Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for my first snake. I am trying to decide on a species to get, and I think it's really between a ball python, cornsnake, and a milk snake (pretty standard for a first snake, maybe with the exception of the milk).

I was looking at a pueblan at a pet store yesterday and it was really spastic. When I held it, I basically had to restrain it while it flopped like a fish, trying to get away from me.

Should this solely be attributed to the fact that it was a young snake, and in a pet store, or are milksnakes much more edgy than cornsnakes and boas (both of which I have held a good deal)?

If I get one, once it gets tame, can I expect to be able to hold it while it climbs and explores my hands and arms?

Anyway, I'm probably leaning towards a ball python now. Since I've basically excepted the fact that I'm going to get hooked and want more snakes, I'll probably get the milksnake second.

many of them calm down as adults (it can take a couple of years). But in general, I don't regard pueblans as good handling snakes.
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Chris Harrison

...he was beginning to realize he was the creature of a god that appreciated the discomfort of his worshippers - W. Somerset Maugham

What about other milk snakes such as Sinoloans or Hondourans?

I have two hatchling honduran milksnakes and they are very high strung, they do much the same as you described, except they also musk and bite me. They are not the greatest snakes for handling, I suggest the cornsnake or ball python as a first snake and the milk as a second.
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2.1 Bearded Dragon
1.1 Honduran Milksnake
1.0 Jungle Carpet Python
0.1 Desert Kingsnake
1.0 Western Hognose Snake
1.0 Bull Mastiff

Most all hatchling colubrids are flighty. I produce over a hundred yearly and find little difference between an Okeetee and a Pueblan. Both calm well with age, corns more so. I wouldn't suggest a ball for a first snake, personally. I've had too many go off feed-something you will almost NEVER hear about with a corn, and seldom with an established milk. Email me and I may have an extra.

I have 3 yearling Oreo Pueblans that are pretty bad with being handled. They were "horrible" when I got them 4 months ago, now they're merely "awful". They squirm and musk, but have never tried to bite. A 3 year old Pueblan that I have will try to get away from me in his cage, but once he's out, he's fairly mellow.

On the other hand, I bought a yearling Hypo Honduran and he was and is the calmest snake I own. I also picked up 2 "03" Hypo Honduran hatchlings. They're clutchmates and they're different as night and day. One is very calm and the other squirms, musks, and bites.

IMO, the Hondurans seem to be a little better at being handled than the Pueblans, but with any animal, there's no guarantee. I'd suggest that you check out a reptile show if you have one near you. You'd have a bigger selection to choose from and you could get a basic idea of how an indivdual snake behaves when being handled by the breeder.

I guess it all depends. I've had the same problems with milk snakes but I recently got a male pueblan and he's actually quite calm for a milk snake. I can handle him and he's very docile. I then got a female pueblan a few weeks later and she's a fiesty one. Thrashes wildly and tries to get away ever chance she get. She almost got away from me the last time I held her because I didn't want to restrain her and hurt her. My favorite snake in my collection at the moment is my gray band alterna phase. His temperament is that of a corn snake. Very docile and calm. But I agree, a milk snake should probably be your second choice. Good Luck.