first snake

[snakeman92]

i was wondering what would be the best first snake

[jason h]

i would have to say ball python, cornsnake or rosy boas:D

[snakeman92]

so what would be better a ball python or a carpet

[TonyL]

I think the snake depends on what you like. Research the two! That is the fun part. My first is a corn but now I have decided to get a carpet!

Either a ball or carpet python would be great for your first snake!

[snakedude_03]

i say ball python.. or corn...

[Linds]

I would recommend rosy boas, sandboas, or *cringe* cornsnakes as a first snake. Personally I disklike colubrids but that's just personal preference, corns can make *cringe* great beginner snakes. Rosy boas are by far though my favourite for beginner snakes. They beat all other sp. handsdown. Very docile, super easy to keep, forgiving in their husbandry, dont get large. ONly thing is that humidity must be kept low, don't keep water available in the tank all the time (1x weekly works fine). They are slwo moving, tolerate handling better than any other sp (well, rubber boas are equally great), and come in a dazzling array of colour and pattern variations. They stay a manageable size (usually max out around 3') so they are also very space efficient animals. Sand boas are also a good choice.

I don't recommend ball pythons as a first snake because there is a much smaller margin for error in keeping these snakes and their feeding strikes can prove out to be very frustrating for a first time snake owner. In addition due to their shy nature they tolerate excessive handling very poorly. I also disagree with carpets making good beginner snakes. They can be quite variable in temperament, and some ssp. of carpets (ie-jungle) are typicsally high strung animals. Coastals arent as bad but can still be somewhat highstrung animals (like any semi-arboreal animal). Irian Jayas are probably the best of the carpets to get, but I would still recommend them to someone that has already had some snake keeping experience.

[reverendsterlin]

Always my least favorite question, it's more what type of snake is recomended to you. It is hard to recomend an animal to someone you don't know. I would recomend one animal to a person that has several years experience with fish, lizards, or other non cat/dog pet, because I see that as a sign of being able care for a non-interactive animal. I would recomend something else to a 10 year old. With proper housing and strict attention to husbandry almost any snake could be considered 'easy'. My recomendation is more what I would aviod in a first snake. Any feeding problem species, some species like balls and hogs are known for going on food strikes, others for being more suseptible regurge syndrome like neonate True Red-tails. If you want a display animal don't get something that burrows or prefers hides and make the enclosure in a way that forces the animal to be exposed. If you want to handle the animal don't get ones thought to be aggressive or flighty. And for your first, and this is JMHO, don't get a giant. My .02

[BIG SCOTT]

Try a Red-Tail, their very easy to care for and they don't require that much assistance as far as having to do any misting or anything of that nature they usually have very friendly attitudes.

[J.J.]

Umm, I would still have to say a Ball Python, that was my first snake, and I love him so much!! But still, what are you willing to do for your snake? you know, feeding, cleaning, cages, MONEY!!! snakes can be very expensive, so i would recomend a smaller snake, ball pythons get to be about 4 to 6 feet and live to be 30 or 40 years old, and if that is too large a corn snake would be good too, i cant say that I like them, but thats only cause the ones that i know about are ~EVIL~!! anyways, whatever you decide, good luck, and god bless!!

[Syst3m]

Hum... Corn snakes are great beginner snakes. they have a very relaxed range of temps and humiditys they live in and are very colorful snakes too, Ball Pythons are also not bad either. But again its a matter of how much care you are willing to take of your snake. And how much time you have to take care of your snake.

[Adria]

I would say a Ball Python. For beginnners they are great because they are not aggressive, don't move as fast as corns, so that you can do your regular things with the snake around your neck.

[snakekeeper]

I would have to say a ball python would be the best choice if you are ok with the size. I find that colubrids can be nippy and they are quick. Ball pythons are slower moving than a colubrid which will also make it easier to handle. My first snake was a ball and she is great!:)

[SnakeLovers]

I'd agree with a Ball Python or a Corn Snake..very easy to care for..my first snake was a male albino corn (blizzard het).

[rattekonigin]

I have a bone to pick with those of you who aren't keen on recommending a corn snake as a first snake...they're the ideal first snake, they're very docile (granted there are always some exceptions to the rule, although I've never heard of corn snakes being called "evil"), their husbandry is ridiculously simple, they'll almost never miss a meal (unlike many python and boa species *cough* ball pythons *cough*), they grow quickly and I don't notice a huge difference in their activity level relative to my boa except for in enclosure (where the boa just moves occasionally to thermoregulate) Because the corns come out and move around more, I have to say they're more fun to watch...and my corn snake will wrap herself around my kneck while I go about my business...I say everyone should start out with a corn snake! There's a reason why so many people still keep them in their collections even after they've "moved on" to boids...
I call for an end to the species-ism that seems so prevalent in these forums! :p :D

[raebug2000]

i think ball pythons are the best beginner snakes, mainly because they are very mild tempered, they dont have wrap slither options and typically they are just neat snakes without too many complications. i trust my big girl BP with my niece.

[Pixie]

I too recommend a corn snake for a first snake but I think someone who is well read on BP's and has patience could handle a ball as a first snake.

They are different in terms of handling, I prefer handling my ball but I love the different color morphs of my corns.

Decisions, decisions!

Pixie

[P.curtus]

I think corns are great snakes although babies are very small and sometimes difficult to get feeding, for a beginner I would say a pine snake or anything of the pituophis genus. They are very hardy and easy to care for as well as docile. As far as boids go there aren't many I would reccomend for a first snake. Balls aren't too bad if they're cb, and just because the person selling you the snake says it's cb doesn't always mean it is, but even then you can run ito some pretty difficult problems. Common boas are pretty low maintenence, but get very big and really strong song caging must be spacious and good quality. Overall I reccomend Pines.

[Dunner]

i'm going to have to agree with linds on this one, definatly a rosy boa! ball pythons are also good, but i don't know how many times on forums i've seen,. "my ball stoppd eating" or, "i can't get my ball to eat" i'm going to have to say rosy...or cornsnake, again i'm in the same boat as linds, i'm not a fan of colubrids, so go with the rosy, they're better looking

[Scotty Allen]

There are so many healthy, captive bred species available now that I think the "best" (don't like that word but it's all that comes to mind) answer for you is to pick a species (harmless of course)that you think you might like, do some research (lots of it, on forums like this, and there are plenty of good books) and then make up your own mind. You'd be surprised how many "beginner" species you come up with, you'll probably end up with a bunch. Careful, snake keeping can become an expensive though rewarding addiction.

[derek]

i would have to say corn......or a ball python.........or a rosy boa.....all are great snakes!

[silke]

ok ok
DING DING
everyone to your corners

since we can't seem to agree, I have come to the conclusion that you need:
1 corn snake and 1 rosy boa and 1 ball python

:)

[hip]

Don't forget spotted pythons or african house snakes or great plains rat snakes or russian rat snakes. These are also easy to care for docile as snakes go don't get too huge and are good feeders on frozen thawed rodents just by captive bred and captive born good luck Hip

[Edwin]

I agree with hip, african house snakes, balls or corns would make good starter snakes. I started with a ball, and have never had any of the feeding issues that plague other ball owners. House snakes are fairly docile as well and dont grow too large. I am not a huge fan of corns, but they are fairly low maintenance as well. Whichever snake you get, remember to get a CB (captive bred) specimen, as this will save you a lot of potential hassle (mites, parasites, etc). Also, do a bit of research before purchasing the snake and you will be just fine.

Hope this helps.

[Linds]

I disagree. There is no guarantee that you wont get a snake plagued with mites and internal parasites just because it was captive bred. That's why many of us shotgun treat our animals for both internal and external parasites just to be sure that our animals are clean. That's why the attention should also be paid to the source of where you are getting your animal from ;)

[hip]

Once again linds has hit the nail right on the head.I have in the past received snakes loaded with mites and other bugs. Be sure to look around before you buy a snake and ask people here where the best place to buy the snake you choose to purchase is.As in any busness there are good ones and not so good ones so be care full get a fecal done look for mites and treat the problems with the right meds if required.Once again best of luck in your quest. Hip

[Sean_.E.]

I like solomon Island Ground boas ....BUT everyone knows im obsessed with them. They are a good begginer snake and are good pets. They dont grow very big (usually 3-4 feet) and are different. They kind of have a venomous look to them also.

Sean