Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking of getting a snake but want to be informed before I do. WHat would you suggest for a first time snake?

My sister had a beautiful corn snake that was gentle and mild.

What are some things to consider when purchasing a snake?

Thanks

What they will eat, how often, are they handible, what size enclosure they take, what king of lighting they take. Garters are fun, only take ten gallon for one, eat fish are tamable, and are easily and cheaply aquired, like fifteen dollars. Also, a mistake i kept making when i first started collecting was that i always aquired nocturnal species of herps, which you can't watch diring the day without minipulating the time of day.
Good luck with snakes, Nick H.

Try to get a captive bred specimen if possible, and one that is already well esablished and feeding on thawed food if possible.

This way, you'll be more likely to have a parasite-free, healthy snake that won't be a hassle to feed.

Good choices for beginners are corn snakes, garter snakes as Nick mentioned, although you may need to feed them live food, rosy boas are good if they are already feeding well when you buy them...also some, but not all of the kingsnakes are good beginner choices, California kings are probably the easiest.

Consider size, heating and feeding needs, temperment.
Don't get something with very specialized needs as a first snake...it'll only frustrate you.

Corn snakes are deffinitly the best. Lets go over some pros and cons

pro: Not too big, only about 3'
pro: Only need about a 20gl tank
pro: Come in many many different colors morphs
pro: Most morphs are $15-40
pro: Very calm
pro: Can eat one large mouse a week

Con: Not as impressive as a 7' Bull snake
Con: Young corns can be nervous
Con: Very good at escaping (make sure you have a good lid)
Con: Very Very addictive =^-^=

All I can say after this is reaserch the Heck out of what ever snake you pick.
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People Who Say Money Can't Buy You Happiness Obviously Didn't Know Where To Buy A Herp

Good points on the corn except they exceed 5'(in Florida at least).
But to put the easiest of the easiest out there...

Our Florida kingsnakes are Extremely hardy, easy to keep. And almost always personable (males tend to be more so than females).
Size to 6'. It is one of those snakes that really takes talent to kill when they are mature.

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

, but some of the kingsnakes can really be more fun, IMO. Though corns are the "classic" first time snake, but if your like me, I don't want just what everyone else has. But to say that everyone dousn't have a king would be a huge understatment. Bottom line-get a king or a corn. Good luck with whatever you choose. here is a photo of one of the calmest , and easist to care for king snakes. A prairie king.-Brett

, and are more active than the other suggestions. A yellow rat snake.-Brett

they grow huge. like seven feet, and you would need a large, expensive enclosure to provide for it, and if you are a biggener, it may be hard to build your own set-up nicely. it took me awile to get used to building 'em... I stated out with local critters like fences and alli-gater lizerds...

That really depends on availability to your local petstore. A chain king or yellow rat can be comfortably kept in a 55gl aquarium as adults (which in my part of the country goes for about $100. At that; a king up to 3' is comfortable in a ten. The big (and I mean Big plus is that larger snakes like these are often easier for a "newbe" to keep. Besides that Garter's average 4' for the females as adults, so they are not that small either, and to my experience 50-50 on being nice or nippy.

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

First of all, Kudos for investigating a snake BEFORE you buy. Seems like so many buy the snake first and then post urgent messages asking how to care for their new animal. I agree with the two previous posts. I think corns are really easy to care for as long as you consider a few basic requirements, heat, feeding, and tank size. etc

I would add that you might want to take a look at the care sheet link above and read about the requirements of each snake.

As a graduate student in college right now, I don't have a lot of free time, but having three snakes isn't much work at all. In fact, I find it very stress relieving and fun handling them and cleaning out their cages!

Anyway, take a look at the care sheet link above and look at the requirements for corns, balls pythons, garters, and sand boas.

Would stear clear of green anacodas and gaboon vipers for now!

Jesse
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1.0 Corn Snake
"Mr. Hat"
1.0 Ball Python
"Kitty"