.

Whatever snake you go with, keep a bottle of hand sanitizer (a pump style works great) beside your snake enclosure. Anytime you think about opening that door, use the hand-sanitizer. It does two things.. it gets rid of the rat/prey smell from your hands, and it also creates a constant smell the snake can associate with you, and as a non-threat.

I think the best beginner snake is whichever one you've done the most research on. There really aren't many of the more common pet snakes that are truly difficult as long as you have their husbandry needs correctly dialed in.

Both ball pythons and corn snakes are wonderful. One thing to think about is what your plans/expectations are WRT handling. In some ways it may be easier to get a BP to eventually be comfortable with being out and about a lot, just because they're more slow moving and once they aren't teeny tiny babies they're big enough to roam a normal room a bit without getting into too much trouble, if you keep half an eye on them. Corns are faster and skinnier, and as babies they are teeny tiny; so they really require much more of your immediate attention while they out, until they calm down. A BP is a bit easier as a TV or desk buddy.
The flip side though is that corn snakes can tolerate lower temps and humidity; depending on where you set your thermostat in your house, your TV room, office, or whatever could well be a temperature that would be fine for a corn snake to hang out in but pretty cold for a BP. It's more of a project to handle your snake if you have to crank up the heat and then wait for it to get warm first.

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

Both ball pythons and corn snakes are wonderful. One thing to think about is what your plans/expectations are WRT handling. In some ways it may be easier to get a BP to eventually be comfortable with being out and about a lot, just because they're more slow moving and once they aren't teeny tiny babies they're big enough to roam a normal room a bit without getting into too much trouble, if you keep half an eye on them. Corns are faster and skinnier, and as babies they are teeny tiny; so they really require much more of your immediate attention while they out, until they calm down. A BP is a bit easier as a TV or desk buddy.
The flip side though is that corn snakes can tolerate lower temps and humidity; depending on where you set your thermostat in your house, your TV room, office, or whatever could well be a temperature that would be fine for a corn snake to hang out in but pretty cold for a BP. It's more of a project to handle your snake if you have to crank up the heat and then wait for it to get warm first.

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I'd agree .

My Corn snakes are very friendly but once they're out of the viv and being handled they never stop moving , but like holding a hamster :)

All my ( six )Royals / Ball pythons are tremendously calm and friendly and each one will happily stay on my lap until I get fed up so they're much more relaxing to hold for any length of time imho .

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I think the best beginner snake is whichever one you've done the most research on. There really aren't many of the more common pet snakes that are truly difficult as long as you have their husbandry needs correctly dialed in.

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This is a great point, honestly.

Hello!:)
When it comes to beginner snakes, it usually is between corn snakes and ball pythons.
In my opinion, I think a corn snake is the best starter. It was actually my first snake and I still have her today:)
The problem with ball pythons being beginner pets is that females can get as big as 5-5.5 ft. They also don't always eat frozen. Both of my ball pythons won't take frozen thawed, they only eat live. My corn snake is perfectly fine eating frozen thawed. Many people don't feel comfortable feeding live, so if you get a ball python, be aware that live may have to be an option:)

Here's a bit of info about both:
Corn snakes- 20 gal tank, get 3-5 ft long, eat frozen thawed, good temperament, cheaper snake + setup and cheaper to feed.

Ball Pythons- 40 gal tank, may eat frozen thawed or may eat live, get 4-5.5 ft long, can sometimes be expensive to feed, good temperament.

Also, King snakes are pretty easy beginner snakes. I'm sorry but I don't know too much about them so I can't really tell you much about them other than they are kind of like corn snakes. They are usually fine on frozen thawed and stay around the same size as corn snakes.
Hope I helped!:)

As regards the post above . For what it's worth all mine eat d/f frozen rodents - no problems - including the six Royals / Ball pythons .

I've also got a huge Corn snake which at 5'+ is a good foot longer than any of my Royals .......

As to the point on King snakes , they are kinda like Corn snakes as they mentioned but with many more colour / pattern variations PLUS they get kinda psychotic when it's feeding time or when they smell mice in the air :)

Between my two kings, and the corn, the corn is easier.
That may have to do with age and size - the corn is older and much bigger.

The kings seem to be more chill in my hand, but I've noticed that if the corn has a place to hide while he is out, he is much more relaxed. I just let him run up my shirt sleeve. He will hang out and curl up at the elbow. Guess he'd be classified as a "desk buddy." He is usually out for morning coffee while I'm surfing the news sites.

Thanks for all of the info. As far as handling goes, I'm not expecting it to be cuddly, but it would be nice if it would be willing to at least stay in the vicinity of me. On the desk, my arm, or at least chilling on the desktop. Maybe put a hide on the desk? Can you even train a snake? (If I wanted cuddly, I'd get another cat.) I'm leaning towards the corn, and I found a few morphs that I like (particularly the Moonstone Mots). If I could find an older adult, I'm thinking that would be better.

To the person with the albino guys, you're so lucky. Every albino animal I've met is at least half blind and flighty. Maybe this is different with snakes because they don't necessarily need vision. I couldn't say. Either way, all of the snakes I've handled, save for a friend's ball python, were being housed in a nature center at a summer camp, so maybe the commotion was interfering with their behavior.

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Originally Posted by emilys_exotics

In my opinion, I think a corn snake is the best starter. It was actually my first snake and I still have her today:)
The problem with ball pythons being beginner pets is that females can get as big as 5-5.5 ft. They also don't always eat frozen. Both of my ball pythons won't take frozen thawed, they only eat live... Many people don't feel comfortable feeding live, so if you get a ball python, be aware that live may have to be an option:)

...Ball Pythons- 40 gal tank, may eat frozen thawed or may eat live, get 4-5.5 ft long, can sometimes be expensive to feed, good temperament.

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While I'm not a big fan of feeding live, I could manage it. Not my favorite thing to think about, but keeping a half-wild predator comes with terms and conditions. I'd still rather feed f/t because it doesn't require me to feed the food, and pre-dead food doesn't bite back. And 40 gallons? Yikes. :) Someone said something about the Kings going nuts when there's food nearby. Honestly, I think I'd be more stressed out if my animal stopped eating than if I got bitten by an overzealous eater.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

DO NOT FEED GOLDFISH, ROSIES, GUPPIES, FROZEN SILVERSIDES, OR ANY OTHER "FEEDER" FISH FROM A PET STORE - thiaminase is deadly and I lost one to it before switching to fresh tilapia "worms" (I ate the rest of the filet) along with night crawlers. I did use the fish to scent the mouse pinkies to get them switched over when they got big enough.

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No worries, mate. I don't go into pet stores for animals, food or otherwise. Working with rats, and the hundreds of dollars in vet bills, has taught me all about communicable diseases. I used to breed guppies, so if I did get a garter, I'd probably just break out that set up. Is there something particular to pet stores that creates it? And those I was thinking could be fed live. Would being fed after being frozen make a difference? Is there a way to add the right nutrients?

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Originally Posted by RatAtat2693

I don't go into pet stores for animals, food or otherwise. Working with rats, and the hundreds of dollars in vet bills, has taught me all about communicable diseases. I used to breed guppies, so if I did get a garter, I'd probably just break out that set up. Is there something particular to pet stores that creates it? And those I was thinking could be fed live. Would being fed after being frozen make a difference? Is there a way to add the right nutrients?

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Most pet store employees don't know - or care - which feeder fish do and don't have thiaminase. Freezing doesn't affect it either. It's easiest just to avoid the whole problem and switch your snake from night crawlers to the smallest mouse pinkies you can find.

While mine were on night crawlers I did get some liquid calcium and put a drop of that on the worm just before it was fed to the garter, to make sure the garter got enough Ca for bone development.

I have a normal ball python and a Hogg Island boa - both great snakes although the ball is not eating right now which is very frustrating. She is wandering around as if on the hunt but the last time I attempted to feed her she crawled out of her hide, over the rat and later went back in her hide past it. The next morning (left it for her overnight) the rat was partially in her hide, not eaten. In the past I have fed the uneaten rat to the boa but last week he had started to shed and I hold off feeding until the shedding process is complete. Balls are great pets and easy to handle - mine loves to explore so you have to watch her. The boa is a bit faster/squirmier when I first get him out but calms down when he gets a grip on me. He'll hang onto me and doesn't venture too far away. The boa is about 4 feet long but slim whereas the ball is about 40 inches long and a bit chunkier. The boa will always eat and requires very little prompting whereas the ball has to have the rat left at her hide entrance and have a quiet dining experience!

Hi Everyone,
Sorry to kinda hijack the thread. I am also looking for my first snake right now. I have finally convinced my parents to let me get one, but I am stuck on deciding what species to get. So far, I have been looking at western hognoses, BPs, or Hog Island boas. I really love the character and cuteness of hognoses, but I have heard that they can be more squirmy when handling. I also like that they require so much less room than the other snakes. Their venom/toxic saliva isn't much of a concern, in fact, it makes them a little more interesting to me. I love the temperament, docility, and morphs of balls, but I know that they are sometimes bad feeders, take up more room, and aren't the most exciting snake. However, I would enjoy being able to sit down on the couch and not have to worry about the snake going anywhere. I think the hog island boa's colours are really cool, as well as their temperament, their size compared to regular BCIs, and how inquisitive they are while still being very relaxed. Price and space requirements are my main concerns, as well as the availability of good breeders and pure snakes. I have also been looking at spotted/children's pythons, milk snakes, and kingsnakes, but would be open to any suggestions.

Thanks,
Liam :)

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Originally Posted by lbrent-hurst

I am also looking for my first snake right now.

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Have you considered a corn snake? Easy to care for, simple caging, good eaters, and they come in many different paint jobs.

You could go to a pet store or two, if there's a good one near you, and ask if you can handle the snakes they have for sale and see what species you connect with, gravitate toward, or just like. If you do, try and find out when they are least likely to be busy and go then; don't go on a nice Saturday afternoon when they're packed with kids who all want to see all the animals and then expect a lot of attention from the staff while you're still in the tire-kicking stage.
Most of the snakes that are common pets are not terribly difficult to care for, once you have everything set up initially. Just keep in mind their future needs in terms of space and prey, and the fact that the bigger they are the bigger they eat and the bigger they excrete.
Your snake will be with you for a long time, so you might as well go for the one that captures your imagination, within reason.

I always have and probably always will advise a corn, or(my favorite close cousin) gray ratsnake, as the best first time pets. Sure, there are plenty of great candidates but I think they are the best options for someone that likely wants to handle a fair bit and will almost certainly make some mistakes along the way. Even wild examples, 9/10 of the time you can pick them up and only get bit a couples times(sometimes not at all) before they're chill. A couple years ago I found a rather skinny looking gray rat in the yard and walked him over to one of my known tree frog haunts and held him up so he could pick off a few easy meals while wrapped around my fingers. He didn't bite me at all as far as I remember but the main point is, he didn't get turned off food by the encounter. A year or two before that some heavy rains drove a hatchling gray rat to take refuge in my home. He was a fresh baby, that had just got the poop scared out of him by some crazy dogs, but took a couple pinky ASF like an old pro the same night. I released him the following day after the rains stopped.

King snakes fall into a similar category of basically being bulletproof but they also tend to be more food oriented. You could end up with a gnawer if you don't feed enough or work with the snake often enough - sometimes even when you do.

Garter snakes are also hardy but not nearly so much as ratsnakes and kingsnakes. They can also be very musky and bitey, though this varies largely from species to species, and they can be worked out of it most of the time. They are tiny though and flighty as babies which can be just as intimidating to a new keeper as something larger and aggressive. I often affectionately call my infernalis little bitey poopcopters. They are always hungry and my fingers look close enough to pinkies that they want a taste. They also don't just musk, they musk while twirling their tails like little propellers to send crap flying all over the place. I'll probably get around to working with them when they get a bit bigger probably but for now I find both attributes, more or less, kind of endearing - doubt a new keeper would feel the same.

Ball pythons are great but not as forgiving of keeper error as the above choices. Even when you do get all of your parameters "right" you might still need to tweak around with things to get them to really thrive for you. While all of the above will take to f/t without a hitch, ball pythons can take a fair bit more work and when they inevitably do go off feed they can be stubborn getting back on to f/t whereas a live rodent might get their attention sooner. Also, you have to remember that a fasting royal isn't uncommon or unnatural. If you feed f/t though and this is your only snake, be prepared to throw out a fair number of rodents throughout the year.

If you're willing to do a lot of research online in the right places, buy all the necessary equipment of good quality/brand, then I'd say to pick whichever snake you personally like more (corn snake or BP or whatever). Corns are good for beginners in the way that an owner that did almost no research can make childish mistakes on them, and they will live and still have a decent appetite. While ball pythons are quite intolerant of husbandry mistakes.

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Originally Posted by Slim

Have you considered a corn snake? Easy to care for, simple caging, good eaters, and they come in many different paint jobs.

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Originally Posted by Coluber42

You could go to a pet store or two, if there's a good one near you, and ask if you can handle the snakes they have for sale and see what species you connect with, gravitate toward, or just like. If you do, try and find out when they are least likely to be busy and go then; don't go on a nice Saturday afternoon when they're packed with kids who all want to see all the animals and then expect a lot of attention from the staff while you're still in the tire-kicking stage.
Most of the snakes that are common pets are not terribly difficult to care for, once you have everything set up initially. Just keep in mind their future needs in terms of space and prey, and the fact that the bigger they are the bigger they eat and the bigger they excrete.
Your snake will be with you for a long time, so you might as well go for the one that captures your imagination, within reason.

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Originally Posted by John1982

I always have and probably always will advise a corn, or(my favorite close cousin) gray ratsnake, as the best first time pets. Sure, there are plenty of great candidates but I think they are the best options for someone that likely wants to handle a fair bit and will almost certainly make some mistakes along the way. Even wild examples, 9/10 of the time you can pick them up and only get bit a couples times(sometimes not at all) before they're chill. A couple years ago I found a rather skinny looking gray rat in the yard and walked him over to one of my known tree frog haunts and held him up so he could pick off a few easy meals while wrapped around my fingers. He didn't bite me at all as far as I remember but the main point is, he didn't get turned off food by the encounter. A year or two before that some heavy rains drove a hatchling gray rat to take refuge in my home. He was a fresh baby, that had just got the poop scared out of him by some crazy dogs, but took a couple pinky ASF like an old pro the same night. I released him the following day after the rains stopped.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

If you're willing to do a lot of research online in the right places, buy all the necessary equipment of good quality/brand, then I'd say to pick whichever snake you personally like more (corn snake or BP or whatever). Corns are good for beginners in the way that an owner that did almost no research can make childish mistakes on them, and they will live and still have a decent appetite. While ball pythons are quite intolerant of husbandry mistakes.

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I have looked at corns before, but to be honest, they just don't interest me as some of the other snakes I have mentioned. I have only seen normals, hypos, and albinos at pet stores, but I am going to a reptile expo at the end of the month, so maybe I will see some cool morphs which are a little more intriguing. I have done lots of research on all of the snakes that I have mentioned (housing, feeding, temp, humidity etc.), so I feel that I will be able to care for them all. I am just wondering if anyone has personal opinions on whether or not they are suitable for beginners, and which ones are better/worse.

Liam

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Originally Posted by lbrent-hurst

I have looked at corns before, but to be honest, they just don't interest me as some of the other snakes I have mentioned. I have only seen normals, hypos, and albinos at pet stores, but I am going to a reptile expo at the end of the month, so maybe I will see some cool morphs which are a little more intriguing. I have done lots of research on all of the snakes that I have mentioned (housing, feeding, temp, humidity etc.), so I feel that I will be able to care for them all. I am just wondering if anyone has personal opinions on whether or not they are suitable for beginners, and which ones are better/worse.

Liam

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One of my main display snakes is a 5'+ Amel Striped Corn snake , he's a stunning bright orange with a feint yellow stripe on the lower part of his body ( white belly , thin yellow stripe just above the belly and the rest bright orange ) .

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Originally Posted by lbrent-hurst

I have looked at corns before, but to be honest, they just don't interest me as some of the other snakes I have mentioned. I have only seen normals, hypos, and albinos at pet stores, but I am going to a reptile expo at the end of the month, so maybe I will see some cool morphs which are a little more intriguing. I have done lots of research on all of the snakes that I have mentioned (housing, feeding, temp, humidity etc.), so I feel that I will be able to care for them all. I am just wondering if anyone has personal opinions on whether or not they are suitable for beginners, and which ones are better/worse.

Liam

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There's no better or worse if you're confident in your research and getting all aspects of husbandry spot on- many species can be suitable then, if adult size is not much of a consideration/if you don't mind larger snakes (rosy boas, corns, BCI, king snakes, bull snakes, ball pythons, dumeril's boas, carpet pythons...). So besides husbandry and size, it's just what your ideal temperament is in a snake/how much you want to handle them, and that could vary per individual snake too. I hope you see a ton of stuff at the expo.

I wanted a ball python for years, did a ton of research, and my first snake was my albino BP. My 2nd snake was another BP, and 3rd was a Dumeril's boa who was 3 years old. I have a friend whose first snake was a jungle carpet python, after lots of research, and her snake has only been doing great as well- never had any issues, because did great research. I haven't had issues with my snakes (other than Cake going off feed over the winter) either. I think if you're smart, confident in your research online, you'll be fine with many species really. :P Research and husbandry is what makes most of the difference in what makes something "beginner" or not, I think. Almost everything revolves around research.

Was going to add into my post... Research would even include illnesses, infections, physical injuries, and what kinds of things are common that go awry with beginner keepers, and how to prevent and cure it. Not just "how to set up the enclosure/temperatures/humidity". Preparing for the things that could go wrong and knowing how to handle them is also part of good research.

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Originally Posted by redshepherd

Was going to add into my post... Research would even include illnesses, infections, physical injuries, and what kinds of things are common that go awry with beginner keepers, and how to prevent and cure it. Not just "how to set up the enclosure/temperatures/humidity". Preparing for the things that could go wrong and knowing how to handle them is also part of good research.

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Thanks so much for all of the info! I have decided wait until after the expo and when I have learned a bit more about the various species. Right now I am leaning towards BPs and Hognoses, but I am going to also talk to my vet and do more research online about potential problems with the snakes and how to handle/avoid them. I also might pick up some books either online or at the expo. I will continue to update depending on what I decide on!

How about a hybrid ?

This is an Imperial Pueblan hybrid .

King snake x Milk snake

Albino an extremely calm , docile and friendly !!
One of my favourites and loved by all our female family and friends :)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pseacac121.jpg

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to update that I have decided to go with a female western hognose, based on their care/space requirements, temperament, character, and cuteness! I will post pics in another thread when I get everything set up!

Liam

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Originally Posted by kc.exotics

Ok, so I'm stil new to the forums, so sorry if this isn't in the right section.

So I want to get my first snake in a few months ( the next expo is in April, sadly).

Ive heard various people say a corn snake is better than a ball python, and vise versa, for a first snake. For those of you with experience, which do you prefer, and why? Also, if any body has any care tips for either they would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Kat

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Any progress with choosing yet.

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Originally Posted by Zincubus

How about a hybrid ?

This is an Imperial Pueblan hybrid .

King snake x Milk snake

Albino an extremely calm , docile and friendly !!
One of my favourites and loved by all our female family and friends :)

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...pseacac121.jpg

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That's a gorgeous snake, but albinos kind of freak me out. (Mostly just the eyes.) I'd take that morph with a charcoal base. :)

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Originally Posted by RatAtat2693

That's a gorgeous snake, but albinos kind of freak me out. (Mostly just the eyes.) I'd take that morph with a charcoal base. :)

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We have friends in TV and when it's about 3' or over they thought that he may be useful for TV work , adverts and TV series etc

Interesting. For what? If you don't mind me asking.

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Originally Posted by RatAtat2693

Interesting. For what? If you don't mind me asking.

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Just when there's the need for a "special " snake in a TV advert or a play / movie or whatever ..

Many , if not most , out there just think that snakes are 9 foot long , boring , brown snakes they see slumped in corners of Zoo reptile houses or deadly Cobras ....

I carry around photos of my snakes ( all colours and many albinos ) and most people are simply amazed when they see just how beautiful snakes can be .

How do u post pics