first snake

[snakeman92]

i was wondering what would be the best first snake

[jason h]

i would have to say ball python, cornsnake or rosy boas

[snakeman92]

so what would be better a ball python or a carpet

[TonyL]

I think the snake depends on what you like. Research the two! That is the fun part. My first is a corn but now I have decided to get a carpet!

Either a ball or carpet python would be great for your first snake!

[snakedude_03]

i say ball python.. or corn...

[Linds]

I would recommend rosy boas, sandboas, or *cringe* cornsnakes as a first snake. Personally I disklike colubrids but that's just personal preference, corns can make *cringe* great beginner snakes. Rosy boas are by far though my favourite for beginner snakes. They beat all other sp. handsdown. Very docile, super easy to keep, forgiving in their husbandry, dont get large. ONly thing is that humidity must be kept low, don't keep water available in the tank all the time (1x weekly works fine). They are slwo moving, tolerate handling better than any other sp (well, rubber boas are equally great), and come in a dazzling array of colour and pattern variations. They stay a manageable size (usually max out around 3') so they are also very space efficient animals. Sand boas are also a good choice.

I don't recommend ball pythons as a first snake because there is a much smaller margin for error in keeping these snakes and their feeding strikes can prove out to be very frustrating for a first time snake owner. In addition due to their shy nature they tolerate excessive handling very poorly. I also disagree with carpets making good beginner snakes. They can be quite variable in temperament, and some ssp. of carpets (ie-jungle) are typicsally high strung animals. Coastals arent as bad but can still be somewhat highstrung animals (like any semi-arboreal animal). Irian Jayas are probably the best of the carpets to get, but I would still recommend them to someone that has already had some snake keeping experience.

Always my least favorite question, it's more what type of snake is recomended to you. It is hard to recomend an animal to someone you don't know. I would recomend one animal to a person that has several years experience with fish, lizards, or other non cat/dog pet, because I see that as a sign of being able care for a non-interactive animal. I would recomend something else to a 10 year old. With proper housing and strict attention to husbandry almost any snake could be considered 'easy'. My recomendation is more what I would aviod in a first snake. Any feeding problem species, some species like balls and hogs are known for going on food strikes, others for being more suseptible regurge syndrome like neonate True Red-tails. If you want a display animal don't get something that burrows or prefers hides and make the enclosure in a way that forces the animal to be exposed. If you want to handle the animal don't get ones thought to be aggressive or flighty. And for your first, and this is JMHO, don't get a giant. My .02

[BIG SCOTT]

Try a Red-Tail, their very easy to care for and they don't require that much assistance as far as having to do any misting or anything of that nature they usually have very friendly attitudes.

[J.J.]

Umm, I would still have to say a Ball Python, that was my first snake, and I love him so much!! But still, what are you willing to do for your snake? you know, feeding, cleaning, cages, MONEY!!! snakes can be very expensive, so i would recomend a smaller snake, ball pythons get to be about 4 to 6 feet and live to be 30 or 40 years old, and if that is too large a corn snake would be good too, i cant say that I like them, but thats only cause the ones that i know about are ~EVIL~!! anyways, whatever you decide, good luck, and god bless!!

[Syst3m]

Hum... Corn snakes are great beginner snakes. they have a very relaxed range of temps and humiditys they live in and are very colorful snakes too, Ball Pythons are also not bad either. But again its a matter of how much care you are willing to take of your snake. And how much time you have to take care of your snake.

[Adria]

I would say a Ball Python. For beginnners they are great because they are not aggressive, don't move as fast as corns, so that you can do your regular things with the snake around your neck.

[snakekeeper]

I would have to say a ball python would be the best choice if you are ok with the size. I find that colubrids can be nippy and they are quick. Ball pythons are slower moving than a colubrid which will also make it easier to handle. My first snake was a ball and she is great!

[SnakeLovers]

I'd agree with a Ball Python or a Corn Snake..very easy to care for..my first snake was a male albino corn (blizzard het).

[rattekonigin]

I have a bone to pick with those of you who aren't keen on recommending a corn snake as a first snake...they're the ideal first snake, they're very docile (granted there are always some exceptions to the rule, although I've never heard of corn snakes being called "evil"), their husbandry is ridiculously simple, they'll almost never miss a meal (unlike many python and boa species *cough* ball pythons *cough*), they grow quickly and I don't notice a huge difference in their activity level relative to my boa except for in enclosure (where the boa just moves occasionally to thermoregulate) Because the corns come out and move around more, I have to say they're more fun to watch...and my corn snake will wrap herself around my kneck while I go about my business...I say everyone should start out with a corn snake! There's a reason why so many people still keep them in their collections even after they've "moved on" to boids...
I call for an end to the species-ism that seems so prevalent in these forums!

[raebug2000]

i think ball pythons are the best beginner snakes, mainly because they are very mild tempered, they dont have wrap slither options and typically they are just neat snakes without too many complications. i trust my big girl BP with my niece.