Quote Originally Posted by MrLang View Post
The OP mentioned having reptiles before but never a snake. There isn't an appropriate response here about venomous other than 'if you're asking opinions, you're not even close to forming a thought that could even be a consideration of the idea of getting one.'

Also, based on never owning a snake before, I would say to the OP that you should really consider a BP or one of the mid sized colubrids. There are a lot of differences in keeping snakes than other reptiles, mainly having to do with managing a hungry or defensive serpent. You want something mid sized and active? Get a big female corn or a milk snake or something (I don't know a ton about colubrids). Once you feel pretty good about that, you can consider snakes that require higher than entry level handling/management.

Just my 2 cents. Sure, tons of people dive into more advanced keeping right away. How many of those animals die or get sold off because the keeper didn't realize what it would be like having a 7 foot bow slamming jumbos and coming at you when it misses or you drop the prey. We haven't even asked the most important questions of the OP.

1) How old are you? Who do you live with and what are their thoughts? Do you have other people in your life that are able and willing to care for the animal?
2) What are your state laws or local bylaws around reptile keeping?
3) Do you own or rent where you live? What kind of caging space/money limitations are you working around?


I'd like to think as a community we would advocate an 'entry level' snake for a new snake keeper.
X2 Why not start with a Corn, King or Rat snake, they can still get up to 6 feet, but not be as strong as some of the others listed.