Reptile & Amphibian Forums

And I was wondering what is the best "beginner" snake. I keep Leopard Geckos and have done a lot of research on a lot of snakes but I don't think I'm up to wrestling a ball, or anything, lol. So any help is appreciated.
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Modern Geckos
Josh Ellis
My Email
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Not sure what you mean by wrestling with a ball - but my first snake was a ball python. He is great. Of course you have to be prepared for them being a difficult feeder (I got lucky mine wasn't). My second was a Kenyan Sand Boa. I think either of them make great first snakes. The Kenyan has seemed to be less work (not that the Ball was much more work). It seems that a lot of people recommend corns, kings, balls, rosies and kenyans as good first time snakes.

What exactly are you looking for in a snake - what are your requirements (size, etc)?
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1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I went with the corn snake because they stay under 4-5 foot long and from what I read they are a good beginner snake. I've had mine for a year now and they have been doing great. They eat well and are docile with handling. They also come in all sorts of colors and 'designs'. I have a amel and a ghost. This is my ghost Janome:

This is my ghost Janome:

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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I heard that they could be difficult snakes all around. But I don't know how true that is.

I don't have any real "requirements", except for the fact that I don't want it to be over 5 feet long. I'm thinking corn, but I don't know.

Thanks guys!
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Modern Geckos
Josh Ellis
My Email
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My first was a albino sororan gopher I think she would eat a horse if I gave it to her LOL

about your gopher....I'm thinking of getting a sonoran and I'm trying to figure out what would be a good sized tub (for a rack setup) to put it in. I know height is not a big deal with them, but how much floor space does one need as an adult? I'm looking at 32qt tubs (24x17x6) - is that too small?
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I just measured her for this post 53" so just over 4 feet at seven years old I have her in a 50gal tank beacuse she was my first snake and got a REALLY good deal on it $25 it was a steal. I think people say one and a half times the length of the snake so you cage would work for a while. But she is not very active LOVES to hide in her poster tube. It is so funny when I go to feed her she just opens her mouth like ok go ahead put in. I have to make her fight me for it. yes she is too fat right now getting ready to breed her for the 3rd time no eggs last year hopefully this year. my male still needs another year before he can do the work.

There are some beautiful corn morphs to choose from. I plan on getting one this year also. I don't have experience with them, but from what others say they seem to be good first time snakes. I'd say the only difficult thing about Ball pythons is the chance that they will go off feed. This can be frustrating for new herpers. I've not heard this to be a big issue with corns.
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Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python
"Aragorn"

1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
"Gimli"

1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake
"Indigo"

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I'd recommend the corn snake as the best pet quality snake. I consider factors such as feeding, temperature, space, temperament, and attractiveness (many color and pattern varieties in corn snakes).

One largely ignored species that makes a good captive is the black milk snake. They are a bit jittery when their young, but totally calm as adults. They may grow larger than 5 feet, but make up for it by being TERRIFIC feeders, docile, and have lower temperature requirements (can thrive at temps of mid 70's w/o supplemental heating- they AVOID temps in the 80's and above) and slower metabolism. Imagine a very calm 6 foot black snake that needs to be fed only every 2-3 weeks (and never refuses this meal), can be kept in an enclosure smaller than most 6 foot snakes require, and poops once every couple weeks in compact logs with little odor. Very low maintenance, but an very impressive animal.

Black milks have exceeded 7 feet in length, but this is rare. Just over 5 feet would be average.