Hi everyone

[LuayS]

Hi there, Im a 19 year old whos still in University and I'm thinking of getting a pet snake.

Now the only pet i've ever owned is a gold fish so i know nothing. I've been searching these forums for a few hours now and I still haven't got a complete grasp on what i need/want.

I live in Ontario so I guess w/e laws apply here which i'm going to look up in a bit. I want a snake that will grow to be like max 2.5-3ft just something i can handle as a first pet with a hopefully easy maintanence.

I was thinking of a corn snake but according to wikipedia they tend to grow fairly large so I was looking at a milk snake or kingsnake.

I understand they eat rodents but any idea where i can get more information about them as i've already read through wikipedia for both kingsnakes and milk snakes.

I would still like an oppinion on corn snakes and whether or not they really do grow that big. As well as a place where i can actually purchase one(hopeing to have it atleast by the new year)

[Wolfus_305]

I think your best bet for purchasing any snake would be from a reputable breeder, not necessarily a pet store. You might want to check out
http://www.reptilia.org/SnakeCare.aspx?page_id=193
It should give you some good information for different kinds of snakes to help you make a good decision. Also they are located in Vaughan, Ontario so chances are if you have any other specific questions you could call them. Once you know for sure what type of snake you want I would suggest getting a book about caring for that snake so that you don't need to make any modifications (if the book is about snakes in general). Also do all your research and answer all your questions before actually purchasing your snake. This will cause you and the snake less stress. It's a good idea to stay in contact with this forum. People here will do their best to help you through any rough patches.
Kenny

[LuayS]

yea thanks, i've been reading around about milk snakes and corn snakes and boas trying to see which fits me best and stuff and what they require.

I was thinking of waiting for an expo before buying my snake but i dont want to wait until feb for the next one because i want one soon :D.

Any other reputable breeders out their that you suggest?

[EarthGoddess]

Hi!! I'm new here too and sort of new to snakes. I "inherited" my first snake when my son tired of it!! It was a Desert Rosy Boa. I live in southern California. These are great first snakes, in my opinion. Very easy going, easy to handle and LOVE being handled. Mine loves to get in my hair, up the sleeves of my sweaters: anywhere it's warm!! I just got another Rosy Boa and a snow corn snake. The corn snake is more active than the boa. Both of my snakes are about 30 inches long. The boa "hibernates" in the colder months so it only eats every couple of weeks or so. Have fun with your new hobby!!

[Chu'Wuti]

Hey, Kenny, another smart person who researches first! Whoopee!

LuayS, you're going about this the best way possible both for yourself and for the snake you get.

Just from my own experience--I had a Pueblan milk snake for about two years (snake sitting for a friend), and they are beautiful snakes that get around 3 feet, sometimes a little more. I'd like to get another.

However, if you want a snake you can handle comfortably, a ball python (BP) is an excellent beginner's snake. Husbandry (the care & environment they need) is more specific than for milk snakes & corn snakes, and they do grow a little larger--four to five feet. They are very mild in temperament; the milks & corns tend to get agitated when being handled and often won't stop moving around, whereas the BPs tend to be more passive in accepting handling.

All three species will eat rodents and can be trained to accept frozen/thawed (F/T) prey so you don't have to take any risks with live rodents.

Read up, ask lots of questions, and good luck deciding what to get! You'll have fun. and Welcome!

[siz]

Corn snakes do get quite big, if I'm correct they can get over 5 feet but don't quote me on that.
I had a california kingsnake and I liked him, they grow to about 4 feet generally but can get bigger.
Both of these snakes stay fairly slender though so even when they are long they aren't huge, depending on what you are comparing it to though I suppose..

The kingsnake's needs were very, very easy to meet as well.

[ssshane]

Corns and balls are good, but don't forget about the Subocs. The Trans Pecos Ratsnakes make good pets. From my experience, they have been the most docile of any snakes I have owned. (just my .02 cents worth)

[citysnakes]

rosy boas, sand boas, childrens pythons, spotted pythons and hognose snakes are some examples of great pet snakes that dont get too large and are pretty simple to care for.

[LuayS]

i've been really keen on the milksnake especially the ones who look poisonous but aren't but thats because they look so cool. But all this talk about a Ball Python is gonna get me looking into them a bit more. Im hoping to have one before i get back to school (jan 5th).

So i'll do a bit more digging and when i finally decide on a breed ill get everything setup before i buy it. I guess my main question is when i do decide on a breed (other than posting it here) where should i go about purchasing one? At first i was thinking petstore but i always hear pets from any petstore are a bad idea in general, and the Expo isn't until late Feb and i dont want to wait that long. Any ideas would be great.

[Chu'Wuti]

when i finally decide on a breed ill get everything setup before i buy it. You are sooooo smart! We love it! :)

I got my BP from a pet store and only learned later how lucky I am that it doesn't have a bunch of problems. Also, you get more choice in colors if you go to an Expo or breeder. There are some absolutely amazing color morphs in BPs--many can compete with the milk snakes and corn snakes for color any day! Like the piebald :Wow: or the coral glow, or the lavender albino, or the albino paradox, the spider patterned morphs . . . :Wow: :Wow:

I know it's hard to wait, but by taking your time to do lots of research and then preparing properly, you'll be so much more satisfied!

[LuayS]

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. I think i've been convinced to get a Boa and i was forwarded to exoticereptiles to purchase from their, truth be told im too excited for a snake to wait until the feb expo and knowing how exam schedule turn out i'll probably be missing it because of them.

i'm looking at either Suriname Red Tail Boa or Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I'll give them a call probably tomorrow to see if they have them in stock and maybe i'll drop in their store to see what they got. Then i'll get all my research done and have a little checklist of what ill need go out and buy them and then get the snake hopefully by jan 3rd or 4th.

[LuayS]

Thanks for all the support and encouragement. I think i've been convinced to get a Boa and i was forwarded to exoticereptiles to purchase from their, truth be told im too excited for a snake to wait until the feb expo and knowing how exam schedule turn out i'll probably be missing it because of them.

i'm looking at either Suriname Red Tail Boa or Brazilian Rainbow Boa. I'll give them a call probably tomorrow to see if they have them in stock and maybe i'll drop in their store to see what they got. Then i'll get all my research done and have a little checklist of what ill need go out and buy them and then get the snake hopefully by jan 3rd or 4th.

Also do you guys recommend i get a baby one because i'd like to see it grow up and all. I just hope i can find a baby one in time.

[Chu'Wuti]

do you guys recommend i get a baby one

If you get a baby, you have the chance to begin early getting it used to being handled by you. On the other hand, if you have feeding difficulties, they can be urgent pretty quickly compared to difficulties with an adult. Make sure that the baby is eating--if you can see it eat, even better. Actually, that's true for any snake--making sure it actually is eating--unless you have experience with force feeding. Speaking for myself, I hope not to need that experience.

Both the snakes you're thinking about getting are beautiful. Good luck!