Questions about what you personally enjoy about your animals / just general questions

[Craiga 01453]

Thank you for all the insight you offered in your reply. I'd really like to take you up on the elaboration on your other species because it seems to me, with what others have said about BPs, that maybe that isn't the species for me.

You're welcome, I'm happy to help.

So I do have a BP. And based on what you said in your initial thread, it sounds like they're not the beat choice for you. I keep mine in a naturalistic glass enclosure, and rarely see him. There's even a saying you'll hear around the hobby "a hiding ball is a happy ball". So if you're looking for an animal you'll see exploring often, a BP won't likely satisfy that.
I also have a Borneo Short Tail Python...basically, see above. Very similar in that he spends almost 100% of his time hidden.

The next one that I keep is a western hognose. If you're thinking you want a snake on the smaller end of the spectrum that's a lot of fun look into these guys. Males stay pretty tiny (usually topping out around 18") but females get a fair amount bigger. These snakes are super cute, extremely inquisitive and have tons of personality. They even have some adorable "defensive" behaviors, including flattening out their heads to look like a cobra, hissing and bluff striking (it's adorable, check out YouTube to see what I mean) and in very rare occasions even play dead (I've only seen this in videos).
I do have to let you know they are rear-fanged and considered VERY mildly venomous. That being said, they almost NEVER bite, they prefer to bluff. And when they do their delivery system is HORRIBLE and they would need to hang on and chew on you for the venom to take effect. The results are quite varied, ranging from very minor itching, swelling and irritation to some serious swelling and allergic reaction.
So, if you're interested in these guys study up on them. (Although that goes for any pet)

Lastly, is my favorite species I have kept through the years. Kingsnakes.
I think of the species I have this would best meet your desires. They stay a very manageable size, handle well (though often nippy when young), are pretty active and will use every inch of their enclosures, and are very forgiving husbandry-wise. They also come in plenty of morphs and localities so you can find one on the smaller or larger size of the spectrum depending what you're looking for.

Other species I think you might enjoy are carpet pythons or boa constrictor imperators (BCIs). Both offer lots of options in size, look, etc...

Another thought is a Green Tree Python. Although not typically considered a "beginner" snake they make great display snakes. They are typically not handled often and most people who keep them set them up as display snakes.

Any which way you go, there are plenty of people on here who keep all sorts of species. So feel free to keep asking. People who keep those species will chime in and help you out.