Quote Originally Posted by bcr229 View Post
IMO king/corn/milk snakes are a better first pet snake as their husbandry is a bit easier and handling isn't as likely to stress them or throw them off food as much. Plus they do ok in tanks and as display snakes; BP's are called "pet rocks" for a reason.

I use newspaper as substrate but most of my collection is in tubs where maintaining humidity is not a problem.
I second this. Contrary to popular thought BPs are not at all beginner snakes. I believe that if it wasn't for their popularity and selection of color morphs they would probably be considered more of an intermediate-advanced reptile to own.