Hello from Cleveland and still undecided

[Kathy_D]

Hi! I'm a new member and I have been reading a lot of posts and care sheets (here and other sites). I have 2 daughters (8 and 11) who have been asking for a reptile for over a year and I have always wanted one myself. We talked about the limitations we have in keeping reptiles and that no matter what, they all require some work and responsibility. We came up with a list of "deal breakers" and were quickly able to narrow down our choices to a corn snake or a bearded dragon. I have told them that they need to research to make a care manual of sorts so that they have easy access to information. Meanwhile I am doing my own research so that we are all as knowledgeable as newbies can be! My older daughter and I did this with hermit crabs 3 years ago and we have 4 thriving, happy crabs in our crabitat. The reptile will be the girls' in name, but really, the responsibility of all of us.

I'm happy to have found this site and I look forward to getting even more information! If you have any advice or ideas of which of the four you like best, please let me know!

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome and best wishes Kathy and crew. Great job doing your research prior to purchasing your animal. I don't keep lizards so my vote goes to the snake. Corns are really cool snakes and pretty easy to care for. They don't get very large and they have lots of amazing morphs. Colubrids in general have fairly simple husbandry requirements. I started my collection with king snakes and expanded to bull snakes and then to carpet pythons.

[SWDK]

Welcome to the forum and being a future reptile keeper. It's good that you're trying to get all the knowledge up front before taking the plunge. It will definitely help to make things easier on you, the girls and the reptile.

A cornsnake is a good first choice. They're a common starter snake and have fairly easy and simple care requirements. I'd prefer a corn over a bearded dragon because I feel the corn will be easier to care for. I've owned bearded dragons in the past so I can accurately compare the two.

[dave himself]

Hi and welcome :)

[Plumbstring]

Welcome! Go with the corn so many cool morphs to choose from. Personally I love the black and white morphs they have.

[Minkness]

You which of the 4 but only offer 2 choices, corn or dragon.

Between the 2 I would go with the corn. While fldragons are pretty cool and laid back, I honestly don't consider their care 'beginner' friendly.

Corns are harsy, require little care, stay a manageable size and have a laid back attitude that also makes them easy to handle, while also not being overly lazy, leading to more fun handling since they move a bit.

Dragons require large enclosures high heat, a delicate balance of humidity vs dryness and a varried diet that (in my opinion) isn't the easiest since they require such variety and regularity of feeding.

If a lizard is what you and your girls really want though, I highly recommend a leopard gecko. Small size, hardy, easy care needs, and a simple diet.

While on this subject (and to continue my mini rant lol), I also don't particularly feel ball pythons are a great beginner snake either. Sure they are docile and 'hardy'. That just usually leads to elongated lack of 'proper' care. (Not that you would, this is just my experience). Because they can be finicky feeders it could stress you or the girls out when missing meals. Their 'docile' nature also can make them a bit 'boring' for a beginner who usually wants to see their snake out in it's enclosure or moving when being held. Now, some will be GREAT feesders and be more visible and personable than others. It's a total 50/50. Where as other species (like corns) have a more reeliable personality and feeding response.

I have probably given far more info than you wanted originally, buuuuy...there ya go!

Also..Welcome to your new addiction! =D

[Tsubaki]

Welcome to ssnakess, you've come to the right place :D

[Kathy_D]

You which of the 4 but only offer 2 choices, corn or dragon.

Between the 2 I would go with the corn. While fldragons are pretty cool and laid back, I honestly don't consider their care 'beginner' friendly.

Corns are harsy, require little care, stay a manageable size and have a laid back attitude that also makes them easy to handle, while also not being overly lazy, leading to more fun handling since they move a bit.

Dragons require large enclosures high heat, a delicate balance of humidity vs dryness and a varried diet that (in my opinion) isn't the easiest since they require such variety and regularity of feeding.

If a lizard is what you and your girls really want though, I highly recommend a leopard gecko. Small size, hardy, easy care needs, and a simple diet.

While on this subject (and to continue my mini rant lol), I also don't particularly feel ball pythons are a great beginner snake either. Sure they are docile and 'hardy'. That just usually leads to elongated lack of 'proper' care. (Not that you would, this is just my experience). Because they can be finicky feeders it could stress you or the girls out when missing meals. Their 'docile' nature also can make them a bit 'boring' for a beginner who usually wants to see their snake out in it's enclosure or moving when being held. Now, some will be GREAT feesders and be more visible and personable than others. It's a total 50/50. Where as other species (like corns) have a more reeliable personality and feeding response.

I have probably given far more info than you wanted originally, buuuuy...there ya go!

Also..Welcome to your new addiction! =D

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!!

I did say 4 and then only specified 2. I think my brain was going faster than my fingers! We started off with 4 in mind (beardie, corn snake, crested gecko and leopard gecko) but at the reptile show, the girls felt less connected to the geckos than we all thought they would. I would love to get a gecko myself, but we are going to start with only one reptile. I think.

I completely agree with you about ball pythons which is why that is not an option. I think it's really cool that my daughter is so intrigued by them, but we all need to work up to that. I have also been on the fence about getting a beardie as a first reptile. Thanks for your input!

I welcome any and all information! I will have several questions as I really am leaning towards getting a corn snake.

[macandchz]

being a snake owner, i'd go with the corn snake. my daughter keeps a gecko and a chameleon and for some reason i can't connect with them either. i love my ball python but they are not usually a good starter snake. lots of luck with whatever you choose.

[dave himself]

I'd go with the corn snake as well we kept them for year's fantastic animals couldn't fault them. We still have our ball/royal python and although we love him dearly he's been with for over 10 years now he's a pain in the butt :D, he'll eat nothing but mice and goes on hunger strike for months at a time for no rhyme or reason

[Minkness]

Kathy, thay all makes sense! Haha. Well, sounds like the corn snake may be your best bet then! Good luck! Looking forward to seeing whatever you end up getting! =)

[Jim Smith]

Now that you've probably decided on a corn snake, I want to suggest that you check with your state Department of Natural Resources/Fish and Game department. Some states, like where I live in Georgia, prohibit people from owning any non-venomous reptiles that are native to that state. Corn Snakes, as well as Milk Snakes, are both native to Georgia, so they are not legal to keep in Georgia, even f you have one of the morphs. I suggest that you check first just to avoid any possible issues down the road after your daughters fall in love with their new pet. Just a thought...

[jossh27]

My friend offered me two snakes for the same price,. A king snare or a Brazilian rainbow boa- i chose the king snake for ease of care as a beginner. I think a corn would be a great choice too

[trailblazer295]

Welcome to the forum. A good first reptile especially with being for children would be a corn or king snake. Simple care, no humidity issues, good feeding, fairly active in the cage and generally easy to handle. Lots of morphs to choose from. Bearded dragons are a lot more work and not really a beginner lizard in my opinion. They are hyper active little buggers as babies but not as adults.

My first snake was a ball python but partly I was afraid of a fast moving corn and my cat meeting. I got lucky with my BP as he is a good feeder and is more visible then most but he isn't active at all. Just hangs out in view sometimes. But being an adult I have different wants.

I prefer getting babies or young snakes, you 'grow with' the snake in terms of size and temperament. You learn how your snake acts. Sometimes adults that aren't used to be handled aren't a good first snake. Which might deter your kids as well. Getting a young snake lets you and the snake get used to each other.

[Albert Clark]

Welcome and congrats for all your success with the animals. Even though you narrowed it down to either a bearded dragon or a corn snake remember garter snakes are the "classic" beginners snake. Enough said. Keep us posted.

[JellyBean]

Welcome! I don't think you can go wrong with either choice... both being so different to care for. Our Bearded Dragon was a very special part of the family, they grow very fast if raised from a baby, but the crickets will become a part of the family too...

Welcome and good luck!