Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I'm an old school Kingsnaker--- used to hang around awhile back through 2000,2001 -- came back a couple times- forgot logins, etc...

I by no means consider myself a novice herper, and currently have the time/money available to do add something to my home. After some time looking, researching, and the honost reality of wanting to try something new, I've decided on adding a snake.

For whatever the reason I currently find myself being drawn to Pine snakes. I saw a plain gray one a few years back at the Novi, Michigan herp show and have since had a liking for them.

After doing a little more research into the other "like" species out there, I've also find myself leaning towards Mexican Black Kingsnake. Throw in the mix that I read a lot about ball pythons being the perfect "first snake" - I figured I'd ask the experts (you guys) what you would suggest or what I should stay away from.

Here is the short list of things I'm not looking for:

1) something i need to dedicate a room in my house for a 15-30ft roommate.
2) Trying to keep it under 10-14ft would be nice.

Here are what I've been looking at.

Kings, corns, pines, b.pythons, -- anything that would range from a 20L aquarium to a 6ftx2ft (something I'd probably fabricate).

I'm looking more for suggestions on traits more than colors.
I'd also like to purchase the snake from a site member or sponsor.

Thank you for your time

Scott

I like them all, but the others don't hold a candle to my ball python!
Boneiface

I think you would really enjoy the pine snakes. All the Pits,(pines,bulls,gophers) are nice snakes and have been some of my favorite to keep. They're fairly active and most have pretty docile temperments.

Balls have a good temperment but their finicky eating habits turn a lot of people off from them. If your looking for an active snake to set on display they probably wouldn't be best for that either. At least my balls and others I know don't spend a whole lot of time in the open.

There are also a number of different rat snake species and even some of the smaller pythons that have good attitudes and great colors, but if you are wanting to choose between the pines, balls and corns, I'd go with the pines, you'll love them!

Good luck on your snake quest! Let us know what you get
-----
--SneakySnakesINC--

1.0 Sonoran Gopher Snake(Oshy)
1.0 Macklot's Python (Pixel)
0.1 Ball Python (Nagini)
0.1 Yellow Rat Snake (Ember) ((MIA))
1.0 Albino Black Rat Snake (Vegas)
1.0 Smooth Earth Snake (Little Zuni)
1.0 Citrus X red phase bearded dragon (Twyman)
1.1 Oriental Fire Bellied Toads (Spott and Dott)
0.2 American Toads (Bertha and Ethel)
1.0 SE Fine Lined Skink (BeBo)
2.0 Equines (Sherlock the draft and Cleatis the donkey)
4.0 Felines (Caesar Ray, Pharoh, Phoenix, Boomer)
1.0 WC boyfriend (Ryan)

I would recommend rosy boas, they have someof thebest temperaments!
-----
1.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Mexican Rosy Boa
1.0 Coastal Carpet Python
2.1 Miniature Daschund

Since you are asking. I've had pines in the past and all have been hissing machines. They have varried from a little jumpy too so bad they hissed and struck at the glass everytime I walk in the room. There might be calm pines out there but I've never seen one. I've have one mexican black king he is nice, but musks frequently.I do have a black milk that is real calm and a great eater. Corn snakes are generally pretty nice and come in many colors. Ball pythons in my opinion are too calm might as well have a pet rock. Buddy.

for the first snake,think fairly small,and docile.that way,they make it easier to build confidence in your own handlig skills,like taking them out to clean cages,or just to plain handle.by fairly small,i mean something that probably won't get any larger than 5' or so.
i think that the best beginner snakes would be either a kingsnake or a corn snake.very calm,very easy to keep,and very hardy.the only drawbacks for kings are that you usually have to keep them seperate,due to possible cannabilism,and that the kings that i've had usually shared the same sneaky way of bitibg.they would be laying their heads on the side of my arm,all nonchalant,and just turn their heads and take a nip,no striking or anything other warning.
thanks to many,many private breeders,corns are now available in hundreds of pattern/color combinations(my personal fave being the ghost stripe).
if you do decide on a python or boa,keep in mind that a lot of them fairly large.the smallest ones would be the rosy,rubber,and sand boas,and the ball,children's,and spotted pythons.most are very calm and even-tempered,but there are exceptions from time to time.
which ever way you go,do yourself 2 favors;1,always buy captive bred(cb)reptiles,and 2,buy yourself a yearling at the youngest.they are already established,eating and growing,and the seller can usually tell you how what and how often it eats.
a fun way to find your first snake is to attend a reptile show,where a bunch of snake vendors get together.you'll have a large selection to choose from,you can find something in virtually any price range,and you can actually touch and hold/examine the snake before you buy it,as opposed to buying online,where you have to trust the seller,(not usually a problem,either),as to it's temperment and general well-being.
well i think that that's enough ranting on my part,the choice is up to you!good luck!
-----
1.1 cb spotted turtles (parker(f),stinky(m))
0.0.1 cb baby red cheek mud (pickles)
0.0.1 cb baby chiapas musk (chomper)
0.0.1 cb ally snapper (gamera)
1.0 cb homo sapien(kaelan,5)

"my name is inigo montoya...you killed my father.prepare to die."

To preface my first message-

I currently have a bearded dragon, water dragon, 3 leos, 2 afts -- I've had all of them ranging between 6-9 years. I've purchased all from this site (sponsors) or from herp shows (attended probably 100 over the last 10 years).

I've just started this post as my beginning steps into acquiring a new addition. I am not in a hurry and I plan on doing my homework.

Thanks for your responses thus far- please keep them coming if you have any more input.

I don't know much about the Pit group, but if you're looking for a first snake, I would steer away from ball pythons. I'm not knocking the species; they're great snakes. I just wouldn't suggest it for a first snake. As others have said - they can be difficult feeders. Also, they tend to be about as active as a hunk of wood.

If you're looking for a relatively easy keeper, I would recommend a kingsnake (Brooksi, Cal king, Mex. Black king, Eastern king). It's rare for them to miss a meal. They can be a little nippy as babies, but most young snakes will be defensive until they get some size and age on them.

Here's my MAIN 2 cents: snakes are individuals. Don't select/dismiss a species just because you did/didn't like a certain snake.

Good luck!

-----
0.1 Banded California kingsnake - Zorro
1.0 Betta fish - Billy
0.0.3 White Cloud Fish
1.0 RES - Chopstick
0.1 Australian Shepherd - Jet
2.1 Domestic Shorthair Mix Cats - Seal, Robert Bob, & Pirate

for a first, I'd stay away from ball pythons.

every one that I've seen developed strange eating habits as it aged, suddenly refusing rats that it once would eat. They can be quite picky regarding the color of their food.

I would suggest finding a pine, rat or king that looks appealing and do a little homework on it.

Corns and black rats are probably the easiest to care for. Same with the brooks king. The mexican Night Snake (elaphe flavirufa) is a bit squirmy at first but calms down quickly and is absolutely beautiful.

intermontanes are great since they only reach about 36" and can stay on fuzzies as adults. (mine is fed for $12 a year).
-----

The Reticulated Rattler

1.0.0 Great Plains Ratsnake
1.0.0 Corn, Lavender Aztec het for Amel
0.1.0 Black Ratsnake
0.0.1 Texas Rat (tame)
1.0.0 Broad Banded Water Snake, Hypo
1.0.0 Black Bassador Retriever
2.1.0 Godchildren, 1 Evil, 2 possible hets

I'll put in $0.02. I own a Bull, Cal King, and Rainbow Boa. I've never had a Ball, so I won't say anything negative about them that's just here-say to me. But, my experience with the king and boa have been great. The bull was wild caught in the backyard, and it's got a bit of a temper, but still totally possible to handle. The other two, unless they haven't been fed in a while, are extremely docile and handle great. The Boa (Brazilian) seems to handle a little bit better, she's nipped me once. She's also unbelievably gorgeous. I bought the king as a baby, and in the little more than a year I've had him, he's put his mouth on me 3 times, only 1 of which i would say was painful, but not terrible. The king and bull are definitely more active, regularly out during the day- the BRB is much more secretive. So, I'll throw a positive recommendation behind the King if you want a calm animal that's fairly active (and so many cool morphs! mine is albino & banded), and the BRB if you want something incredibly docile (this is individual though, of course.) Good luck, and happy... well, not hunting, but, researching?
-----
cdohna.googlepages.com
1.0.0 WC SD Gopher Snake, Max
1.0.0 CB Albino Banded Cal King, Manny
0.1.0 CB BRB, Mucalinda