Best Starter Snake.

[riceko]

I would agree with the container and feeding ease. A corn snake would be much easier over a ball considering they don't get so big.
I however would not agree that a corn is friendlier than a ball But then again maybe I myself am biased since I haven't myself handled corns

 

[bradlush]

I've seen some pretty bitey baby Corns but never a BP, then again just my experience.
I think as long as you stick with something like Corns or BPs you should be alright.
Although Red Tail Boas are recommended for beginners, their size as adults should be taken
into consideration, I know someone who feeds frozen bunnies to his. Just do your research
and make sure you can house/handle it and you'll do just fine. Also Ratsnakes seem to tame
down pretty good and stay thin so no feeding rats.

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Okay, I will take into consideration corn snakes. I don't feel like doing much research because of my problem. See my post in off topic discussion. Can you explain to me about corn snakes please? Thank you.

 

[Gloryhound]

We have Blood pythons, Nicaraguan boas, Kenyan Sand boas, Borneo Pythons, Ball Pythons, Childrens Pythons, Corn snakes, and Milk snakes here.

As a starter snake goes I would have to say a well started Childrens python. These guys stay relatively small with an average of 2.5 feet and at most getting to 3 feet 3 inches. Mine have great personalities and deal really well with being handled. Not as timid and shy as most ball pythons, but not aggressive like some borneos get. They are more curious than anything. If they are well started on Frozen thawed fuzzies all you have to do is keep a bag of frozen thawed rodents in the freezer for them.

Ball pythons can cause a new owner a lot of stress if they go off food for 6 months or so.
Corns and milks move around like crazy and don't tend to sit still while you are trying to handle them
Blood pythons and Borneo pythons get big and have a wide range of temperments from puppy dog tame to a wolverine trapped in a corner
Kenyan sand boas are OK, but can be nippy.
Nicaraguans are nippy as babies then tend to calm down. They get to a max of 5 feet in length and if you are getting a true Nicaraguan everything should be fine, but unless you know exactly what you are looking for and can't tell the difference you could accidentally get a Columbian or a larger Boa. No one wants to buy a snake thinking it is only going to get to be 4 to 5 feet long and end up with a 10 foot or bigger snake.

 

[riceko]

Okay, I will take into consideration corn snakes. I don't feel like doing much research because of my problem. See my post in off topic discussion. Can you explain to me about corn snakes please? Thank you.

Just to let you know, if you do plan on getting a corn snake, you will need to research it to make sure you know what you need to make it happy and healthy. I'm not sure exactly what "problem" you are referring to (girl problem?) but I find that research helps me get my mind off of stressful thoughts. Distraction you could say.

Anyway, I found a few sites you can browse through.
This one is generally about Corn Snakes. Size, habitat, how they got their name... etc:
http://fohn.net/corn-snake-pictures-facts/

These three are care sheets. They look to be pretty good:
http://www.reptilecare.com/CornSnakeCaresheet.htm
http://www.kingsnake.com/rockymountain/RMHPages/RMHnewpage11.htm
http://www.anapsid.org/corn.html

(I liked the first one the most)

Hope I helped!

 

[Trogdor80]

If ts your very first snake EVAR you might consder a corn/milk/rat/king snake of some kind instead of a python of somekind.

If you loose interest its alot easier to put up with an animal you don't like for 10-15 years than it is for 35-40 years.

 

[EmJagsz]

If you decide to get a Corn snake, you can join http://www.cornsnakes.com and they will gladly try to answer all your questions! When I first got my corn snakes, I had lots of questions and just the desire to show them off to other corn lovers... CS.com is a very helpful corn forum, and a very friendly place also!

Well, some basics about corn snakes you will need to know:
You will need an enclosure for it. A 10 gallon will do fine for a hatchling corn, but you will need to get a larger enclosure as your corn grows. A 20 long will last your corn its whole life. You may also consider using plastic sterilte tubs that you can find in walmart etc just make sure that the lid is very secure, because they are escape artists and I have read one too many posts about escaped baby corns.... You will also need a UTH (under tank heater) that you place on the underside of one side of the tank. You will not need any overhead lights or heating, corn snakes rely on belly heat to properly digest their meals. You'll need a probe thermometer to keep track of the UTH and maybe a dimmer for the UTH also as they can short and cause heat spikes and possibly burn the corn snake.
Next you will need a substrate. You can use paper towels, newspaper or shredded aspen (used for small mammals, its what I use and my snakes love to burrow in it). PINE and CEDAR chips are harmful to corn snakes. You will need a water bowl and hiding places, one on each side of the tank. These can be store bought, or homemade. Personally, two of my corns LOVE their cardboard egg carton hides I've given them. I also have placed cardboard tubes in their tanks for them which they love too. A climbing branch or vine could also help keep your baby active and you may have better luck observing the snake if it has something to do in the tank (from personal experience). If you are going to take branches or rocks from outdoors, please make sure to properly clean them as they may carry parasites.
You will need to feed the snake mice once a week, if you go to cornsnakes.com and search for the MUNSON PLAN, you will find a chart that is easy to follow on how much and how often you should be feeding your snake according to how much your snake weighs. Remember not to handle the snake until 48 hours after it has eaten has passed, or until you no longer can see a food bump.
I'm pretty sure I am missing a ton, but off the top of my head in such short time, this is what I have come up with :roll: From my experience, corns are very interesting critters once they realize you're not going to eat them, only love and feed them lol! You may have better results with a new corn if you buy from a breeder instead of buying from a petstore. You are most likely guarateed better health with a snake bought from a breeder. Also ask to handle the snake before you buy it, when I bought one of my snakes as a hatchling, I held him for the first time at the show and he was the most relaxed baby corn I've seen... To this day he is a very relaxed snake and has never spazzed at anything and he is also an awesome eater, never missed a meal and it's been a year already!
Anyway, just take a look around CS.com and you will slowly start to fall in love with them...that's what happened to me and now I have four lol!! They come in so many different colours and patterns, it will be hard to choose which to take home! And just for some visual, here are my babies at feeding time :mrgreen:

This is August my first corn, she is a normal corn snake, but she has lovely colours regardless and she is my only 'gravity feeder'!

Next there is Ninja, he is my anery corn snake

Vanha, she is my reverse okeetee

And last there is Liam, my snow corn, he is the smallest of my group and the fussiest eater of my group also....sometimes he will not swallow his mouse if I'm watching him. I have to cover his feeding bin so he'll eat...babies...so stubborn lol :roll

They're great creatures, maybe one will be a part of your family soon I hope I have helped in your decision, and in converting you to a corn lover too haha Good luck!!!!

 

[Twobeardieguy]

Nice!!!

 

[mischa]

Hey, but you gotta love balls haha! Look at that face!

Apparently balls are finicky eaters, well I don't see it.

Balls are the best!

 

[EmJagsz]

What a gorgeous ball you have!

 

[rfreak]

King snakes are an awesome choice.... They are friendly and not really wild. I love my California King

 

[herpfreak]

Okay, I will take into consideration corn snakes. I don't feel like doing much research because of my problem. See my post in off topic discussion. Can you explain to me about corn snakes please? Thank you.

Just to let you know, if you do plan on getting a corn snake, you will need to research it to make sure you know what you need to make it happy and healthy. I'm not sure exactly what "problem" you are referring to (girl problem?) but I find that research helps me get my mind off of stressful thoughts. Distraction you could say.

I would have to agree here. With any reptile, doing your research is the most important part.

Any of the snakes mentioned here would make great pets; corns, kings (some localities), milks (again, depending on the locality), balls, etc. If someone has already said this, you have my apologies, but a Kenyan sand boa is also a great choice. Cute, come in some really neat colors, and small. I don't currently have any, but I'd love to get one sometime!

I've got two BPs. Both are the friendliest snakes I've ever worked with (with the possible exception of Zalma the BCI :love5. I got Cu as a 2.5-year-old that had rarely been handled. She is the sweetest thing. My other girl, Prospekt, despises cameras and has taken a few good snaps at mine but does fine with people. I got her as a two-year-old (supposedly, we're not sure), never been handled, and she is great to work with. Cu has had some major feeding problems within the past few years, but Prospekt is the best feeder out of all of my snakes (including the pig [a.k.a. the blood python] :shock

Personally, I adore BPs, but the feeding responses [in some] can be an issue. If you think you can deal with it, go for a BP.


Oh, please. Don't tell me we're playing the who's-got-the-cutest-snake game. :roll: Because I always win at this game! :mrgreen:


I know you said you didn't want a big snake, and for that reason, you should NOT get a boa, but they really are amazing pets.
Lookit that face!!!!

And check out that tail!

And a few more...

Prospekt

Cu

And I can't leave out this devil. But really, don't get one of these guys unless you've got some serious experience. Bloods are.... difficult. :lol: (Actually, this is a Borneo short tail, not a blood, very similar but it is a different species. I sometimes call him a blood to avoid confusion.)

 

[Gloryhound]

I know you said you didn't want a big snake, and for that reason, you should NOT get a boa, but they really are amazing pets.

Nicaraguan Boas stay as small if not smaller than Ball pythons. We have some of them and find them to be very good feeders, easy to switch to frozen thawed, and have some reasonable priced morphs. You just have to make sure you buy from a breeder that is reputable and actually selling you a Nicaraguan or one of the other dwarf boa breeds.

 

[nrich]

King snakes are an awesome choice.... They are friendly and not really wild. I love my California King

I love my Cali King too, but she is the opposite of friendly. She has tried to eat my face on three separate occasions. Reptile Magazine has a great article for people who are interested in getting a first time snake. It essentially says, "don't be such a baby, getting bit by a snake really isn't that bad." Best article ever.


-Nicole

 

[ColoradoRiverRafter]

Wow. And how big is Cu? I am thinking about a kingsnake. I don't mind feeding them mice, but I read that I might have to cut its head so its brain shows to get it to eat. Is this true. If so I am SO glad I am having dissection this year. :lol: