The Best Beginner Snakes!

[JamminJonah]

I know this has come up many times but I don't recall seeing a specific post about it. What do you feel are the best beginner snakes? Here's my list:

African House Snake
Corn Snake
King Snake

(the following are on the "educated beginner" or at least "willing to become educated beginner" side)
BCI
Ball Python

ALL CBB OR AT LEAST CB OF COURSE

[hhw]

I would have to say Corn Snakes hands down. Hardy, easy to feed, easy to maintain the right temperature, stay an easy to handle and easy to feed size, etc... And for variety, you can always get a colour morph for not much more.

[Marla]

Definitely not corn snakes for anyone living in Georgia, as you have to get an educational license from the Department of Natural Resources to legally have just one (maximum two), regardless of origin. I can go along with the others, though, and add garters to it (for non-Georgians).

[DonMeyer]

I would have to say a Corn, King, or Milk.

[gozetec02]

Sorry i cant really comment but i will anyway LOL. I have only had ball pythons from the beginning and have had no problems. But i educated myself before buying. And i think this goes with any pet no matter if its a mammal or a reptile. The success of the animal depends on your husbandry.

I wouldnt mind getting a King snake the black ones are really cool.

[gozetec02]

While we are on the subject. Are king snakes constrictors? I know they are colubrids. But how do they kill their prey?

[emroul]

I have noticed that colubrids kill their prey through constriction as well. Weird..I did end up looking up the taxonomy and the main differences between boids and colubrids, and the constriction wasn't really the difference. ANYWAY, that's what I have noticed; kingsnakes definately constrict their prey.

Also, about the beginner snakes, I wouldn't recommend ball pythons unless you have had another snake or two in the past. (I would have a few months ago, but now I realize I guess these snakes are just so hard to care for properly). :roll: Not anything against you, but ball pythons are a VERY finicky snake (when it comes to feeding, being held, humidity, temperature, light exposure, etc).. I would suggest a kingsnake, sand boa, or cornsnake, or many other colubrids.

Jennifer

[chong_python]

corn snake yes, king mabey but milk snake no!
milk snakes unlike the mojority of other snake CANT dislocate their jaws.
Therefore causing them to be a troble snake to keep. i wouldnt recommend this as a beginer.

[Tigergenesis]

Corn snake definitely and some kings (definitely a Mex Black and I've heard gray-bandeds are good beginners, but Cal Kings are too nippy, musk a lot and tempermental when young).

[Alkaurkharim]

I will honestly have to say MBK is a great starter snake. Elysia isn't tempermental, she's always hungry, likes to be held, she is easy to care for, looks gorgeous, and I haven't been bitten or have had a single problem with her yet.