Hello from the PNW!

[loud]

I'm an active member of several forums (non-herp related) and when I expressed an interest in getting a snake, I was directed to this website. Word of warning: I only recently become obsessed, so please be prepared for a million and one questions!

The plan is to go to a large expo this January in Portland and find my snake there - currently a toss up between a ball python, a woma python, a jungle carpet python, and a red tail boa. I think my safest bet as a complete novice would be a ball python or a woma python, but I will admit that the aesthetics of the jungle carpets really draw me in. So we'll see I will also have a lot of questions about equipment, feeding, and general care.

A little bit more about me - currently residing in Oregon, and have loved snakes all my life. When I was little I used to chase little garden snakes all over the backyard. Never had the opportunity to get one because the rest of the family is terrified, but I do have quite a zoo at home. At home, I currently have a 4 1/2 year old German Shepherd Dog, two cats (a 5 1/2 year old and a 2 year old... we suspect the 2 year old is half squirrel and half alien), two dwarf hamsters, and two aquatic turtles (red-eared sliders). Only the GSD is technically mine, and maybe the older cat as well, depending on who you ask.

And if anyone was wondering, here's the inspiration for my username...

Looking forward to learning!

[Holtgards]

My advice is Go with what you really want in the first place. just make sure to do your research and ask questions on here, there are plenty of knowledgeable people that are more than willing to help.

[DooLittle]

Welcome! Beatiful dog by the way. You came to the right spot. Very active forum with lots of helpful members. My vote would be for a ball or redtail. I love them both! Definitely different personality and handling on the 2 though, as well as different caging requirements.

[Crazymonkee]

Gorgeous dog
welcome and ask away!!

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[Drake Moonslayer]

Welcome. Beautiful dog.

[satomi325]

Welcome!

I vote for boa or ball python as well. They're very forgiving when it comes to husbandry mistakes of new keepers. I'm not saying that you won't have a perfect set up from the get go, just that they're pretty hardy and not as sensitive to human error as other species.

And great looking dog! Do you do protection sport?

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[jclaiborne]

Awesome dog! I love GSDs. Welcome and ask away.

[MarkS]

Welcome, this is a good place to start your search. Ball pythons and Woma's are both good snakes to start with, they both tend to stay smaller then most of the carpets or the boas. (and therefore easier to handle) However the Irian Jaya carpet pythons also tend to stay on the smaller side generally staying around 5 feet or so. They might be another one that you might want to look at.

[loud]

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the warm welcome!!

So it does sound like the common consensus is to get a ball python or red tail boa. I read on a few threads that the best snake to get is the one you want, but I am trying to be realistic about my ability to handle and raise one. I'm definitely a beginner, and don't know much about snakes or maintaining the best environment/set up. I don't mind getting "tagged" at all (snake and dog bites don't scare me) but I do want a more docile snake. I want one that I can handle regularly without issue, and because individuals can vary, I'm hoping I can find what I'm looking for at the expo.

Thanks everyone for the thoughts and input, I'll make another thread on the general board shortly.

And great looking dog! Do you do protection sport?

Thank you! And no, not yet - he's just got quite a mouth on him. The agitation harness was from a friend/acquaintance.

Hopefully we'll be able to start training with his breeder's IPO club within the next year or so. Better late than never, right? I would have joined earlier, but had trouble with time constraints and distance. For now it's just some basic obedience training for him, and watching trials here and there for me. Looks like a lot of fun, and I'm definitely looking forward to it.

Welcome, this is a good place to start your search. Ball pythons and Woma's are both good snakes to start with, they both tend to stay smaller then most of the carpets or the boas. (and therefore easier to handle) However the Irian Jaya carpet pythons also tend to stay on the smaller side generally staying around 5 feet or so. They might be another one that you might want to look at.

Thanks for the recommendation! Size isn't an issue, although I think I might prefer a snake under 10 feet? The only concern I have regarding size is not being able to provide a large enough tank/tub for it.

Will definitely look into the Irian Jaya carpet python... I am really stuck on these carpet pythons, they just have the look that I like. Too bad everything I hear points to them not being beginner friendly!