Pet Snakes

[mrose_s]

What is the best type for a complete beginner? Something that isn't too big.
My sister has lizards and she is thinking about a childrens python next. I would love a snake of my own. Not for years because getting a decent tank set up would cost a lot.

 

[hedwig]

from my own experience as a reptile keeper i wouldnt get any type of python as a beginner. i find if the conditions are not JUST right they go straight down hill and fast, even resulting in starvation.

its difficult to get the condition they like n keep it. this is my experience only, others may have had more luck as they are hotter climates.

i find corn snake the most placid and they dont grow huge, maby long but not thick. milk snakes are ok as well.

boas grow huge so big nono! king snakes again can be temperamental.

i would recommend corn snakes as a starter and they come in so many beautiful colours, a rat snake is very similar and good starters

 

[mrose_s]

cool, something that doesn't get too big and is not known for being temperamental would be great.

 

[hedwig]

I think corn snakes get around 6ft long but they so thin you would never no it! before you get any snake ask to handle it and see it feeding! its a must.

dont get one from pet shops UNLESS YOU SEE THEM EATING FIRST!

Most pet shop snakes die because they dont eat

 

[mrose_s]

really? why not?

I won't get one from a pet shop because I can't imagine them getting handled a lot and I'll def be feeding it pre-dead food.

 

[hedwig]

they just dont look big is all, boas are thick and long

 

[milos_mommy]

Corn snake, totally. They get pretty long but they're not that thick. Can get up to 6 feet but all the adults i've seen have been MAYBE 4. They're VERY docile. Babies can be snippy but they barely even have teeth, and once they're a few months old they'll calm down. Love to be handled, don't need complicated lights, just an under-tank heating pad. I started out with my two babies in a 10 gallon and moved them up to a 30 gallon at almost a year. Don't need a ton of room as they're docile in the tank, as long as you take them out some.

Mine both have eaten frozen no problem. They're easy pets and some of the most fun, gentle creatures i've ever met. Lol, i watch TV and stuff with mine all the time.

 

[stevinski]

corn snake or ball python, but definetly make sure they eat first

theres alot of good snake breeders that you could look into if you dont like pet stores, and you more than likely wont be on a waiting list if you only want a normal morph, and seeing as they get like 30 hatchlings per clutch

 

[Lilavati]

A breeder is best . . . a good place to check them out are reptile shows . . . see kingsnake.com for a listing

I'm a lizard person, but in your place, I'd probably go for a ball python . . . they are friendlier, or so I'm told.

 

[milos_mommy]

A breeder is best . . . a good place to check them out are reptile shows . . . see kingsnake.com for a listing

I'm a lizard person, but in your place, I'd probably go for a ball python . . . they are friendlier, or so I'm told.

Corn snakes are by far friendlier than a ball python. Balls are cool snakes, but corns are like little scaly dogs with no legs.

 

[hedwig]

agreed

 

[Lilavati]

Well, then .. . get a corn snake!

 

[mrose_s]

lol, okay. Its sorted then. Won't be for a long while yet as Buster has a vert appointment and blood test in 2 months. Then I need driving lessons and start saving for vet emergencies.
One day, they look like awesome little snakes

 

[jupiter11600]

Ok just adding my .02$ here. Corns are more "Interactive" Mine is very friendly but likes to go go go go. Ball Pythons are VERY calm snakes. Mine will sit there and hang out and I play with him when I don't want to worry oh crap where's he going now. So it depends on what you want. Balls have more of a gentle giant dog temperament (Though small!) and corns are more active and laby/golden retrevierish to put this in dog words! :-D


Either way the snakes are my vacation with the herps as i work with a iguana rescue and THOSE are high maintenance!!! Either way go to a breeder... Try faunaclassifieds.com

 

[Lilavati]

Ok just adding my .02$ here. Corns are more "Interactive" Mine is very friendly but likes to go go go go. Ball Pythons are VERY calm snakes. Mine will sit there and hang out and I play with him when I don't want to worry oh crap where's he going now. So it depends on what you want. Balls have more of a gentle giant dog temperament (Though small!) and corns are more active and laby/golden retrevierish to put this in dog words! :-D


Either way the snakes are my vacation with the herps as i work with a iguana rescue and THOSE are high maintenance!!! Either way go to a breeder... Try faunaclassifieds.com

Igunas . . Igunas . . . sigh . . . poor things . . . they're prolific and cute as babies and they turn into 6 foot monsters no one wants. They're quite lovely really, but no one wants a six-foot lizard. <sigh> I really, really wish they'd stop selling those things out of pet stores.

 

[milos_mommy]

I WANT A SIX FOOT LIZARD!

too bad one won't fit in my house i almost rescued a 3.5 footer but i just couldn't fit the kid.

And my corns, i wouldn't say "go-go-go", but they're definately more active than a ball as adults.

 

[jupiter11600]

Yep... Iguanas are such a problem... I mean I love mine, But i hate the people that take such bad care of them and also the sellers!!! We cant even get foster homes. Plus 9 times out of 10 when we get them people have screwed em up so bad it's not even funny... I just want to scream sometimes... Iggies eat VEGGIEs and NO not lettuce! and NO you cant keep them in a 55 gallon tank!!

(Yes we have one now that was kept in a 55 for 10 years!!!)

Jake will calm down but I guess more Interactive is the better word were Dimitri is happy to lay around.