Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i dont know which snake to get. i am 11 yrs. old and need to know whats a good starter snake?

i am leaning toward 3 different kinds.

Garter Snakes,

Cornsnakes,
or
Ball Pythons

if anyone has all 3 plese reply and tell me which one is the best starter snake.

THANX!

Hiya,

Before you get your snake make sure you have everything you need.

Heating: You'll want heat lamp or under tank heater to keep your snake warm. Each type of snake has different heating needs. If you don't provide the right temperatures your snake could get sick, or have trouble digesting his food.

Hides: Give them a nice place to hide out. One for the hot area of the cage and one for the cooler area. So the snake can choose which shelter to use. Ball pythons like a hide that's very close fitting. It should only be high enough inside so that they touch the top.

Water bowl: A bowl of water that can't be knocked over, so the snake has a place to drink and take baths They poop in the water too, so you have to check it every day.

Garter Snakes: Garters are curious snakes and like to explore their enclosure. I have mine in a 75 gallon tank. They spend most of the time in their warm hide, but often explore every inch and even climb the branch I have in there. You can feed them Rosie feeder fish and guppies from the pet store, as well as minnows, leaches, and pinky mice. Don't feed them goldfish. When they eat fish, they poop a LOT so you have to clean the cage more often.

Corn Snakes: The corn I babysat was a great pet, and he was a bit less shy than the garter. They make a great starter snake, and you can feed them mice, so they poop less.

Ball Pythons: I don't have one of these yet, but I suggest waiting until you've had another snake for a while before you get one. They are very sensitive, and will stop eating for all kinds of reasons. They are also very shy, and shouldn't be handled all the time.

The choice is up to you though. If you know you can take good care of any of these species on your own, or have someone you trust to help you then you're off to a good start. Pick the one that YOU want the most, then learn everything you can about taking care of it. Once you buy it, that reptile will depend on you for its life.

Best of luck