Total newbie - few of questions

[Craiga 01453]

Hello, welcome to the forum!!

Good on you for doing your homework and wanting to have everything set up before bringing your snake home. You're already off to a great start.

So, to answer your questions...if I'm vague or you have any follow up questions please ask and I'll get back to you asap. I'm working a 12-13 hour day tomorrow, so if it takes a bit for me to reply that will be why...

1) the activity level of the snake will very drastically depending on what species you're interested in. It will also vary a bit from one animal to another within the same species. Some are more active by nature, some are nocturnal and others diurnal, etc...

2) again, this will vary animal to animal...but the bottom line is, most poop stinks. I can tell when my hognose poops as soon as I walk in the room. My others, I don't smell until I open the enclosure. Using certain substrates will help with odor absorption too.

3) again, this will vary by species. Bigger prey costs more. I buy bulk F/T every 4-6 months. It costs me about $4 per week to feed my 4 snakes.

4) as far as what you still need: thermostats on all heating equipment are an absolute MUST.
- for substrate, I use a blend of eco earth and repti-bark in my enclosures (except my hognose). It holds humidity well, retains odor and looks naturalistic. My hognose has aspen (which I hate, but he seems to prefer it, so I give it to him).
- basically, your heat mat is there solely to provide a hot spot and not for ambient temps. So, if your room temps fall below 75 you'll need an additional heat source.
- with my glass enclosures i wrap them inn foam board insulation on the back, sides and top. This helps immensely with heat and humidity control.
- lastly, do NOT get the snakes from the Craigslist ad. Cohabitation is a huge no-no. And based on that, I wouldn't trust the health of the animals. Buy from a reputable breeder. Trust me, you'll avoid a lot of headaches and vet bills.

My last two cents: take some time to research different species. There are tons of awesome choices. If you're not looking for a pet rock, there are more active species.
Watch some YouTube videos, do some reading, ask some questions. There are plenty of great, knowledgeable people on this forum happy to steer You in the right direction and help you every step of the way.

If you'd like some species suggestions from me just ask, I'm happy to give you some ideas. Just tell me what you're looking for in a snake. Size, temperament, activity, handling, ease of husbandry, eating habits, etc...

Hope I helped you out!!