I want a snake, what is a good first one????

Answer 1

Corn and Milks are pretty easy. Balls are good because they don't get too big but can be very picky eaters. Red tails are very good eaters but can get to be 10 feet. If you want a boa sands are good, like a Kenyan. Pretty good eaters, can be nippy but the ones we have we got as babies and have never nipped due to our constant handling. Males get to be about 2 feet and female about 4. We presently have a 2 kenyans, 4 balls, 1 nicaraguan boa and 1 columbian red tailed. I have never been bitten but the best eaters are the kenyans and columbian.

Answer 2

Ribbon snakes are small (about 12-20 inches long), can be kept in a ten gallon tank and make a good starter snake. They eat small goldfish. If you're looking for something larger, Colombian Boas can make good pets if they're raised from babies and handled frequently. Pythons are decent pets (especially Ball Pythons) but tend to be a bit more tempermental than Boas. Think about how much space you have, how much money you have for tanks, heat lamps and such. Also, be sure you're able to tolerate the feeding habits of these guys. Small Boas and Pythons start with "pinky" rats and move on to larger rodents. If you don't like feeding live rodents to the snake, it is possible to buy frozen rodents and get the snakes started on those. Talk to your local reptile/amphibian expert and do some research. Remember also that some of these snakes live a long time and get very large, so think about where you'll be in five or ten years and whether you'll still want the snake and have room for it.

Good luck and have fun!

Answer 3

I would suggest a colubrid of some kind, like a corn snake or king snake. They are excellent first time snakes. They are fairly cheap, very colourful, and don't get very big (average adult size is usually around 6 feet) so they are easily handleable by one person.
However if you would like to get something a bit larger, then a common Columbia Boa Constrictor is good too. They are not fussy eaters and are very easy to handle, even when full grown. Their average adult length is about 7 - 8 feet for a good sized female, males are smaller than that at around 6 feet or so. Boas are very colourful and are readily available.
I would recommend that before you get a snake, you try to find a local reptile or herpetologist club and go to a few meetings and meet some others who do own snakes. They would be able to help you better and many snake owners love to show off their snakes, so you'll be able to see the types of snakes that are available! You can also get the names of some local snake breeders who would be more than willing to help you out!
If you'd like to find more detailed information about the various types of snakes available, here are a few links that should help you. :)
www.ssnakess.ca
www.kingsnake.ca
Good luck!

Answer 4

Any colubrid (corn snake, milk snake, etc.) or a small python, such as a ball or children's python are good starter snakes, as they require minimal needs and care, in comparison to other species. However, you are getting an animal that lives anywhere from 15-20 years, at least...this is a long commitment. Weekly feedings, as a baby almost daily cage cleans, and light, heat, and temperature/humidity needs also have to be taken into account.
(Also, ignore the "feed your ball python only mice" comment. No snake that gets to ball size (3-6 ft) should eat mice except maybe when they've first hatched, up until 6 months, when it can begin on rats, which are more suitable in size, and nutrition for your animal.)

Answer 5

I always recommend either a corn snake or a ball python for a first snake. Both have very docile temperaments, are easy to keep, and don't grow too large. The Ball Python requires a bit more exacting husbandry than the corn, but once you have it all set up, it is very easy to maintain.

Answer 6

To me the Ball (Royal) Python is the best starter snake. They are very docile and easy to handle. They are NOT expensive to keep and are very easy to maintain. Here is a link to a Ball Python care sheet that you might find helpful.
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/pythons/a/ballpythons_2.htm
My Ball Python is 2 years old and lives in a 25 long gallon aquarium. They are not very active until they are hungry or you are handling them. They are great starter snakes.
Own 2 Ball Pythons and 1 13 foot Burmese Python.

Answer 7

Corn snakes are a great first snake. They start out small and don't get that big. I started my 10 yr old out with one.

Answer 8

FIRST A SNAKE IS A LIFE TIME COMMITMENT!!! My Ball python id 16 years old now and still strong and healthy.
But that being said they are one of the moist docile and pleasant snakes to care for.
I love her very much and would recommend her to a beginner, plenty of under the astro turf warmth and plenty of water and MICE, not RATS, you gotta trust me on that one, the explanation is WAY too long!

Answer 9

Ball python -get a baby. I had one. I used to be scared of snakes until I got Kah.I worked at a pet shop. There was just something about him,when they took him out of that little bag that day and he curled up in my hand and looked at me,and believe me-if you know me you'd know I'd NEVER touch the business end before then. He was so bonded to me he would wind around my wrist and take his little head and press against the back of my hand. I carried him EVERYWHERE. He got very protective-It was weird The guy at the pet shop said he'd never seen anything like it in his life. If someone came real close and he was wrapped on me, I could feel him loosen enough to get a length to strike. He struck 2 people. Well my husband got the bright idea to get a female and when we did it was no time that Kah was bonded with her and I couldn't even handle him anymore so I sold them both. Make sure you just keep the 1 pet for sure and bond with it just don't stick it in a cage. They make wonderful pets.

Answer 10

Ball python. They are docile and not at all aggressive.
I had one for a long time, and people who hated snakes actually learned to like him because he was so non-threatening.
They are called Ball Pythons because they like to wrap into balls to rest, so he would wrap around my arm or shoulders and just hang out.
They are great snakes for novice owners.