Help for an indecisive newbie?

whatclaptrap · 06-30-11, 01:17 AM

Hey guys! As some of you know, I've yet to get my first snake, and been researching various snakes for a while. I desperately don't want to be one of those owners who puts the cart before the horse, so to speak, so I've been putting a lot of thought into what snake I want to get, including lots of visits to reptile stores in my area.

This is essentially round one of questioning you guys. Hope you don't mind! :]

A lot of people recommend the corn snake (for good reason), but having held both corn snakes and various pythons and boas, I have to say that as adorable as they are, corns seem like they're too wriggly for me. First, though, before I discount them, do they calm down as adults? I don't want to discount a perfectly good snake because I'm lazy, haha.

Other breeds I've looked at have been rosy boas, kenyan sand boas, children's pythons and spotted pythons, ball pythons, carpet pythons, and woma pythons. Rosies are native to where I live, which has a nifty element to it; i've heard overall they're pretty friendly snakes. I haven't heard much about their feeding habits, though; I have no idea if they're good feeders or picky little guys.

I've heard both good and bad things about sand boas - anyone with experience have horror stories/love stories? What's their temperament like, are they nippy or pretty chill?

On some care sheets and various different websites, I've seen childrens pythons and spotted pythons described as pretty chill little guys. However, at both of the reptile stores I've visited, the employees seemed to think pretty much the opposite. One guy I talked to said that all of the childrens pythons he'd worked with had been pretty strikey. Anyone have experience with childrens? Want to prove/disprove this reputation?

Before this post gets too long, I'll cut it short, haha. :] If anyone has anything to say about ball pythons, womas, carpet pythons, or even any random suggestions/redirects to other threads, I'm happy to hear from you.

marionsclan · 06-30-11, 02:20 AM

Personally, I own a Ball python and are very happy with her placid and calm temperament. I am also planning to save up to add another snake to my zoo

and the fore runners are the Woma Python and the Hognose snake. Both are said to have a very mellow temperament.

NennaMeerkat · 06-30-11, 02:31 AM

My personal suggestion is a Western Hognose. They need basically the same setup as a corn snake BUT are much calmer overall. And they don't get as big either...usually fatter than they are long.

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 06-30-11, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NennaMeerkat

My personal suggestion is a Western Hognose. They need basically the same setup as a corn snake BUT are much calmer overall. And they don't get as big either...usually fatter than they are long.

Yea throw in the fact that there Rear rang venomous and you have a pretty awesome snake, i didnt really consider ever owning own before this website. Im looking at hoggies and FWC's to add to my collection.

stephanbakir · 06-30-11, 04:07 AM

I can tell you right now, FWC are NOT what you want, probably the same for hoggies...
If you want placid go for a ball python. They come in every color imaginable, are not normally biters and are placid.

reptile65 · 06-30-11, 09:05 AM

I personally would not recommend a ball python for your FIRST snake. I'm not saying they aren't great snakes, but I think it's best to have a little bit of snake experience under your belt before you get one. That is just my opinion.

To answer your question on corn snakes, it really depends on the individual snake. Colubrids in general are usually a bit more "energetic" and quick than pythons and boas. However, many corns will get used to being handled and will be very calm and slow when you handle them. Babies are generally going to be a little bit squirmy. You could always try to find an adult corn, that way you can handle it beforehand and see what its personality is like.

forza_inter · 06-30-11, 10:07 AM

im actually the same way.....i find that colubrids are too "lively" for my liking. haha as weird as this may sound, i would rather handle a boa or python then i would a garter snake. i live right next to a forest and in the summer there are garters all over my backyard and front yard. i stopped attempting to handle them from how many times i have almost been bit....just not worth it, so i let them be....i just make sure they are out of the way when i go by with the lawn mower.

but in regards to owning a snake, my dumerils boa is the first that i have ever owned and its only been about 2 months now....but honestly, shes the calmest, most well tempered snake i have ever held. she has never once tried to bite me, i have no problem handling her while shes about to shed....right before her last shed i had her out and i ended up letting my gf, my cousin, my brother and his gf hold her....(and i've read many snakes tend to be a bit more aggressive when they are in shed)...yet she was still super calm.

like i said, im no expert by any means. but from what i've read and what i have experienced with my girl so far.....dumerils make EXCELLENT pets

Coffee Black · 06-30-11, 10:12 AM

I really think a first snake, if possible, should be a baby colubrid whose requirements match your current climate. Far less chance at huge husbandry mistakes and any made will not be as serious and be easier to fix.

TeaNinja · 06-30-11, 10:15 AM

i agree, dums are awesome pets. keep in mind the reason snakes go "blue" is because they make some liquid in between the old layer and new layer of skin to loosen the top layer for shedding. if you handle your snake during blue, the two skins can stick to each other making shedding much harder. i just learned that a while ago. also that's why sheds feel soft a lot of the time.

forza_inter · 06-30-11, 10:16 AM

i didnt know that....i actually only took her out bc my cousin was moving to italy and he wanted to face his fears and finally hold a snake before leaving....and then my brother and his gf happened to come home around the same time so it just happened to play out like that

and her shed wasnt as good as her 1st one....so im assuming thats why. def wont be doing that again

thanks zak

Lankyrob · 06-30-11, 10:22 AM

Corn snake - we have two yearlings bought as babies and an adult rescue - the adult is a bit of a handful but is approximately four years old and wasnt ahndled until we got it 8 months ago - the yearlings are placid as hell - they do move around but arent frantic or difficult to control. VERY easy husbandry and care and mine are all out and about pretty much every day so see them alot.

Ball Python - we have a yearling - care is slightly more complicated than cornssnakes as you need to keep higher humidity and they can be difficult eaters at times (not all the time) mine is very docile, easily handled but doesnt do anything and spends all my waking hours (i am up for about 20 hours in every 24) hiding so we rarely see it without disturbing him.

Carpet pythons - we have a two year old Jungle Carpet - very bitey as a youngster, can now be handled but is the snake most likely to bite you in our collection. Very active, out and about a lot. needs about the same amount of care as a corn but needs climbing space rahter than floor space.

For a first snake i would always recommend a corn snake, second snake Ball python and then move onto any of the others you fancy - this is just my own opinion!

Cant comment on your other ideas as have never owned any of them but hope this helps.

TeaNinja · 06-30-11, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by forza_inter

i didnt know that....i actually only took her out bc my cousin was moving to italy and he wanted to face his fears and finally hold a snake before leaving....and then my brother and his gf happened to come home around the same time so it just happened to play out like that

and her shed wasnt as good as her 1st one....so im assuming thats why. def wont be doing that again

thanks zak

months ago i didn't even think about it and took my bp out during blue and shot some pics and stuff. i didn't think about the fact that i probably shouldn't be messing with him in blue till after.

http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/gener...1-bp-blue.html

mikey let me have it

whatclaptrap · 06-30-11, 01:22 PM

Thanks for the info, guys. Definitely helpful. And now I know something about shedding snakes that I didn't know before! Learnin' every day. :]

So, on the subject of colubrids as first snakes, more specifically corns. They get recommended to me a lot; is this partially because they don't have the humidity requirements of a BP, or is it the ball python's occasional feeding issues that set them apart?

Thanks again guys. :]

NennaMeerkat · 06-30-11, 01:40 PM

Its all about husbandry. You would want to get a "native" snake to your area...IE Corn Snake, Garter Snake, Milk Snake ect. because you basically just have to make sure you give them the basics (hides, correct bedding, and a little heat) and you are good to go. Tropical snakes need much more humidity, heat, and other things that first time snake owners cannot always get right or keep right. No offense to anyone.

It would be like being a first time lizard owner and trying to own a Chameleon.

KD35WIN.AS.ONE · 06-30-11, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanbakir

I can tell you right now, FWC are NOT what you want, probably the same for hoggies...
If you want placid go for a ball python. They come in every color imaginable, are not normally biters and are placid.

Yea as a first snake i would in no way recommend a a False Water Cobra, i was just speaking in terms that thats what i want, more so then the hognose. But from what i hear from people on here they seem to be pretty straight forward snakes. Im almost positive for a new person with past snake experience (non-venomous) looking to move into Rear Fanged slightly venomous, a Hognose would be there best bet, but thats off subject.