Help for an indecisive newbie?

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Also just as a question how does owning a corn snake in which you dont need to adjust any temps or humidity, give you the experience to own a exotic species? I dont see the median there what so ever. I think with proper research, and ALOT of dedication you can move straight to an exotic species... Owning a Ball python in my past didnt give me experience i needed own a BRB because of the lower heat but higher humidity, but because i was dedicated to its care i did the research required and now have a very healthy snake. Its all in the owner, if your not looking to own colubrids in the future then dont start with one... Getting husbandry is as easy as looking at someones set up that has it correct already then mimicking it. 1 to 2 hides, a water dish and some newspaper lol. Temps arent extremely difficult to get right they just may take time, and with a thermostat its as simple as hitting a button. Common sense will tell you how to keep humidity in a confined space. I personally dont think snake care is as difficult as people make it out to be, dedication to knowledge and care for any snake you get is the key... This is all My Opinion, feel free to disagree or agree.

[Gungirl]

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

Also just as a question how does owning a corn snake in which you dont need to adjust any temps or humidity, give you the experience to own a exotic species? I dont see the median there what so ever. I think with proper research, and ALOT of dedication you can move straight to an exotic species... Owning a Ball python in my past didnt give me experience i needed own a BRB because of the lower heat but higher humidity, but because i was dedicated to its care i did the research required and now have a very healthy snake. Its all in the owner, if your not looking to own colubrids in the future then dont start with one... Getting husbandry is as easy as looking at someones set up that has it correct already then mimicking it. 1 to 2 hides, a water dish and some newspaper lol. Temps arent extremely difficult to get right they just may take time, and with a thermostat its as simple as hitting a button. Common sense will tell you how to keep humidity in a confined space. I personally dont think snake care is as difficult as people make it out to be, dedication to knowledge and care for any snake you get is the key... This is all My Opinion, feel free to disagree or agree.

I agree with this as long as you don't want to jump right into hots...

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I agree with this as long as you don't want to jump right into hots...

I agree with this as well, although i have my set opinions on that subject as well. Hot ownership should be held in reserve till you gain proper respect and technique with snakes in general... That is something that must be learned from experience not from research.

[stephanbakir]

Hots are tricky regarding who should own them. I've met people that are in it for the rush, who have proper training and technique but throw it all out the window in front of friends to be cool, and I've met the non idiots. People in it for the rush, and to show of should simply not own them, and move on to more ferocious animals like rat snakes!

[Lankyrob]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

I agree with this as long as you don't want to jump right into hots...

I understand where you are coming from but owning a "simple" snake an teach someone about handling, feeding, reading a snakes mood etc whilst not also having the worry about keeping humidity etc at the right levels at the same time. Less to worry about at the beginning.

Not saying it cant be done, i had 3 corns, a BP, JCP, GTP and SD Retic plus two lizards within about three months of starting in this hobby, BUT i did have the help and support of a well established reptile breeder/keeper/shop owner just down the road as well as the people on here. Its down to the new keepers confidence and how much support they have in person that should decide it imo.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Originally Posted by Lankyrob

I understand where you are coming from but owning a "simple" snake an teach someone about handling, feeding, reading a snakes mood etc whilst not also having the worry about keeping humidity etc at the right levels at the same time. Less to worry about at the beginning.

Not saying it cant be done, i had 3 corns, a BP, JCP, GTP and SD Retic plus two lizards within about three months of starting in this hobby, BUT i did have the help and support of a well established reptile breeder/keeper/shop owner just down the road as well as the people on here. Its down to the new keepers confidence and how much support they have in person that should decide it imo.

I do see your logic there, and to add to your point the difference between handling a ball python and a Green Tree Python is huge, so i can see where your coming from there. Reading a snakes mood and proper handling of some snakes is more difficult then others snakes and so that is something learned through trial not research. I also agree with your last statement to.

[marionsclan]

Being a good pet owner of any animal means that, besides having done the research, you need to have a knack for it.

There are many dog owners who have owned dogs their whole life but that does not make them good owners because some people just can't read the animal or do not, instinctively, get what their needs are.

So, when someone says that snake ownership is fairly easy that could mean one of two things; You either have the knack for it or you don't recognize the signs of illness or stress and think everything is OK which should make you a good owner.

[whatclaptrap]

Hahaha, I have to say, the idea of either having the knack or not is kind of intimidating. But I guess I'll never know if I don't ever try, right?

I can see where everyone's coming from, for sure. I'm still not certain about corn snakes, but I plan on revisiting some reptile stores near me and checking out their stock, so I'll be seeing more corns. Who knows what I'll find out.

As for a real life support net in case of catastrophic pet snake failure, I do want to reassure you guys, I'm not alone in my snake interest. My interest in snakes was actually piqued by my friends, one who has a ball python and another who's got a BRB, so that's good, and there's a couple specifically reptile-oriented places around here that seem relatively good. I'm doing my best to go into this eyes wide open, haha. :]

[stephanbakir]

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

I do see your logic there, and to add to your point the difference between handling a ball python and a Green Tree Python is huge, so i can see where your coming from there. Reading a snakes mood and proper handling of some snakes is more difficult then others snakes and so that is something learned through trial not research. I also agree with your last statement to.

Rob had a great example of how green tree pythons should be held. The amount of times his GTP had been held could be counted on ONE hand, with spare fingers. Nuf said.

[stephanbakir]

Originally Posted by whatclaptrap

Hahaha, I have to say, the idea of either having the knack or not is kind of intimidating. But I guess I'll never know if I don't ever try, right?

It can be learned.
Explained its: support the snake but don't hold it, guide the snake but avoid jerky movements, if bitten DON'T put the snake back until he calms down, you don't want to teach him that biting = getting left alone.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Originally Posted by whatclaptrap

Hahaha, I have to say, the idea of either having the knack or not is kind of intimidating. But I guess I'll never know if I don't ever try, right?

Its not a sport, there's no knack for it. I would completely disregard the above posters portion of that statement for more then one reason. Like everything else your good at it because you took the time to apply yourself.. There's no magical trick to it, by definition knack would mean a trait that makes you good at something that cant be taught. An example of a knack is "that guys good at playing basketball because hes 6 foot 11 inches." Dont be intimidated by that statement.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by KD35WIN.AS.ONE

Its not a sport, there's no knack for it. I would completely disregard the above posters portion of that statement for more then one reason. Like everything else your good at it because you took the time to apply yourself.. There's no magical trick to it, by definition knack would mean a trait that makes you good at something that cant be taught. An example of a knack is "that guys good at playing basketball because hes 6 foot 11 inches." Dont be intimidated by that statement.

Well, disregard it or not, I still stick by my statement that people who have a knack for something are naturally usually better at it than anyone who has read up on it. And even when you apply yourself you may never be as good as someone who does it naturally. However, I am not saying that people without knacks won't be good pet owners they will just have more questions regarding temperament and identifying posture and moods than people to whom this comes naturally.

P.S. Your example is not a knack but an poor assumption. A knack is a special skill, talent, or aptitude which has nothing to do with size.

[marionsclan]

Originally Posted by whatclaptrap

Hahaha, I have to say, the idea of either having the knack or not is kind of intimidating. But I guess I'll never know if I don't ever try, right?

That is exactly right.

[red ink]

Originally Posted by whatclaptrap

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! :]

Not at all

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.

Don't have any experience with them or know the first thing about them so I'm no help there

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 don't know anything about BPs or Boas.... I do however know about all the Australian species you have listed there. All of which are pretty easy to care for. For small pythons Antaresias are good if you and something a bit more sizable then the Morelias... Womas are great and are pretty calm, the only thing about them is they are very food oriented.

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?

Don't know anything about boas

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?

Anteresias "can" calm down with age but as hatchlings they can be little chainsaws. Each snake is an individual though so you can't put temperment down to a species really...

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.

There is no such thing as a biginer snake first and foremost IMO.....
I say go with the species you really like the look of research a heck of a lot about them and their husbandry requirements.
Take a deep breath and reflect on whether or not your willing to undertake the amount of work needed in regards to their husbandry be it simple or complex....

If you like the "look" of the snake, don't base your choice on the opinions of others.... All the other stuff that comes with keeping a snake is just good ol' fashion research and hands on experience. You might as well get a species you find interesting and for the lack of a better word "pretty" as it will keep you entertained and striving to provide it the utmost best conditions.

Obcourse were here to help if you need it though .

Cheers,

[SpOoKy]

Can I throw into this mix a suggestion for a Bull/Gopher snake...?!?!?!

I recently acquired my first bull and I love him. I actually went back to the guy the next weekend a got another one a little older and bigger. Until them I had only owned pythons and boa's but these guys really have great personalities and are an easy snake to take care of. they are pretty energetic when you first take them out so it will definitely teach you about handling snakes but after about 10-15 min of squirming they chill right out and just hang out on you. I am supper happy with the both of them and I personally think they are a great snake to own.