Noob from Cali

[Lpst]

Hey everyone,

I am new to the site and to snakes, i keep lots of animals and critters but i have no knowledge of, or experience handling, snakes other than watching them in the wild or removing them from my shop. I hope to learn what I can about them before getting anything I cannot properly care for. Any and all advice is very welcomed and encouraged. A few questions if its not to much to ask, (yes I have been using the serch function) what would be the best setup for display in my home office, size and cost aren’t much of a restraint within reason (i dont need a zoo sized enclosure for my office lol) I would like to start slow and simple and work my way up to larger species or possibly multiple different species ( im not gonna lie, i go overboard with my animals and my wife swears we are starting a zoo) I live in the country and have plenty of room for future growth. For now, just want get a proper start in the hobby.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, have a great day!

Will

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Welcome to the forum, Will! We're glad you're here.

There are a number of snakes recommended for beginners like you. These include the corn snake, the California kingsnake, and the ball python. I would rather you get one of these from a reputable breeder. Just make sure how big each species gets so you know if the new snake fits in the cage.

Furthermore, whatever you choose as your first snake, do a bit of research on it so you know what your snake needs when.

[EL Ziggy]

Welcome aboard Will. There are so many cool species of snakes it's hard to say where to begin. I started small too and worked my way up to larger and more challenging species. I began with BPs back in my 20s. They're cool but not for me. I got back into the hobby 6 years ago with a couple of king snakes. They're really neat snakes that I'd highly recommend even though I prefer working with larger critters. Bull snakes are awesome larger colubrids and really easy to care for. Carpet pythons are my favorite snake species. I think they're great for beginners and experienced keepers. They require a little more attention to their husbandry but it's still easy peasy. Nothing beats a nice carpet if you ask me. I've got an Olive python that's a dream to keep but he's still a baby. Can't wait to see him as a 10-12 ft adult. My next critter challenge will probably take me deeper into the land of giants.
In terms of enclosures I'm a big fan of Animal Plastics. They're affordable, easy to assemble, and very well made.
It's good to see new keepers doing their research prior to getting an animal. You and your snake will both be better served in the long run. Best wishes with whatever snake you choose. Keep us posted on your progress and ask all the questions you think of.

[craigafrechette]

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snakes!

Sounds like you're doing things right and doing your homework. My two cents: research research research. Once you've got the species you want picked out, then go ahead and get your setup ready. Choose your enclosure, your heating equipment (will vary based on your location as well as species), your thermoSTAT (VERY important), etc...and have it set up and "dialed in" before bringing your snake home (will save you lots and lots of headaches).
Finally, purchase your animal from a reputable breeder. Avoid the big box pet stores, their animals are poorly kept and often end up having health issues.

As for what enclosure, that depends on the species, but if you can afford to go with a pvc enclosure it's worth the investment, however, glass works really well for display purposes with many species, primarily those who don't require high humidity.

Lastly, what's the right snake for you?? In order to decide that, you'll need to answer some questions first. What are you looking for in a snake?
- Do you want something that's super easy to handle?
- Do you want an animal that will be out exploring throughout the day? Or something that hides most of the day?
- What kind of size restrictions do you have (if any)?
- Do you prefer more heavy bodied or more slender?
- Are you prepared for food strikes (some snakes may take weeks/months off from eating) or would you rather an animal that will reliably eat year round?

Of course, only YOU can decide what species is right for you, but answering these questions will help us make suggestions for you. Keep in mind, some snakes are "easier" than others and are often considered "beginner" snakes. But, that doesn't mean you're limited to those. With proper research and an honest assessment of what you're capable of and willing to provide, most species can be a great first snake.

We're happy to help, so feel free to answer the questions I asked and ask more of your own.

[Lpst]

Welcome to the forum, Will! We're glad you're here.

There are a number of snakes recommended for beginners like you. These include the corn snake, the California kingsnake, and the ball python. I would rather you get one of these from a reputable breeder. Just make sure how big each species gets so you know if the new snake fits in the cage.

Furthermore, whatever you choose as your first snake, do a bit of research on it so you know what your snake needs when.

Thank you ClockwerkBonnet, I like some of the corns and kings, I checked out some ball pythons at a local big name store (no worries, I don't purchase any living animals from them) and thought they were pretty cool, my daughter sure liked one of them and I could barely get her away from it. Are there any breeders you suggest? I have been looking at snakes for sale online at a few places but I can't say that there are any one could trust over the other, a breeder would be the way to go

Welcome aboard Will. There are so many cool species of snakes it's hard to say where to begin. I started small too and worked my way up to larger and more challenging species. I began with BPs back in my 20s. They're cool but not for me. I got back into the hobby 6 years ago with a couple of king snakes. They're really neat snakes that I'd highly recommend even though I prefer working with larger critters. Bull snakes are awesome larger colubrids and really easy to care for. Carpet pythons are my favorite snake species. I think they're great for beginners and experienced keepers. They require a little more attention to their husbandry but it's still easy peasy. Nothing beats a nice carpet if you ask me. I've got an Olive python that's a dream to keep but he's still a baby. Can't wait to see him as a 10-12 ft adult. My next critter challenge will probably take me deeper into the land of giants.
In terms of enclosures I'm a big fan of Animal Plastics. They're affordable, easy to assemble, and very well made.
It's good to see new keepers doing their research prior to getting an animal. You and your snake will both be better served in the long run. Best wishes with whatever snake you choose. Keep us posted on your progress and ask all the questions you think of.

Thank you EL Ziggy, I do like the larger snakes but my biggest problem with any creature is I love them all! so I would be happy with any of the snakes you mentioned, my 7 year old wants a Yellow Anaconda! lol I’m not opposed but I told her she needs to learn to care for them first. the Animal Plastics enclosures are pretty awesome! It seems like the best way to go from a noob stand point because you can order it in the configuration you need.

Welcome to the forum and the wonderful world of snakes!

Sounds like you're doing things right and doing your homework. My two cents: research research research. Once you've got the species you want picked out, then go ahead and get your setup ready. Choose your enclosure, your heating equipment (will vary based on your location as well as species), your thermoSTAT (VERY important), etc...and have it set up and "dialed in" before bringing your snake home (will save you lots and lots of headaches).
Finally, purchase your animal from a reputable breeder. Avoid the big box pet stores, their animals are poorly kept and often end up having health issues.

As for what enclosure, that depends on the species, but if you can afford to go with a pvc enclosure it's worth the investment, however, glass works really well for display purposes with many species, primarily those who don't require high humidity.

Lastly, what's the right snake for you?? In order to decide that, you'll need to answer some questions first. What are you looking for in a snake?
- Do you want something that's super easy to handle?
- Do you want an animal that will be out exploring throughout the day? Or something that hides most of the day?
- What kind of size restrictions do you have (if any)?
- Do you prefer more heavy bodied or more slender?
- Are you prepared for food strikes (some snakes may take weeks/months off from eating) or would you rather an animal that will reliably eat year round?

Of course, only YOU can decide what species is right for you, but answering these questions will help us make suggestions for you. Keep in mind, some snakes are "easier" than others and are often considered "beginner" snakes. But, that doesn't mean you're limited to those. With proper research and an honest assessment of what you're capable of and willing to provide, most species can be a great first snake.

We're happy to help, so feel free to answer the questions I asked and ask more of your own.

Thank you craigafrechette, Good advice, thank you. I totally agree with you on the big name pet stores, are the PVC enclosures like the Animal Plastics ones? I think those may be best for the location it will be in.

-Do you want something that's super easy to handle?

In the beginning that would probably be best, as I become more comfortable with the husbandry of snakes this hopefully will be less of an issue.

-Do you want an animal that will be out exploring throughout the day? Or something that hides most of the day?

I’m actually not too concerned on this one, though it would be nice to see it from time to time. With my work hours, ill be setting next to it night and day most times.

-What kind of size restrictions do you have (if any)?

None, all are welcome.

-Do you prefer more heavy bodied or more slender?

At this time i don’t have any preference or knowledge about the differences if any other than size, so until i have done more research I’m open to either.

-Are you prepared for food strikes (some snakes may take weeks/months off from eating) or would you rather an animal that will reliably eat year round?

I suppose, I mean no matter what snake I decide to get I will research its care diligently in order to give the best living arrangements it can have in captivity to the best of my abilities.

[craigafrechette]

Thank you ClockwerkBonnet, I like some of the corns and kings, I checked out some ball pythons at a local big name store (no worries, I don't purchase any living animals from them) and thought they were pretty cool, my daughter sure liked one of them and I could barely get her away from it. Are there any breeders you suggest? I have been looking at snakes for sale online at a few places but I can't say that there are any one could trust over the other, a breeder would be the way to go



Thank you EL Ziggy, I do like the larger snakes but my biggest problem with any creature is I love them all! so I would be happy with any of the snakes you mentioned, my 7 year old wants a Yellow Anaconda! lol I’m not opposed but I told her she needs to learn to care for them first. the Animal Plastics enclosures are pretty awesome! It seems like the best way to go from a noob stand point because you can order it in the configuration you need.



Thank you craigafrechette, Good advice, thank you. I totally agree with you on the big name pet stores, are the PVC enclosures like the Animal Plastics ones? I think those may be best for the location it will be in.

-Do you want something that's super easy to handle?

In the beginning that would probably be best, as I become more comfortable with the husbandry of snakes this hopefully will be less of an issue.

-Do you want an animal that will be out exploring throughout the day? Or something that hides most of the day?

I’m actually not too concerned on this one, though it would be nice to see it from time to time. With my work hours, ill be setting next to it night and day most times.

-What kind of size restrictions do you have (if any)?

None, all are welcome.

-Do you prefer more heavy bodied or more slender?

At this time i don’t have any preference or knowledge about the differences if any other than size, so until i have done more research I’m open to either.

-Are you prepared for food strikes (some snakes may take weeks/months off from eating) or would you rather an animal that will reliably eat year round?

I suppose, I mean no matter what snake I decide to get I will research its care diligently in order to give the best living arrangements it can have in captivity to the best of my abilities.


Yup, PVC enclosures like APare a great way to go.


Sounds like a Ball Python would be a great choice then. Especially if your daughter was so into it.
They're the most popular snake in the pet trade for a reason. Their docile nature and very manageable size make them a great choice for beginners right through to experienced keepers. They are notorious for food strikes, but honestly, if you do you're research and prepare (which you clearly have under control) then it won't stress you out like it does some new keepers.

I would check out morphmarket.com and shop around.
Fauna classifieds is great too, you can read up on breeders reputations to learn who to avoid. There are plenty of great breeders to choose from, you'll learn pretty quickly who is reputable and who to avoid.

Also, a yellow anaconda is one of my dream snakes, but they are NO joke. I would definitely get your feet wet with something else for a few years before jumping on the conda train! Hahahaha. Aside from their size, they require huge enclosures with a large enough "pond" for soaking. They're also not cheap to feed, and their meals are gonna be a bit "cuter" than typical mice and rats, which is off-putting to some.

Anyway, please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

[Lpst]

Yup, PVC enclosures like APare a great way to go.


Sounds like a Ball Python would be a great choice then. Especially if your daughter was so into it.
They're the most popular snake in the pet trade for a reason. Their docile nature and very manageable size make them a great choice for beginners right through to experienced keepers. They are notorious for food strikes, but honestly, if you do you're research and prepare (which you clearly have under control) then it won't stress you out like it does some new keepers.

I would check out morphmarket.com and shop around.
Fauna classifieds is great too, you can read up on breeders reputations to learn who to avoid. There are plenty of great breeders to choose from, you'll learn pretty quickly who is reputable and who to avoid.

Also, a yellow anaconda is one of my dream snakes, but they are NO joke. I would definitely get your feet wet with something else for a few years before jumping on the conda train! Hahahaha. Aside from their size, they require huge enclosures with a large enough "pond" for soaking. They're also not cheap to feed, and their meals are gonna be a bit "cuter" than typical mice and rats, which is off-putting to some.

Anyway, please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Thanks, I was contemplating a ball python as well I just came across morphmarket.com a few minutes ago so i've been browsing. Do all BPs have about the same demeanor, or are some of them more aggressive than others? Also, do you recommend any good books to start with? Thank you again for your time and information.

[Lpst]

Does anyone have experience or insight on rat snakes?

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Hmmm... your question on the breeders is tricky. I can't give any personal recommendations, though I've
heard decent things about Reptiles by Mack. It often shows ball pythons for sale, but it also has various lizards and colubrids.

[Lpst]

Hmmm... your question on the breeders is tricky. I can't give any personal recommendations, though I've
heard decent things about Reptiles by Mack. It often shows ball pythons for sale, but it also has various lizards and colubrids.

I understand completely, thank you. I have found a couple of breeders on morphmarket that have some very nice specimens, now I need to decide what to get so I can set up the proper enclosure.

[Lpst]

Well I have been browsing MorphMarket all night, How do you guys/gals not all have like 50 snakes? I can't decide, I love them all! but I'm really starting to like the corn snakes and rat snakes. are these good beginner snakes? I do like the Ball Pythons but they don't catch my interest as much as the colubrids do, except for some of the specialty breeds that I don't really want to spend the $$$ on until I know what the heck i'm doing... With this decision on what snake to get, my decision on what enclosure to get will be delayed. Not a big deal of course, but I would like to get an enclosure set up asap so its ready when I do decide. Would an AP 4'x2'x15" work for either snake? or will one need a different size than the other? this size of enclosure would fit my office well and leave room to stack if I get more snakes.

[craigafrechette]

Well I have been browsing MorphMarket all night, How do you guys/gals not all have like 50 snakes? I can't decide, I love them all! but I'm really starting to like the corn snakes and rat snakes. are these good beginner snakes? I do like the Ball Pythons but they don't catch my interest as much as the colubrids do, except for some of the specialty breeds that I don't really want to spend the $$$ on until I know what the heck i'm doing... With this decision on what snake to get, my decision on what enclosure to get will be delayed. Not a big deal of course, but I would like to get an enclosure set up asap so its ready when I do decide. Would an AP 4'x2'x15" work for either snake? or will one need a different size than the other? this size of enclosure would fit my office well and leave room to stack if I get more snakes.

Corns and rats are both good beginner snakes, especially when you do proper research. You'll be fine with most species based on your diligence with preparation so far.

As for a 4 foot enclosure, that'll be plenty big enough for any of the species you're considering. My King (adult, approx 52" and 776 grams) is in a 4 footer and uses every inch. I think that's a good size for an adult, but you'll likely want to start with something smaller if you get a juvenile. Many people put a smaller tub inside the AP enclosure to start or simply add a divider until the snake is bigger and more comfortable. Snake's rely heavily on security so sometimes a larger enclosure stresses them and creates feeding issues.

As for not having 50 snakes...it's not easy, hahahaha. I often say snakes are like tattoos, almost nobody has just one. Hahhahaha. It's all about knowing limitations. I know what I can and can't properly care for. I have money stashed away for emergency vet bills and as I add more snakes I add to the vet fund. I won't bring anything home unless I have the knowledge, time and financial resources to know I can properly care for the animal, even if disaster strikes (i.e. I lose my job, emergency vet bills, etc...).

[Lpst]

Corns and rats are both good beginner snakes, especially when you do proper research. You'll be fine with most species based on your diligence with preparation so far.

As for a 4 foot enclosure, that'll be plenty big enough for any of the species you're considering. My King (adult, approx 52" and 776 grams) is in a 4 footer and uses every inch. I think that's a good size for an adult, but you'll likely want to start with something smaller if you get a juvenile. Many people put a smaller tub inside the AP enclosure to start or simply add a divider until the snake is bigger and more comfortable. Snake's rely heavily on security so sometimes a larger enclosure stresses them and creates feeding issues.

As for not having 50 snakes...it's not easy, hahahaha. I often say snakes are like tattoos, almost nobody has just one. Hahhahaha. It's all about knowing limitations. I know what I can and can't properly care for. I have money stashed away for emergency vet bills and as I add more snakes I add to the vet fund. I won't bring anything home unless I have the knowledge, time and financial resources to know I can properly care for the animal, even if disaster strikes (i.e. I lose my job, emergency vet bills, etc...).

I’m definitely thinking a corn or rat, they are growing on me more and more. I’m kinda falling for the Okeetee, I really like the patterns and colors. I think i will set up a 20 to 40 gal terrarium and have it ready as a quarantine and that should give me time to set up the larger enclosure. I intend to get a baby so I will probably use a small tub inside the enclosure so it doesn’t feel to open and as it grows and aclimates to the new home i’ll remove the tub, then as it grows and does better i'll move to the large enclosure. I also keep cash reserves for my animals just in case. More people should do this, you NEVER know when something could happen. Thanks for all the info again, I’ll start a new thread when I start setting up and moving forward. I already have a spot cleared in the office of about 48” x 30” and ill build a cabinet to store essentials under the AP enclosure so it will match my reef tank it will be next to.

[Lpst]

I made my decision and have inquired about the purchase of this snake.

https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/reptiles/colubrids/corn-snakes/131022#

I could not get the photo to post so I hope it's ok to use a link

[ClockwerkBonnet]

Very nice choice. Best wishes from all of us.

[phenyx]

I made my decision and have inquired about the purchase of this snake.

https://www.morphmarket.com/us/c/reptiles/colubrids/corn-snakes/131022#

I could not get the photo to post so I hope it's ok to use a link


That little one is absolutely stunning! Great choice!

[Lpst]

Very nice choice. Best wishes from all of us.

Thank you.

[Lpst]

That little one is absolutely stunning! Great choice!

Thank you! There is a possibility that this one already sold, but the breeder is supposed to get back to me today so we'll see!