What Kind of Snake?

Question

I am thinking of getting a Pet snake. I haven't owned a snake yet, and I was wondering what breed would make the best pet, and Why? Please take into account, I have yet to have a pet snake.

Answer 1

i suggest you do tons of research, and select a smaller snake to start, ive had everything from c/b yellow anacondas to garden snakes. garden snakes are very low maintanence not a bad choice. pythons and boas are popular. depends what YOU like my screename here is my instant messenger and email name as well feel free to get in touch to ask more specific questions or advice.

Answer 2

I have heard corn snakes are good to start with. Definitely check up on how large the snake will eventually grow to. You don't want to get a boa or something that is going to get 8+ feet long.

I recommend you get something that will eat thawed frozen prey rather than a picky type of snake that eats live food. Having taken care of snakes that would only eat live it's a pain in the butt. If the snake doesn't feel like eating then you are stuck taking care of a mouse or rat for a few weeks until the snake does feel like eating. While rats and female mice are fine, male mice smell just awful. Whereas if it refuses a frozen thawed prey item you can just chuck it back in the freezer :)

Don't make the mistake a lot of people make which is buying too small of an enclosure. I believe for ground dwelling snakes the rule of thumb is 2/3 of the length of the snake should be the length of the enclosure. The width should be 1/3 of the snake length.

So for a 4.5 foot ball python (another decent beginner snake, if you buy it capitive bred...and always buy captive bred! you'll find out why on the net), that would be around 3 foot long x 18 inches.

Answer 3

I have NO experience with pet snakes so my advice may be of little value. I do have two acquaintances who have pet snakes and both seem to prefer the smaller exotic Boas. Talk to someone at the pet shop and get one of the more hearty animals. I have been told that some breeds are very fragile and can only thrive in a small range of temperatures and humidity.

Good Luck. At the very least it will be an interesting experience.

Answer 4

My first snake is my baby Rosey. She is an albino cali king. From there I now have 3 ball pythons, a male albino cali king and a male albino corn. Next week I will get 2 normal female corn snakes and a female snow corn. I have been bitten by a red tail boa at the petstore I work at, he was surprised. I have been bitten by both my cali kings and by one of my baby balls but it was because I wasn't feeding them fast enough.. So if you get a snake the big thing is to remember you can get bitten and if you don't want to risk that don't get a snake.

BUT, I would recommend a ball python. They aren't big and they aren't small. They start out about 7 inches long when you get them. You feed them once a week or every four days depending on where your temps are. The higher the temps and the faster they digest their food. Humidity stays around 50, temps should be in the upper 85, 80 in the cool side, and 90+ in the warm basking side.

You should have two hides/caves. One on each side so it can thermal regulate. The water bowl should stay in the middle, should be just big enough to fit your snake and heavy enough that your snake won't tip it over. The hides should be just a bit bigger than your ball python when it is "balled" up. It feels safe in dark tight spaces.

The substrate depends on the keeper. I have my babies on ecoearth with orchid bark over it. Others keep theirs on newspaper, paper towels, and sometimes aspen shavings. The ecoearth keeps in humidity and the bark helps when they shed. I also keep live planets in there to make everything more realistic for them.

After everything gets setup it's easy to keep up with. Clean up as soon as you see it's mess. Change the water once a week unless it makes a mess in the water then clean it immedately.

Oh yeah, when picking a ball python make sure you pick one that says Captive Breed. If not I wouldn't really trust it. Check it's eyes for crust and to make sure it is clear. If it is about to shed it's all over appearence should be pale and the eyes cloudy. Check it's vent to make sure it's clean. Check the belly scales, make sure there is no discoloring. If it is tame enough you can check under it's head, if it has mites you will be able to see them as little black dots between or under the scales. Also they may crawl on you if it is heavily infested. You can treat it for mites but that can take a while. Make sure it is round in body, you souldn't see lateral folds on the snake, that usually means it is under fed, dehydrated or it may have worms. Before you put the snake in it's environment you should keep it in isolation just in case it does have anything so it doesn't get in it's tank. Also take a FRESH fecal sample to a reptile vet to make sure it doesn't have anything.

Um, I might have missed something but if you have any questions, just write me. I hope this helps!!

Answer 5

Get a snake that is small and easy to take care of. I started off with a ball python (really mellow), but was told by several people to get a cornsnake(squirmy but nice). Also, milksnakes (small but nice) work well. Whatever you get, make sure you do tons of research! Ball pythons can live to be 30 years, so it is a long commitment. Don't buy wild-caught snakes. They tend to be more aggressive, have parasites, and purchasing one promotes capturing them from the wild for profit.

Also, the length of the cage needs to be longer than the snake fully stretched out. If they can't stretch out all the way, they can develope serious respiratory and problems. The width, bigger than the snake coiled up.

Once you've figured out the type of snake you want figure out what size of prey it eats, what type of bedding it needs, what type of "toys" it can have, what plants you can't put in it's cage, and when to avoid messing with it if you're sick.

Try to talk to a reputable breeder (one that doesn't sell their wares off the back of a truck), they know a ton of practical info about snakes.

Whatever you do, don't buy a snake just to show off. They are exotic aniamls with exotic needs. There are cheaper ways to get attention.

Also check the cost of all the accessories (It adds up!) and make sure a reptile vet is available in your area.

Once you've done all that, welcome to the wonderful world of exotic animal ownership!

Answer 6

Corn snakes are highly recommended as a starter snake, and they come in many attractive color patterns. Boas are cool, but if you're new to snake keeping, getting a snake that will get huge and need rabbits to eat, probably isn't the wisest choice. Corn snakes are gentle, and much less expensive. =)

Answer 7

Ball Python...they are easy, don't get too big...about 5 ft, good snake for starters. Do the research first though, they will require a certain temperature...regular cleanings of their aquarium, and weekly feedings (usually). I would recommend a ball, i have had two and they are friendly, good demeanor, and a great starter snake.

Answer 8

A Ball Python or a Corn Snake.

Balls are relatively small and require little to stay healthy.

Corns are small, and are easy as well.

My suggestion: Go to Cornutopia.com to learn everything you need to know about Corn Snakes. Then hit up Kingsnake.com to learn about Balls. after that, decide which appeals to you more.

Answer 9

red tail pythons are pretty mellow and have a nice color pattern there a litle more work than a ball python but well worth the effort

Answer 10

start with a ball python or a boa ! theyre very common =) there are alot of morphs too =P search bobclark o the net =P