Question:
I Want A Snake...?
princess_peach
2008-04-19 15:51:29 UTC
i want to get a snake, but i don't know any good beginner snakes...
i would like one that is relatively cheap as snakes go, beautiful, and sturdy enough to be held and taken out of it's tank..

i would appreaciate it if you put additional details (like needed tank size, feeding habits, max. growth size, etc.)in you answer please.

THANK YOU!
Ten answers:
anonymous
2008-04-19 18:12:34 UTC
I'd highly recommend a Rosy boa. They are one of my personal favorites, and match your description perfectly. :)



They are incredibly docile, one of the easiest snake species I’ve ever cared for, small, come in several different colors and localities, and all around are a wonderful (albeit often overlooked) snake. I've owned a few of them, so I’ll type out a short general care sheet; hopefully this will provide the information you’ll need should you consider one of these guys.



Temperament: They are very calm, slow-moving snakes. Generally quite docile, most are fine with handling, and they rarely, if ever, bite people. Mine have all been content to find a comfortable place on my hand or lap and just hang out, unlike Colubrids (like King snakes and Corn snakes), which always seem to have somewhere to go. ;)



Life expectancy: When properly cared for, a Rosy boa can live 20+ years in captivity.



Size: Males average 1.5-2.5 feet, females are generally 2.5-3 feet, some a tad larger, but rarely more then 3.5 feet.



Feeding: start babies on mice pinks, and build up to one large mouse per week for adults. The general rule of thumb is to feed a rodent about the same in diameter as the widest part of your snake’s body. They are generally quite enthusiastic feeders; I have never had one that was a reluctant eater.



Humidity: This is a really low humidity desert species. A small water dish is fine on the cool side of the tank, but misting is completely unnecessary for these guys.



Temperature: Mine have done best with a basking temperature in the high eighties, around 87-89 degrees, with an ambient (background) temperature of 77-80. This can be achieved by use of under-tank heating pads, incandescent heat bulbs, or ceramic heat emitters.



Cage size: a 20 gallon tank is ideal for a single adult, but a 10 gallon is adequate. Just make SURE the lid of the cage is very secure, as these guys are amazing escape artists.



Substrate: Mine have done best on eco-earth by zoo-med, as long as it is COMPLETELY dry before putting it in my snake's cage. Paper towels, aspen bedding, or even reptile sand (as long as you feed your snake in a separate container to prevent sand ingestion) also works very well.



Other good species of snake would be Kenyan Sand boas, Milk snakes, Ball pythons, Corn snakes, King snakes, and Childrens Pythons.



I hope this helps, and if you’d like any more information on the care and maintenance of this species or any of the other species I named (or would like to see pictures of my own snakes); please feel free to message me and I’d be more than happy to assist you. :)



Good luck!
Isabel
2008-04-19 17:02:36 UTC
I would sugest a corn snake as a first time snake.

Growth: About 4 ft

Lifetime: 20 years or more with good husbandry (breeder snakes tend to not live as long.)

You need pinkie mice, something that is about the size of 1.5 times the size of the snakes neck.

70 gallon tank will be fine for fully grown corns.

They feed quite nicely. The best of all snakes I have heard. They are also gorgeous.

Take good care of your new buddy. and Good luck! I have a corn snake and love her to bits. She has quite the personality. :)
cqdmgy1140
2008-04-19 19:14:18 UTC
May I suggest a Corn Snake? they don't get as large as a python, but they do get relatively four feet in length. I have one and it is gorgeous.They come in a large range of colors. They are durable and can be held. They suggest a minimum 20 gal tank for an adult. They eat mice which you can get a local pet store. if you need any more info just goggle Corn Snakes and that should help.
anonymous
2008-04-19 16:50:47 UTC
MILK SNAKES... Nelson milks snakes are extremely docile, they don't get enormous, and easily handled! I have an Albino Nelson, he is an absolute sweet heart, he is only a year and some change and fits perfect in a 20 gallon long tank. He should get about 4 feet in length when full grown and whats nice about the Nelson milk snakes is that their color don't fade with time, all his colors stay bright and in shed he turns pink like a star burst. My snake eat strictly pre- killed mice and I have him a pretty regular feeding schedule, Milk snakes have no problem eating pre- killed food. thats a big plus if you have people in your house that can't deal with live rodents. I have to say my Milk snake is the best reptile i ever had. I hope my joy with my milk snake helps you decide your choice in snake!
anonymous
2008-04-19 16:13:29 UTC
i think ball pythons are very good "beginner snakes". that is what i have and she is very calm and friendly. some of them are as cheap as $50. u start out with a 10-20 gal aquarium and buy them bigger tanks as they grow or you could just make it a lot easier and buy a very large tank. they eat about once a week. u just ask the people at the pet store for a feeder mouse and if u get the snake as it is still quite young, u have to buy tiny mice called pinkies but some of them will eat full-grown mice right away. once they get larger you can feed them rats or feed them about twice a week with mice. full grown ball pythons can grow to be 4 to 6 feet long. they need plenty of attention and care. you also need to use proper bedding that a vet or someone at a pet store advises or they could have trouble shedding since they use their bedding to help them shed. they need a water bowl they can "bathe" in, a hollow log or rock to burrow in, a heat lamp that can be turned off at night or switched to a night-time bulb, and they enjoy climbing vines.

good luck!!!
?
2016-11-08 06:19:55 UTC
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ashley_bruce13
2008-04-19 15:58:10 UTC
im not an expert in this area but i do know that corn snakes and pall pythons are good beginner snakes. They tolerate handling and even show some personality.

I would HIGHLY recommend going to repticzone.com. They are experts at this kind of stuff and kept me from making stupid mistakes when i got my bearded dragon and leopard gecko.

Good luck!
anonymous
2008-04-19 16:02:41 UTC
ball pythons are the best IMHO very friendly, never bite or show aggression, love to be handled.i have three different snakes and my ball python is the best of the three. just make sure you get it from a breeder, not petsmart or petco, their snakes come in underfed, cramped dehydrated, loaded with parasites and often infections. for more information go to www.kingsnakes.com BTW ball python breeders are everywhere so you should have no problem finding a nice healthy one.
fish boy Rohan
2008-04-19 18:54:51 UTC
snakes are terrible pets get a turtle or a fish
anonymous
2008-04-19 15:58:28 UTC
You can't have mine! lol


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