Greetings. I just joined today, though I've been doing a lot of reading. I'm now retired from the military, having been disabled in-the-line-of-duty and sent home to retirement. I've got a lot of time on my hands.
The last time I kept snakes was as a kid, but now I'd like to get back into the hobby, and I actually have the wife's support to do so, despite her having nearly stepped on a genuine Puff Adder as a child, and having been confronted by a spitting cobra in the yard at the family home in South Africa. She's a resilient girl, LOL!
Anyway, I'm about to get my first snake in years, hopefully to be followed by many to come, and I had started out thinking I'd get a Corn Snake. Then I started exploring this site. I'm now also considering a banded California Kingsnake and a few others. But the one that has really caught my eye is the Sonoran Gopher Snake. Upon seeing a photo, my wife and I both agreed that it is one of the most beautiful species available.
My question is, would it be an appropriate species to acquire as a first snake since back when I was capturing wild snakes as a kid? Is the Sonoran Gopher mild enough and easy enough to keep to be a good beginner snake, or would I be better off to ease back into the herp hobby with a mild-mannered Corn Snake?
Thanks for the advise!
Rick
