First/only snake poll

[Guy]

Hi All,

I'm a new member who has considered getting a snake off and on for a few years. I registered here in order to do more research; I'm probably not that close to taking the leap yet.

I'm torn about what snake I like best. (I've never had a snake.) I can only get one (personal choice due to other pets/budget), so I want to make the right choice. I'd like something not too large that is docile and active/a good display animal. I don't want something that's going to hide all day. Also want something with "personality."

I've really fallen for the western hognose and the Mexican black kingsnake. I like their looks and suitability for beginners. I've looked through some posts, but what do you like best about these?

I've wondered one thing about the hognose: Can they be trickier to handle because of their small size? I see how kingsnakes and corns wrap around an arm.

I also really like these snakes:

Dekay's brown snake
Baird's ratsnake
Gray-banded kingsnake
Thayeri kingsnake
Miami phase cornsnake

Thanks.

[Minkness]

Both are great choices! I have an MBK that is my first, and supposed to be my only. She is a dream to handle and moderately active I'd say. My reasons for going with an MBK as my first was it's temperment, looks, size, ease of care, good eater, and price.

That being said, I will be adding a western hognose in a fee months. Probably a female as they get a bit larger and thicker than the males where ad MBKs are basically the same size male or female. As I do not yet have experience with a hoggie, I will only tell you what I have heard of them. Much like the MBK they are docile and a good size with easy care. The drawbacks I have heard of so far is that some may stay burrowed and hide alot, but others may be more active and that they can be a bit more of a finicky eater, especially when young.

I'm sure someone with far more experience will be better help.

Welcome to your new addiction!

[Aaron_S]

MBK's are pretty awesome. However I think the corn snake is the ultimate "first time", new keeper, beginner snakes. It has no down sides!

[Jim Smith]

To Aaron's point, Corn snakes do make excellent first time snakes, however you need to check to make sure it is legal to keep them in the state you live in. For example here in Georgia, it is illegal to keep corn snakes no matter what morph it is, because they are indigenous to the state. Also, you might want to add Honduran Milk Snakes to your list of possible first time/only snakes as they are readily available, not too expensive, easy to care for, great attitude and come in a wide variety of beautiful morphs. Just a thought...

[Guy]

Thanks for all of the great feedback! Minkness, we are kindred spirits! Good luck with your second acquisition.

[reptiledude987]

I had to go with the grey banded king as it was my first snake I bought and she was great and will always hold a special place in my heart. Found her to be easy to care for as well and never had any feeding issues.

[Aaron_S]

Jim is absolutely correct! First thing in being a responsible reptile keeper is knowing, respecting and following your State, municipal and federal laws/bylaws.

Once that's done here is the list of reasons why corns are awesome.

Husbandry difficulty? Easy and very forgiving of mistakes.
Temperment? Calm.
Feeding? Great eaters.
Options? Many colour and patterns.
Expensive? Can find one within your budget in many colours and patterns.
Breeding? Easy.

Has all the facets of what makes a great first snake.

[drumcrush]

MBK was my first snake and I do not regret it, I love my girl to death! She is super chill. Join the MBK club! :D

[drumcrush]

Oh I'd also consider a garter. My lil albino is packed full of energy! She is always out and about! Very curious:) she is super chill when handling, I'm hoping for her to get at least 3 ft. Males typically stay stay smaller around 2(ish) ft. Depending on the species of garter

[Guy]

Thanks for all of the great feedback.

Reptiledude987, I really see the appeal of the gray-banded. What a neat snake.

Aaron, 10-4. The corn snake is legal where I live (Minnesota). I really do like everything I read about it, and I love the look of the Miami phase.

Drumcrush, that's good to hear about how chill your snake is! I've read a lot about how king snakes can be a bit feistier than other species, although I've also read that MBKs are mellower than other king snakes. I've considered the garter, too, as I like the idea of a smaller snake in a larger, more naturalistic vivarium. That's one reason why the Dekay's is high on my list. But am I the only one who thinks garters always look so angry because of the way their eyes/faces are built? Haha.

[Derek1]

For ease of care, display, and size Garter is tough to beat. My Garter is by far my most active as he rarely is not crawling around. No special heating only ambient temps and a great eater of pinkies, fish and worms.

That said my Cal King is my favorite. Very docile, great eater, and easy to care for just not as active, but she's still very young only about 8 months old, and she's getting more active. I'll be getting another King at the next Reptile show in February.

[Minkness]

A garter is totally going to be my 3rd snake. Going to do a bioactive like Derek and probably not do too much handling (so I say now lol).

While good looking and active, it's hit or miss if one is flighty or docile it seems. Also, from what I have heard others talk about, the females are easier to handle than the males wjile both stay fairly active in the enclosure. =)

Seriously though, for a one and only, I'd still say that a MBK is the way to go if you find their shiny, raven blackness as awesome as a more patterned snake. That was one of the reasons I went with an MBK as well...my faaaaavorite color is black. ^_^

[Guy]

A garter is totally going to be my 3rd snake. Going to do a bioactive like Derek and probably not do too much handling (so I say now lol).

While good looking and active, it's hit or miss if one is flighty or docile it seems. Also, from what I have heard others talk about, the females are easier to handle than the males wjile both stay fairly active in the enclosure. =)

Seriously though, for a one and only, I'd still say that a MBK is the way to go if you find their shiny, raven blackness as awesome as a more patterned snake. That was one of the reasons I went with an MBK as well...my faaaaavorite color is black. ^_^


Yeah, I also really love the sleekness of solid coloration, especially black.

[drumcrush]

Male garters are typically the flighty ones. but they're all flighty as babies. Mine grew out of that pretty fast. One day as i was exchanging her water, she came up to my hand and drank water off of it. It was really interesting.

but MBKs jet black, glossy color is hard to beat. I eventeventually want to get a pure white snake just to balance it lol

[Minkness]

Drum, I have totally had that idea myself, and thought about getting a lucistic Texas ratsnake. However, after researching other kinds and putting color aside, can't beat a hoggie or garter lol. I have seen pics floating around of a lucistic hoggie, but not seen any for sale yet. Even if they were though, they would be well outside of my price range lol. My fave hoggie morph is the red or axantic supercondas. Loooove me some patternless snakes lol.

[drumcrush]

Drum, I have totally had that idea myself, and thought about getting a lucistic Texas ratsnake. However, after researching other kinds and putting color aside, can't beat a hoggie or garter lol. I have seen pics floating around of a lucistic hoggie, but not seen any for sale yet. Even if they were though, they would be well outside of my price range lol. My fave hoggie morph is the red or axantic supercondas. Loooove me some patternless snakes lol.

Leucistic Texas rat, exactly what I was thinking haha

I'm supposed to be getting a ball python next but I don't know what's going on with the lady I'm getting it from soo if that doesn't work out, I plan on getting a BCI which is what I originally wanted to get next

[Minkness]

Yes, but those Texas ratsnakes have an attitude lol. I would LOVE a black eyed lucey BP and I'm not a huge BP fan, but....yes please! I also like Banana BPs as well lol. And if they weren't venomous, lucistic cobra! Rawr! Lol

[Derek1]

Love Texas Rat snakes. Probably has to do where from I live. :p I catch wild every year. Just to catch and release, I have yet to keep one though. They can put on a feisty display but they calm quickly as soon as you handle them. And like most species of Colubrids. I can tame an adult wild Ratsnake quickly, juvi's not so much.

[drumcrush]

Yes, but those Texas ratsnakes have an attitude lol. I would LOVE a black eyed lucey BP and I'm not a huge BP fan, but....yes please! I also like Banana BPs as well lol. And if they weren't venomous, lucistic cobra! Rawr! Lol
Yeah, I'm not a huge BP fan either. They're too common. But this one is free and the person needed to get rid of it so I'm willing to take it but I guess she didn't need to get rid if it that bad lol

Love Texas Rat snakes. Probably has to do where from I live. :p I catch wild every year. Just to catch and release, I have yet to keep one though. They can put on a feisty display but they calm quickly as soon as you handle them. And like most species of Colubrids. I can tame an adult wild Ratsnake quickly, juvi's not so much.
Lucky. We have black rats here but I never see them-.-

[D Grade]

I voted for the MBK. It was one of my choices on a very similar poll thread a few weeks ago. I ended up going with a Coastal Phase Black and White Banded Cali King but the reason why is because I could not find a yearling MBK locally and we found our Cali King locally and he's about 6-8 months old which is what we wanted.

If we found an MBK locally around our snakes age with the same temperament ours has, it would have been no question our first snake. However our desired age and temperament was perfectly matched with our little King and we love him to death. You'd be very happy with an MBK, their temperament and shiny black finish are simply unbeatable IMO.

[Marshallarts]

Hognose snakes are simply the best. Keep in mind I don't own one, but I've done a fair amount of research on them. They've got personally and a small size! On top of that they are absolutely adorable!

[sharthun]

MBK was my first snake and I do not regret it, I love my girl to death! She is super chill. Join the MBK club! :D

Another vote for an MBK. Great all around colubrid. Mine is very curious about everything moving in her direction and quite active at night. Very laid back as well.

[Guy]

Thanks for all of the great feedback. It's very helpful. I'm still a ways from taking the leap, but it's good to get all of this info now.

Marshallarts, I feel the same way about the western hognose. I'm pretty much torn between that and the MBK. Still got time to think about it, though.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

iirc, western hoggies can occasionally be a little trouble to feed. I don't have one though, just lust from affair. I want one, but got too lazy to finish the DNR wrangling required and got a garter instead.

My MBK has been an easy feeder. He's not as active right now as he used to be, but we've now gotten to the point where if he spots me peeking into his hide, he'll stick his face out as if to say hi.

I know he's really thinking, "mouse?" but you know, I still think it's cute. I'm sure when the weather warms I'll catch him out and about in his viv more often like I used to.

My male garter is flighty as hell, but he's also still young. I enjoy him anyway!