What is a good snake, for a first time owner?

Question

My cousin Jenny is getting a snake soon, and is letting me go help her pick. I dont know much about snakes, and neither does she, what is a good type of snake for a first time owner?

Answer 1

dont get a ball python they are very picky eaters. get a rosy boa, rubber boa, sand boa they are small docile and great eaters. they are cheap clean and low maintenance  

Answer 2

I would suggest getting a captive breed python, or a cornsnake as your first snake. Captive breed snakes are more personable and easier to handle. Keep in mind that a snake is a snake nonetheless and is a wild animal. I've had my python for a short period of time now and I am loving it. The only problem I have run into is that my snake gets stressed, and when this happens he doesn't like to eat. Go to a local pert store and ask plenty of questions if you really want a snake as a pet, or google your question on-line. Also as a first time snake owner you want to make sure you get all the adequate supplies the snake will need.  Make sure when buying a snake you find out when was it's last feeding, and check it's body for mites or any other kinds of parasites.  Good luck

Answer 3

between a ball python are a king snake my teacher had one really nice  

Answer 4

Before your cousin gets any snake, make sure she looks up a few 'care sheets' that you can find online rather easily. What someone may suggest as an easy snake may not coincide with what your cousin wants in a reptile.

Ribbon snakes ("Garters") are extremely easy to keep. They don't get insanely long like your constrictors. They also eat worms, frogs, and can be coaxed into eating "pinky" mice instead of full-grown mice or rats that can be a little intimidating for a first time owner. I've noticed they are much cheaper than constrictors. Just make sure to ask if it's captive bred, since many ribbons can be cought outside (there's one with a den in my front yard), and wild animals are much more likely to have parasites and definately won't be tame!

Answer 5

(Garter snakes are very stinky from experience and they'll p**p on you as a defense).  I have a fox snake and a western hognose snake that I teach with, are great, and are handled easily (with supervision of course) by my children.  The hognose is in my opinion a "cute" looking snake with its upturned nose. It isa  very docile species and won't get very long (15-36").  A perfect snake for someone who doesn't want to end up with snake housing problems down the road.  They have very interesting behaviors (look this up!) and they eat simple mice.

Answer 6

Good beginner snakes are Ball Pythons, Children's Pythons, King snakes, and Corn snakes.  Kings can be a bit feisty, though.

Google each, and see what the care is (heat, humidity, tank size for an adult, whether or not it needs UVB, etc.) and make an informed choice.

I always recommend feeding frozen/thawed food, as live food can injure and scar a snake.

http://www.carolinacornsnakes.com/topten...

http://cornsnakes.com/forums/  

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

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

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/pythons/a...

http://www.kingsnake.com

http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/3737...

http://www.tinypythons.com/caresheet_chi...

Enjoy the new pet.

I hope this has been helpful

Answer 7

Get a corn, once you get one you will be addicted...

Answer 8

garter snake definately.thats what i had anyway.just make sure that cage lid is on tight

Answer 9

Cornsnakes make great first snakes. They don't get that big, they're easy to care for and come in many different patterns. Check out the link below. It's a caresheet.

http://centralpets.com/animals/reptiles/...

Answer 10

king, milk or corn snakes or great for a first time owner because they don't get too big.  i suggest to go to a reptile convention if there is one near you happening soon.  the people there are very experienced breeders and can give you lots of tips on caring and housing your snake.

here's a site to a retile breedr place that has conventions: http://irba.com/events.htm

Answer 11

Definately a ball python, they are wonderful snakes, very friendly and easy to handle and very easy to care for. They are also inexpensive unless you are getting a designer bread. They are GREAT pets.

Answer 12

look it up on google,

and get one thats harmless,

and dosent bite, or squeeze you to death.

heh.

Answer 13

Some good beginners are King and Milk snakes, Corn snakes, and Ball pythons. They all require at least a 20gallon long but you can go larger have a hide spot like a half a log or plastic cave a water dish and substrate, you can use newspaper, aspen snake bedding, reptile carpet or coconut bark and don't need any uv light like allot of lizards and turtles but you do need a heat source such as a heat mat or heat lamp and thermometer and feeding only needs to occur once a week to every other week hope this helps good luck.

Answer 14

CORN SNAKES___==they are the BEST++__++--==