First snake!

[LORI34205]

i have been looking at snakes for quite a long time now and i used to think they were a true pain to take care of but now that i think about it i would really like to get one.not anytime soon because i just bought a savannah monitor and i have to get him going good first, but i was just wondering what would be a good snake for me???


money for food is no object
initial cost under 100 dollars
caging no problem
size under 7 feet

[reptilez]

Ball python or Corn Snake
I got my ball for $90 at a Reptile show from PCPC
I'm not sure on the price of corn snakes though Sorry
-Reptilez

[mikemcguire]

reptilez is correct a ball python or corn snake would be ideal for a new snake owner. however; if you do buy, make sure it eats before it leaves the store, ball pythons give a heck of a time when it comes to feeding, the are stubborn little sh*ts. may i suggest a spotted python. they dont get too large and the are usually very tame.

Good luck!!

[LORI34205]

spotted python
how big?
how much $$
hard to find??

[reptilez]

Corn snakes are the ideal starter snake because they are usually very good eaters. And as stated above, balls can be picky eaters, but mine has yet to miss a meal. I picked a ball because i just like the look of them better, i love pythons:D.
How Big do Spotted Pythons Get? I like there pattern as babies, do they change much when they get older?
-Reptilez

[LORI34205]

are there any boas known to be tame ???
tame as in wouldnt resort to strangling you to death if handled often and tooken care of well

[Linds]

The $100 price range is very limiting on what you can get. Pretty well all boids, except for some ball pythons as well as kenyan sand boas, fetch a higher price than that. I wouldn't recommend a ball python ($100+) for a first snake as their fussy feeding behaviour and timid nature can prove very frustrating for a first timer. They don't tolerate handling very well due to their stressful nature... people often mistake the curled up and still act as being relaxed and friednly when in fact that is their main defense. Kenyans ($60) can make wonderful starter snakes, providing you get one that is already feeding well. They are fairly tolerant of handling, as well as they have very simple husbandry. Just keep them dry as possible, offer them water once every couple weeks. They finish up 1.5'-3'. Corns and kings also fit the price and finish in the 4'-6' range, however they are very slender-bodied animals so it doesn't seem near that large. They are relatively easy to care for as well. Kings can get a bit musky when handled. Corns are variable in temperament, but otherwise easy to handle. Kings/corns being colubrids are much more active than the forementioned. You could also opt for garters, however they have different diet and need a variety to balance it out, and can be quite skittish. Good luck with your decision ;)

Originally posted by LORI34205
are there any boas known to be tame ???
tame as in wouldnt resort to strangling you to death if handled often and tooken care of well

No snakes are "tame". They jsut tolerate handling to one degree or another. No snake will ever constrict as a defense either, they only constrict their food. Many boas fit the suit of docile however.

I almost forgot as well. Colombian BCI start at around $100 for babies and are relatively easy to care for and can become quite docile. They usually finish up 5-8 feet, males being smaller.

[enso]

A Corn or a King would be good first snake. I personally believe that snakes are easier to care for than lizards, turtles/tortises, or amphibians.

[Smilts]

i like bull or gopher snakes niether one f mine mind being handled and they eat good. they were both wild rescued and neither have been a problem

[LORI34205]

well i can get more $$
i just dont want to spend my money on a snake that is not hanlable and aggrssive.
how about 200.00$?

[LORI34205]

how big do bloods get?
my local pet store has a colombian boa that is 100.00$
and he is fairly large.
they also sell 2 foot long bp's for only 40.00$

[Zoe]

Bloods get pretty big... I think 7ft and have hugh girth (i might be off on the length)
I wouldn't be buy a from a petstore... you're better off finding a breeder, you'll pay less.

they were both wild rescued and neither have been a problem I wouldn't follow this logic. While some WC snakes can adapt to captivity, you'll still need to spend lots on wormers and vet fees, and it isn't really fair to the snake to be removed from the big outdoors they are used to and be placed into a tiny tank.

Boas get pretty big, you might want to stick with a BP. But try and find a breeder to get it from.

Zoe

[enso]

Heh, some Bloods can be very agressive. Gloves and/or tongs for some of those sausages. Also follow Zoe's advice and buy from a reputable breeder. These snakes usually have a better start in life, are less expensive than their pet store counterparts, and haven't been moved around from store to store. If you're set on a boid get a Ball Python. Small, calm and slow.

[Linds]

$200 is much better, it opens you up to a lot more. Rosy boas are awesome little snakes (2'-3') that are super easy to care for, slowmoving, tolerant of handling, docile animals. The price depends on their locality, cheapest starting at around $125 for mexicans. Childrens and Spotted Pythons also fit that range and are easy to care for and handle. They look similar to eachother, but are different subspecies, although often Spotted's have been sold as Childrens. Milksnakes are easy to care for, but although they don't really bite much, they are very flighty and musky. Most ratsnakes are relatively easy to care for, though again, some can tend to be rather flighty, some subspecies moreso than others. Colombian Rainbow boas and Brazilians can be great pets as well, provided you can meet their lower temp/high humidity requirements. Brazilians are probably the closest thing to a guaranteed "tame" (i hate that word!) snake. Babies can be nippy but calm down in no time and stay that way, whether or not you continue to handle them. They eat like crazy and are absoltuely stunning. They are more active than most boids while handled, but nonethless very handleable. Bloods are NOT a beginner snake at all. They have exacting requirements that can be difficult to meet for the novice snakekeeper, as well as they can be diffiult to handle due to their size. They are not a small snake. They can exceeed 40 lb for the really big ones. They are also very hissy and sensitive temperament-wise. Gloves should be avoided with snakes. The snake can hook a tooh and get snagged and whatnot on them. Safe for you, unsafe for the snake. Good luck with your decision ;)

[burmer]

I wouldn't get a blood for a first snake. Besides being somewhat nippy they require a little more specialized care then a corn, king or ball. A kingsnake is a great first snake. Also a corn or even a western hognose might be good for you.
Your best bet is to do some research on the snakes that have been mentioned and see what sounds good to you.

[Conas]

i see you're in Florida, and if price is an issue about snakes check out http://www.scserp.com . You probly won't want to mail order anything to you, but maybe you are close to their head quarters and they are really cheap. Who payed $100+ for a ball? My dad ordered 10 balls for something like $12 each, and they are all feeding great. They have corns too :) Check it out. All the animals i have recieved from them are in great condition. I hear some people diss on big distributors like them, but it's worth a shot.

If you want to handle a snake, get a corn. If you want your snake to never give you heck, get a ball python. That's how i see it, atleast :)

[LORI34205]

those prices are so lowi dont get it
headquarters is only a couple miles away in sarasota!
you may have just talked me out of a snake and into another monitor.
well see how i feel,
nile monitors are so cheap!

[NewLineReptile]

I would really thing about a Nile they are not like a Savannah and can be quite NASTY! they also get alot bigger then Savannah's
here is a idea of what you would have to look forward to
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1639nile_1.jpg
http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/502/1639nile_2.jpg

You said you don't want a snake that gets bigger then 7ft think of it this way a 7 foot snake can still be kept in a enclosure were as a 6 foot Nile Monitor would need a spare bedroom

just my 2 cents

Brandon

[Alicewave]

No snake will ever constrict as a defense either, they only constrict their food

Gotta disagree with you on that one. my Rosy Boa constricted my boyfriend's hand constantly during the "taming" period (it was a biter when we first got it). It was very feisty and would not let go for about 15 minutes. I KNOW it didn't see Chris as food. Also, it goes through non feeding periods but if I wiggle the mouse around enough it will still constrict it but not eat it. Almost as if to make sure it's dead, then he leaves it alone.

Depending on your experience level, a Ball Python, hog Island Boa, Rosy Boa, or Corn snake would be fine for you.

[LORI34205]

I have read up on niles and it will be a very big step that i wont be taking anytime soon, im thinking maybe a blacktroat or a white.

[LORI34205]

dont get me wrong i still want a snake but those prices are tempting

[Frankie]

If you are interested in Corn snakes you have two of the best breeders of corns right there in Fla. Kathy Love or Rich Z. have a wide variety of corn morphs.

[LORI34205]

just curious what does a albino bp cost(i dont like the sound of corns,skinny,squirmy,dont hold still,not what i want


it will be a bp almost for sure:)

[SCReptiles]

With the criteria you listed, I think a corn snake is your best bet. We can sell you a CB 2002 normal het for montly for $18, CB 2002 snow for $34 and a true red montly for $64. Albino balls are still up around the $3000 mark. They are still only a snake for the breeders. You will not see many in private homes about another 3 to 5 years.

[LORI34205]

they just look beautiful<(spelled right)
i really like the look of one

[SCReptiles]

I have a friend here in Chattanooga that is already breeding albino boas. He plans to move into albino balls next year. Once he is producing I can get you a good deal on one, but a good deal on that type snake is still very expensive.

[Linds]

Originally posted by Conas
i see you're in Florida, and if price is an issue about snakes check out http://www.scserp.com . You probly won't want to mail order anything to you, but maybe you are close to their head quarters and they are really cheap. Who payed $100+ for a ball?

Oopsy my bad. I neglected to make note of the location and I was speaking in Canadian funds, so hack the prices in half ;) On another note, balls for $12 US is for captive hatched (farmed) balls, you will not be able to get captive bred babies for that price, or any less than $50+ US. Although many captive bred babies can be great, I still find them to be more troublesome on average than the CBB babies.

[snkmn]

corn, king, milk, or ball python. they are all usually under 100

[lilyskip]

I don't own one, but rosies seem like great beginner snakes! I also have a baby ball, and I haven't really had problems with it. He refused his first feeding, but took the second, and is pretty tolerant of being handled.

I think that, even though they are really finnicky eaters, if you are well-read and are prepared for them to stop eating for a few months at a time, then you should be fine. The biggest reason I've found that people say the feeding difficulties make them bad beginner snakes is that new snake owners freak out when the snake doesn't eat and force feed it before it is urgent, causing undue stress for the snake.

I think you should be fine with whatever you choose, though, as long as you do your research, and shop around. (I think it's also a good idea to find a store that carries the full-grown adult snake of the breed that you want, so you can get a sense for it's size)