Noobz

[mr_weatherby]

Hello all, I'm Ryan from Colorado. I've loved snakes my whole life but only recently have I started researching and learning about them. I don't currently own a snake, but I will soon. I'm trying to learn as much as possible before I jump into anything.

I'll probably mostly drift around on here reading posts and what not.

Nice to meet everyone.

[infernalis]

sSnakeSs.com - Rules

[drumcrush]

Hey, welcome!

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by mr_weatherby

Hello all, I'm Ryan from Colorado. I've loved snakes my whole life but only recently have I started researching and learning about them. I don't currently own a snake, but I will soon. I'm trying to learn as much as possible before I jump into anything.

I'll probably mostly drift around on here reading posts and what not.

Nice to meet everyone.

I used to work in a pet store in the reptile department. Picking a first snake is a big decision. There are several questions you could answer to help people point you in the right direction.

1. What is your budget for the snake+ enclosure+ supplies? This includes the price of the snake, the price of the enclosure, supplies like objects for cover, a water dish, heating, and so on.

2. Do you live in an area where there is a reptile club you know of or where there is a large hobbyist trading community? For example, here in Toronto, there is a large community of both reptile and tropical fish breeders and they talk to eachother and potential customers via a number of local forums online. If you live in an area like this, you'll get a better price, as well as possibly access to some less common species.

3. Do you want a snake for holding? Or just for looking at? There are some great snakes for interacting with that tolerate handling well and are highly unlikely to bite. An example would be a ball python.

There are also snakes that don't tolerate handling and stress well and are best left alone, like the Green Tree Python.

4. What level of complexity do you want in setting the enclosure up? The Ball python is fine in a simple enclosure on a newsprint bedding with a heating pad, a hide, and water. The Green Tree Python requires a larger enclosure which has branches for climbing on.

5. How much space do you have for the snake? A Cornsnake can be kept in something with the footprint of a 20 gallon aquarium. An adult Burmese Python needs a large walk-in closet.

[Charis]

Hello and welcome! Happy hunting and research for your first snake! Agreed, picking the first one can be a challenge, there are so many good choices.

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome!

[mr_weatherby]

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

I used to work in a pet store in the reptile department. Picking a first snake is a big decision. There are several questions you could answer to help people point you in the right direction.

1. What is your budget for the snake+ enclosure+ supplies? This includes the price of the snake, the price of the enclosure, supplies like objects for cover, a water dish, heating, and so on.

2. Do you live in an area where there is a reptile club you know of or where there is a large hobbyist trading community? For example, here in Toronto, there is a large community of both reptile and tropical fish breeders and they talk to eachother and potential customers via a number of local forums online. If you live in an area like this, you'll get a better price, as well as possibly access to some less common species.

3. Do you want a snake for holding? Or just for looking at? There are some great snakes for interacting with that tolerate handling well and are highly unlikely to bite. An example would be a ball python.

There are also snakes that don't tolerate handling and stress well and are best left alone, like the Green Tree Python.

4. What level of complexity do you want in setting the enclosure up? The Ball python is fine in a simple enclosure on a newsprint bedding with a heating pad, a hide, and water. The Green Tree Python requires a larger enclosure which has branches for climbing on.

5. How much space do you have for the snake? A Cornsnake can be kept in something with the footprint of a 20 gallon aquarium. An adult Burmese Python needs a large walk-in closet.

Thanks everybody!

1. My budget will probably be between $150- $200. I already have some supplies from a former roommate, that had left some stuff.

2. I don't live in a big town (30,000+ people), but a former co-worker has quite a few snakes, and her ex husband used to breed Red Tail Boas. She has been a huge help and knows a lot of people that will be able to help.

3. I would love to be able to hold and interact with the snake instead of just stare at it.

4. If I get a ball python like I'm thinking, I will go with the simple newspaper setup for now.

5. The overall size I can keep is is gonna cut off around 7 feet or so. I can purchase bigger habitats, but it still has to fit in my bedroom at the end of the day so 12 foot Burms are not gonna be in any near future of mine.

[dinosaurdammit]

Welcome aboard!

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by mr_weatherby

Thanks everybody!

1. My budget will probably be between $150- $200. I already have some supplies from a former roommate, that had left some stuff.

2. I don't live in a big town (30,000+ people), but a former co-worker has quite a few snakes, and her ex husband used to breed Red Tail Boas. She has been a huge help and knows a lot of people that will be able to help.

3. I would love to be able to hold and interact with the snake instead of just stare at it.

4. If I get a ball python like I'm thinking, I will go with the simple newspaper setup for now.

5. The overall size I can keep is is gonna cut off around 7 feet or so. I can purchase bigger habitats, but it still has to fit in my bedroom at the end of the day so 12 foot Burms are not gonna be in any near future of mine.

Based on all that, and the fact that you already like the snake, I'd say get a Ball Python. If you want to stay at or below that price range and size, look at milksnakes, ratsnakes, cornsnakes (which are ratsnakes), garters. For ultimate ease of care some snakes like the black milk snake can be kept without any heating, assuming your room temperature is adequate. It IS a larger snake though... Maybe too large for you?

[mistersprinkles]

As far as handling the snake, out of all the snakes I mentioned, the Ball Python is going to be the most calm and slow moving when handled. That may be a benefit to you, having little or no experience handling snakes. You don't want a snake that moves too fast and you can't support it's body properly in two places. You can hurt a snake's spine by picking it up wrong or holding it wrong.

[Terranaut]

My advice to you is have the entire setup running before you even look for a snake. If your looking at a ball you have to consider humidity. Research screen top aquariums on here and see what sort of set up NOT to have. If can up your budget a bit and get an actual snake cage , you will save yourself a lot of BS trying to keep your husbandry correct.
Things to remember ....
A light is not a good heat source.
Screen lid aquariums are a pain to use. Not impossible but not user friendly.
You need a thermostat. It is not a cool add on later. Can't stress this enough.
The round dial type thermometers and hygrometers are not accurate so ensuring you get a temp gun or just a good accurate thermometer is also not something to get later.
Do not buy 10 snakes in 2 months right off the hop. Ease into this hobby incase you decide to ease out.
Having a proper setup and not the bare minimums will help your snakr adjust to you and your home much faster and you will enjoy it more when it sheds and eats properly as opposed wondering why nothing seems right.
Good luck.

[Mikoh4792]

Originally Posted by mistersprinkles

A Cornsnake can be kept in something with the footprint of a 20 gallon aquarium.

A cornsnake can be kept in a 20 gallon but that size is not ideal for a colubrid that will get 3-5 feet long. Aren't 20 gallons only a foot wide?

I'd recommend something like a 3x2x2 for a full grown cornsnake.

4. What level of complexity do you want in setting the enclosure up? The Ball python is fine in a simple enclosure on a newsprint bedding with a heating pad, a hide, and water. The Green Tree Python requires a larger enclosure which has branches for climbing on.

What do you consider to be large? Right now I am housing two adults in cages that are 3x2x2, and they are very simplistic. Just as simple if not more than a ball pythons basic setup, given that green tree pythons don't require a warm hide and a cool hide, and instead can rest on a few vertical perches. To be honest, they could be comfortable in something smaller, some breeders even house males in 2x2x2 cubes.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Hello and welcome.

[mistersprinkles]

Originally Posted by Mikoh4792

A cornsnake can be kept in a 20 gallon but that size is not ideal for a colubrid that will get 3-5 feet long. Aren't 20 gallons only a foot wide?

Yes 20 gallons are 2 feet by 1 foot by about 15-18 inches. I was talking about a 3 (+/-) foot cornsnake. Obviously if you have a 5 footer you need more space.

[mr_weatherby]

Awesome, thanks for all the advice

I love this site already.