Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello there! I plan to get my first snake soon and I'm not sure which kind to get, I've been leaning towards a ball python, a milksnake or a kingsnake. Do these types seem suitable for a first snake?
thanks,

Go for the Ball Python. They make a good first snake, they're easy to care for, hardy and can be very tame. I've heard they are sometimes picky eaters, but I've had mine for about a year (my first snake as well) and have no problems.
-Mak

If you decide upon a ball python, be sure to acquire a captive bred animal. Wild caught balls prey imprint in the wild, and you may or may not find an acceptable food substitute in captivity, thus leading to potential feeding issues. Captive bred animals will be healthy, parasite free, and already imprinted on readily available rodent food items.

There are many great first snakes: corns, milks, most kings, african house snakes, childrens or spotted pythons, rosy boas; the list goes on. Try to get yourself to a reptile show (look on the Events Forum here on KS). That way you can take a good look at your top candidates, ask questions and even come home with not only a snake, but the proper food items for it. Just remember to set up an enclosure before you go.

Best of luck choosing your first!

rgds,
althea

My first snake was a Redsided Garter. This was about 1966 when they were a dime a dozen at every petshop on the corner. It was colorful, pretty, docile, easy to handle, never musked or bit, small enough to be comfortable in a 10 gal aquarium, and an eager eater of worms fish and anything that smelt like them.

I know that times have changed - Kings, Corns and Balls are all the rage, inexpensive, available in tons of morphs, and now easy to feed with today's availability of frozen rodents. I would never discourage anyone from starting off with one of these fine snakes.

However! I would like to add that Garters make truly excellent first snakes, for all of the reasons I stated above. Also, Garters are now available captive bred, in colorful morphs, at reasonable prices. With all the hooplah surrounding the cutting edge world of custom Kings, Corns and Balls, I think its high time we remember how cool and sweet garters can be.

Regards,

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

My first snake was a gopher snake, but I had plenty of garter snakes soon after - and you are right, they are fairly easy to care for and can make good first snakes.

Gopher/pine/bull snakes also can make good first snakes, though my only experience with them is Pacific Gophers, and they could be really mean if collected as adults.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I would suggest a California Kingsnake.

A ball python is also a good choice if it is captive bred. Wild caught and farmed may be expensive in the vet bill department to keep them alive.

Corn snakes are also a good choice.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

My vote for a 1st snake is a kingsnake. Most aren't squirmy or biteful as hatchlings, and they get pretty docile. Most stay around 3-5 feet. I recently got hooked on Eastern Kings, but I have Graybands that are awesome. Pyro Knoblochis are nice and so are Pyro Pyros. Thayeri (variable Kings are nice too) Any of the kings mentioned by others are also nice. I don't know of a bad one, but sometimes you get unlucky. Derek

I would definately go to a reptile show, and hold and handle all kinds of snakes to see whate you like about them. I'm not a real big ball python fan, but that is just my preference. You should be able to find a ball at any show. Good Luck and take your time and don't rush into anything. You want to end up with a good one that you won't regret. Have Fun!!!!! Derek

Thank you all for your advice! I just purchased a pueblan milksnake and I'm going to pick him up this afternoon. I'm setting up his tank and was wondering if it matters if I go for a more jungle theme instead of a dessert? should I also put some sand in?

I have read about lots of people using sand in their enclosures only to find their snakes getting impacted and in the end they die. There are lots of other natural looking substrates that you can use. If you want natural looking, you can get nice real looking plants, natural looking substrates, and some log hides or anything you want. If you can't find what you want in a petstore, go online to some of the Breeders dealers and stores on this website. You should be able to find anything you want here. Remember, the more you have in there, the more it is to clean. Pueblans are secretive and like to hide a lot, but they seem like nice snakes. Good luck and post pics.

On Pueblans, NEVER!

--but on such snakes as Glossies, rosy and sand boas as well as vipers like sidewinders, saw scales and cerastes it is quite effective-with no danger of impaction--least with those I have kept on it.

Frank
-----
"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

What do you mean by impaction? I didn't really put enough for him to dig in

Impaction is when they ingest or swallow sand, it becomes trapped in their insides making it difficult to pass feces. They can eventually die. Their mouths are moist and their food can get sand on it. I wouldn't want to risk it. Derek

Check what the environment is like where PUeblans come from in Mexico. I'm sure it is quite humid. You're going to want a substrate that holds more humidity than sand will or aside from impactions you're going to have problems w/ your snake shedding. I live in the San Fernando Valley here in SoCal and because were a rather dry climate for most of the year I 've seen quite a few Milks from humid locales have trouble shedding. Good luck.

Chatsworth, CA
reako45

I use coconut fiber - it looks natural, allows the snake to dig, and it is completely organic and non toxic to reptiles.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata