I started with eyelashes. They are great little snakes. Not too hot to start with, stays small, and don't need a large enclosure. It can be tough at first to get them to eat regularly and some people don't like cutting up pinkies (babies start on pinkie parts and then move up to heads). A good old copperhead is probably a better choice for a first hot since antivenin is easily available if needed, but as far as arboreals go i like the eyelash.