First snake suggestions?

Question

I am looking for suggestions on a first snake. I am looking for a common snake (not hard to find), I want him to be bigger (Average-Normal size of 6-7 feet long), "meaty", docile, hearty eater and last but not least I (my wife) wants him/her to have nice coloration and patterns.

I've looked at (for starters) corn snake, king snake, ball python, boa's, - pretty much all the snakes that are common with "first snake / starter snake typed into a search engine"

The closest i've been able to come up with, with tons of research in the last few days, is a male red tail boa.

If you have any suggestions that may be closer to what I want than this please let me know - Thanks in advance

Answer 1

spider ball python they are  so sweet!!!!

Answer 2

Well as a starter snake I would recommend a ball python but you have already got that down. And I am pretty sure you have done research on it.

Red tail boas are really "cool" and all but the problem with them is the fact that when they hit maturity they can get aggressive. So it would be best to get them when they are around 3-4 feet just to be on the safe side.

A male red tail boa don't get up but to big(around 7-8 max) compare to a female who could get up to 12 feet but also more expensive.

But just starting on snakes...go with a corn snake or a ball python. But I would go with corn snake over ball python just because they are much much much better eaters then the ball pythons.  

Also if you want color and patterns then a corn snake would be a way to go. They are very colorful so it isn't just a dull black and white or just a brownish.

Also remember that snakes are very unpredictable. They can strike or bite at any given time for no reason. So if you have children just keep an eye on the snake and your child...same goes for house pets.

Hope this could help a little bit...just email me if you have any more questions....I stop buying red tail boas when they are babies a long time ago because when she hit maturity she became aggressive and does bite a lot(even when you walk right by the tank) and there is nothing I could do because they is how they are. It doesn't matter how much you hold them when they are little.

Answer 3

well ball pythons are honestly the best starter snake to get. king snakes are not, just to let you know. a boa is for more experienced snake owners. i have 5 ball pythons. i love them, they are the best starter snake for anyone. i am just getting into breeding them too. i may seem experienced. but my family got a free boa, we rescued it. it is such a pain! they get big, the p**p like large breed dogs, and they never want to go back into their cage. this goes for all boas. so your best choice is a ball python. if you get a boa, be prepared for a challenge. heres 3 sites. one is a ball python care sheet, another is a ball python photo gallery of every ball python morph, and the last is a red tail boa care sheet.

ball care sheet

http://www.kingsnake.com/ballpythonguide...

ball morphs

http://www.newenglandreptile.com/nerd/in...

boa care sheet

http://www.anapsid.org/boa.html

good luck!

Answer 4

As the person before me said size wise the redtail boa fits what you want if and only if you get a male if you get a female you will be looking at a 12 foot snake when at adult hood, but why do you need your snake to be 7 to 8 feet? I am goin to suggest a ball python http://www.newenglandreptile.com/nerd/     Check out that website if your wife wants cool patterns and colorations you cant go wrong with ball python morphs that site will show you lots of morphs on the market.

Answer 5

you pretty much have all the info.  the corn and kings come in a variety of beautiful colors but they stay skinny.  the red tail is a beautiful snake.  the dumeril's boa i think is a gorgeous snake.  their pattern looks like flowers to me.  they are a meaty snake and get about 6' long or so.  our next snake is going to be a female dumeril's and it's name will be flower.

http://market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?c...

Answer 6

my first snake was a male red tail boa, and they make great first snake pets. at first i was terrified to hold him or anything, but he never bit me and i've come to find out hes the sweetest thing! he loves to be held and has a great temperament. he also isn't hard to maintain. he eats about once a week and doesn't p**p that much! they make great first snakes and i think if you go with a red tail you won't be disappointed. hes about a year old now and at 4 1/2 feet long and i've read that he will get about 7 to 8 feet. so its not monstrous, but not something small either. i <3 him! you should get one =]