Docile, and beautiful snakes for newbies

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

If you're jumpy you'd want to look into slower moving snakes than the smaller, faster colubrids.

Spotted pythons, sand boas, rosy boas are all good choices. I also recommend buying an adult. A little tougher to find than babies however you'll already know the temperment so you can expand on what you're looking for easier.

Honduran, sinoloan, nelson's milksnakes would be good choices as well. Achieve a good size but also are colourful. I've found the larger milksnake species tend to be better with handling especially if you find an adult already accustomed to it.

I looked up some of these up and a medium sized milksnake would be fine. I saw a photo of a really large milksnake, looked bigger than a corn snake wasnt so sure I'd be fond of it.

As for buying adults, how long do snakes typically live and how can you be assured that the seller isnt selling you off some old snake that's like about to die in a year or two and charges you more for it?

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by TRD

I always handle the young snakes that I get before buying them from a breeder... if they are already calm when just 2-3 months old, they will likely be nice and calm later on too. I'm more going towards personality than looks, as long as they are healthy.

Given the kingsnakes, milksnakes, and sandboas that I have, I find the sandboas the least comfortable to handle. They really do not seem to appreciate it one bit. Yes, they are slow, but to me there's nothing worse than holding a snake that obviously does not want to be held. If you have any intention to handle the snake 1-2x per week, I wouldn't get a sandboa. Besides you won't see them a lot if they have anything to dig into, they will hide completely out of sight 23.5 hours a day.

Out of the kingsnakes and milksnakes, the kingsnakes seem to be calmer, milks seem to be a bit more appreciative of privacy. Then out of the sexes, the guys seem to be the least concerned about humans and more bold in their actions. But this is just my observation.

PS. Any snake may bite you at some point, due to misunderstanding or just generally doesn't want you to come near him that particular day. Even my calmest snake that never had any form of aggression had a "mood" last week and instead of coming out onto my hand when I opened the terrarium (as he normally does) he just struck me on my finger and gave me a good chew, all for nothing really, maybe I smelled like mouse, dunno. It hurts some, sure, it draws blood too. But heck - it simply happens, and besides the initial "scare" it is really no big deal with smaller snakes. It's not like when you keep cats or a dog that you never get scratched or bitten.

When I lived in Puerto Rico, we only saw (in the wild) these garter snakes, some green colored slender snakes, some big and thick black snakes that were apparently harmless but people would kill them out of simple fear(just like they'd kill the giant toads because they thought they give warts).


I also don't want a giant snake because I plan on owning a tiny dog and if in case by any chance the snake escaped, I don't want the dog to be snake chow....


Personally I got rather fond of the blizzard corn snakes and wonder if there are other completely white snakes with black eyes? (not pink white, like just white)

I also like green colors, I've seen this black and white kingsnake but I feel as if these grow rather large. Not sure about their size. On another note, I once (silly I know) ponder on the idea of medium to small palidrium with like water area that was visible, and a water snake(also caught baby water snakes in nj- to observe and release) but I doubt that's possible as the only water snake I heard of in captivity would be an anaconda. Which I am terrified of....

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by PredatorPraetor

I looked up some of these up and a medium sized milksnake would be fine. I saw a photo of a really large milksnake, looked bigger than a corn snake wasnt so sure I'd be fond of it.

As for buying adults, how long do snakes typically live and how can you be assured that the seller isnt selling you off some old snake that's like about to die in a year or two and charges you more for it?

Most milksnakes don't get large. Find a male if you're concerned it might be too big for you. Size ranking from smallest to biggest would be:

Nelson's
Sinoloan
Honduran

These types of snakes easily live 10+ years. I personally see most people get in and out of the hobby pretty quick so most adult snakes aren't too old. I also find a lot of people will openly tell you the age or how long they've had it.
Also, adult snakes are a bit tougher to sell so the price point shouldn't be too much different from a baby, sometimes even less!

Do some sleuthing and you'll be fine. Check with breeders who may want to sell a retired breeder or who wants to replace a specific animal with a morph. Most breeders will tell you the temperment of the animal in question.

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Most milksnakes don't get large. Find a male if you're concerned it might be too big for you. Size ranking from smallest to biggest would be:

Nelson's
Sinoloan
Honduran

These types of snakes easily live 10+ years. I personally see most people get in and out of the hobby pretty quick so most adult snakes aren't too old. I also find a lot of people will openly tell you the age or how long they've had it.
Also, adult snakes are a bit tougher to sell so the price point shouldn't be too much different from a baby, sometimes even less!

Do some sleuthing and you'll be fine. Check with breeders who may want to sell a retired breeder or who wants to replace a specific animal with a morph. Most breeders will tell you the temperment of the animal in question.

Do any milksnakes have a "blizzard" color morph like the corns? White skin(no pink), black eyes.

Just curious as to how many snakes come in that color.

How much should these cost? And how much does a blizzard corn snake cost?

[SerpentineDream]

IIRC in New Jersey you are restricted to corn snake morphs that have red eyes, no?

I have a striped blizzard Tessera corn snake that was $375 but would expect a plain blizzard corn to cost considerably less.

Corn snakes are awesome. The *majority* are not bitey and they come in a zillion color patterns.

Mexican milk snakes are also great pets. Calmer than most milks, chunky but not very long, bright colors.

African house snakes are small and a lot of fun but hard to find.

Western hognoses startle you at first with the bluffing but you get over it. The only time you're likely to get bitten is if you smell like food or are careless at feeding time. Same with the house snakes, come to think of it.

There are lots of different garter subspecies if you are inclined to go that route but want a different look.

California king snake would fit the bill too.

The only snake I can think of offhand with the color scheme you like is a black-eyed leucistic... ball python.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by PredatorPraetor

Do any milksnakes have a "blizzard" color morph like the corns? White skin(no pink), black eyes.

Just curious as to how many snakes come in that color.

How much should these cost? And how much does a blizzard corn snake cost?

I don't know of any blizzard milk snakes. Might be one but I don't know it. However, blizzard corns are a mix of Charcoal and albino so the snake will have red/pink eyes and you may get some yellow in the colour as it matures.

I wouldn't pay too much for a blizzard myself. Been around a really long time. $100?

[eminart]

Originally Posted by PredatorPraetor

Hello, I was wondering if there are snakes that -aren't- ball pythons, that had many color morphs and were docile, easy to handle and do not bite people?

I was looking for something small or medium- nothing bigger than a corn snake. I wanted something that won't bite or affect my reflects essentially as I am a tad jumpy sometimes.

I am not exactly looking to handle it often, but just that when I did I didn't want to get bit or hurting it by accident.

I am 100% a newbie in this and don't know where to start. I used to own a garter snake when I was really young and liked them because unlike turtles they didn't stink up the room.

The only corn snake that I can legally keep- that I also liked was the blizzard corn snake (the white one with no pattern and black eyes). I live in NJ if that helps.

I was hoping for a easier snake to keep. Alternatives would be nice as well. Just no ball pythons please. Had an accident with one once so no thank you.

Well, they all can and do bite. There are certainly some species that are less prone to biting than others, but don't go in thinking it will never happen. However, a bite from a medium sized snake is really nothing notable. I'd rather be bitten by a corn snake than get scratched by a rose bush or any other thorn bush.

As mentioned, a corn snake is probably the best match for your criteria. Generally, colubrids are going to be a bit more "wiggly" than the boas and pythons, especially when young. I think most of the suitable species have already been mentioned. I will say, from my experience, the milk snakes tend to be more flighty than what you might want.

I'll also say that, while I totally understand if you don't want a ball python (not my cup of tea either), you're probably not going to find a more docile, easy to handle snake than the average BP.

Just remember, snakes are reptiles. They're really nothing like a mammal. Most of the species commonly kept as pets will adjust quite well to captivity and being handled, but many of them will still bite defensively, or as a feeding response.

[Magdalen]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

African house snakes are small and a lot of fun but hard to find.

I just got one of these back in early March, but yeah they are hard to find and go fast when they were for sale. The babies are hard to get started eating (eating machines once they do, mine hasn't missed a meal so far) so I think that discourages some breeders. There aren't too many color morphs in the US yet.

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by SerpentineDream

IIRC in New Jersey you are restricted to corn snake morphs that have red eyes, no?

I have a striped blizzard Tessera corn snake that was $375 but would expect a plain blizzard corn to cost considerably less.

Corn snakes are awesome. The *majority* are not bitey and they come in a zillion color patterns.

Mexican milk snakes are also great pets. Calmer than most milks, chunky but not very long, bright colors.

African house snakes are small and a lot of fun but hard to find.

Western hognoses startle you at first with the bluffing but you get over it. The only time you're likely to get bitten is if you smell like food or are careless at feeding time. Same with the house snakes, come to think of it.

There are lots of different garter subspecies if you are inclined to go that route but want a different look.

California king snake would fit the bill too.

The only snake I can think of offhand with the color scheme you like is a black-eyed leucistic... ball python.

So many names.. lol I know what hognoses look like, milks, kings, ball pythons, etc.

Just many color names , etc. Wish they'd just simple call it for the white ones "White ballpython" Or "White Corn Snake". If it has a pattern then that makes sense, but if it's a simple color scheme then I think just calling it for what it is should be fine.


Although a white ball python seems less intimidating to me to be honest I am not so sure it's a good idea. It'd freak out people who would come over(parents, and other family members). Plus the main problem is aren't ball python color morphs usually like thousands of dollars? Even a 500 dollar snake sounds like a bad plan to me... Like no offense to all of you people who spend a lot on your snakes. It's only a problem for me because I am a beginner and what if I screw up and that 500 dollar snake dies- now it's essentially down the drain?

Regardless of what anyone says I try to not consciously drop so much money at once on something that potentially may not live past a few weeks.

Just like when I wanted a leuistic (leucistic? -- eh just white) turtle and I didn't buy it because of how expensive it was an how I knew how turtles aren't easy to keep....


I know some people are very gung-ho on this kind of stuff I just think I should take on something more manageable easy.

The only other issue with a snake like a ball python is.

I won't lie. I plan on bringing in a small dog breed. About the size of a chihuahua or some other small breed. But I don't want the snake to be a potential danger to the dog if it accidentally escapes. Because lets face it, no amount of care won't account for accidents. Accidents, are just that-- accidents.

As for garter snakes. How long do they generally live though? I thought they were short lived?

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

I don't know of any blizzard milk snakes. Might be one but I don't know it. However, blizzard corns are a mix of Charcoal and albino so the snake will have red/pink eyes and you may get some yellow in the colour as it matures.

I wouldn't pay too much for a blizzard myself. Been around a really long time. $100?

Yellow? So the snake wouldn't stay completely white? :x

[PredatorPraetor]

Originally Posted by eminart

Well, they all can and do bite. There are certainly some species that are less prone to biting than others, but don't go in thinking it will never happen. However, a bite from a medium sized snake is really nothing notable. I'd rather be bitten by a corn snake than get scratched by a rose bush or any other thorn bush.

As mentioned, a corn snake is probably the best match for your criteria. Generally, colubrids are going to be a bit more "wiggly" than the boas and pythons, especially when young. I think most of the suitable species have already been mentioned. I will say, from my experience, the milk snakes tend to be more flighty than what you might want.

I'll also say that, while I totally understand if you don't want a ball python (not my cup of tea either), you're probably not going to find a more docile, easy to handle snake than the average BP.

Just remember, snakes are reptiles. They're really nothing like a mammal. Most of the species commonly kept as pets will adjust quite well to captivity and being handled, but many of them will still bite defensively, or as a feeding response.

I understand, obviously anything with a set of teeth will bite. Heck, even a human child can(and some do) bite for no apparent reason. My problem is the kind of bite. How deep it goes and stuff.

I didn't want to mention this-- but I have some health problems. One of those problems require me to take blood thinners... and if I bleed too much I could be in serious trouble.. It's why I also want to be extra careful about what I bring.

A bite from say, a garter snake isn't deep enough to draw too much blood. But say something like a massive python could probably do enough damage where I should be worried? (I don't know- my thought process was bigger skull, likelier bigger teeth/fangs?)

The other issue is how startled I become at the time of being bitten. A ball python I am not sure if they'd strike like the other one did. Which mind you it startled me enough I almost dropped it or threw it, and let me make it clear I say this not because I intentionally wanted to harm the snake.

The snake has no idea what's going on- so of course there's a chance it's going to bite. There's a big communication barrier.

I was thinking to maybe get a thick rubber glove so if it tried to bite it wouldn't get deep enough and it would help me move it out if needed.

I've seen this guy sleep with his ball python which I can't see myself doing as it would just make me nervous. (I move around when I sleep)

My point of keeping a snake is just to view it, and occasionally handle it. But I doubt I'd handle it just because I wanted to handle it. From keeping fish and stuff like that most of my life I grew to be the "Observe and dont touch" kind of owner.

[frankadank]

Originally Posted by toddnbecka

I have a couple dozen 2016 Dominican mountain boas available. Very docile and easy to handle regardless of age or size, worst they ever do is musk. They grow to about the same size as a rat snake, slender-bodied like a carpet python rather than heavy-bodied like a red tail or Dumeril's boa. They do need more humidity than a corn or king snake, so I use cypress mulch in their enclosures, but the temp requirements aren't very high. Definitely more active than a ball python, but not flighty when picked up.

jumping in to say i would love to see some pics on your dominicans.

[SerpentineDream]

It sounds like a blizzard corn is your snake. A regular blizzard with no other genes like stripe or Tessera should be affordable. They get a bit of yellow around the neck area as they age (most corns do) from the carotinoids in the fat of the mice they eat. Supposedly females tend to exhibit less of this. My male only shows a slight yellow area on his nose and along a small section of his neck. I actually find it quite pretty. It's a bright sunny yellow, not a dull dingy yellow. He's still 95% white.

[jjhill001]

Originally Posted by PredatorPraetor

What's the difference between a rat and a corn snake? Is there a list of color morphs for these? I actually like the blizzard corns, I just wanted to see other possible alternatives. I would like an active snake but then again I know there is no such thing. lol

Corn Snakes are technically rat snakes. You could get a normal Baird's Rat Snake it doesn't have to be a morph because they aren't from NJ so you don't need a morph. If you go down to the colubrid section of the forum I've got pics of my female and male. There aren't many Baird's Rat Snake morphs just a hypo/albino and a San Antonio Zoo Line (from Mexico) and an Eastern Range in Texas Locality. I keep the East Texas Variety.

I know you want active, my male hides a bit by my female is extraordinarily bold and sits out like an idiot all the time. She's very entertaining.

[jjhill001]

Originally Posted by PredatorPraetor

Would a vet know? I mean you have to take snakes to vets right? But yeah, if a cop came t my house they probably wouldnt know.

To be honest, I wanted a docile snake about the size or less than a corn snake because I have family that comes over and I dont want them to be freaked out if they saw a big snake either.

I am actually fine with snakes, just that one incident freaked me out...

To be honest I did something stupid once and I am not proud of I kind of tried to herp with a copperhead around here and I am lucky it didnt strike me. lol i didnt know it was a copperhead at the time, but I am always careful with any wild animal I cant 100% ID

Honestly, the intended purpose of the law is to keep people from collecting normal wild corn snakes from the State of New Jersey. There are several morphs that ARE naturally occurring. Like Okeetees, blood reds, Miami, sunkissed (isn't natural but the snake looks normal for the first part of its life)

This link has a list of cornsnake morphs. About 3-5 of them are normal wild type. There are tons more to choose from to be honest.

All About Corn Snakes

I wouldn't be my life on a veterinarian knowing crap about morphs. There is always a chance to be honest but I doubt that if it wasn't a normal morph that they would even say anything. If you're close to the border you can go to a vet outside the state or if its that much of a worry for you just get a king snake or something like that.