I'm not entirely sure about what your idea of 'small' is, as different people have different conceptions of the word
That being said, for a good starter snake, I'd say go with a corn snake. They feed really well (usually), don't get too big (3 - 5 feet), and their care is pretty basic. I'll give you a quick overview, and a couple websites and a book to take a look at.
Habitat: Everywhere from forest floors to fields around abandoned farms.
Substrate: I use topsoil for my corn, although the most common are newspaper, aspen shavings, carefresh, aspen or cypress mulch. Stay away from sand, unless in a mixture, because too much sand can cause problems if ingested during feeding or during shedding.
Feeding: Completely dependent on size. Feed one or two appropriately sized rodents per week until it's an adult, and then go once every two weeks. Corns are great feeders, and I have yet to have mine refuse a meal. With regards to where to feed, (others please correct me if I'm wrong) I've heard many people say feed outside of the enclosure. I don't, and I've never experienced problems. I know people who've been keeping snakes for over ten years, and they do the same, without problems. The concern is with the ingestion of substrate during feeding and causing problems. My theory is that snakes eat on dirt and leaves and sticks and stuff in the wild all the time, usually without problems. The decision is yours to make. I haven't heard of a satisfactory way (for me) to move them back into their enclosure when they're done without risking regurgiation. If someone else has a solution, please let me know.
Lighting: You don't need any extra lighting, although a UV will help brighten the colours and liven up your terrarium, if you want/have a really natural set up, or just want some extra lighting.
heating: what you use is dependant upon cage size, but the gradient should have a hot spot of around 86 - 88 degrees, and a cool spot in the mid to high 70s. I keep mine from about 75 - 91, just to give my corn a nice spread of temps to regulate his body temp.
Handling: A must, especially if you don't go with a corn and go with a larger species like a boa or a python and want it to be tame. Corns are great...the only problems I've ever had when handling my corn is being pooped on a couple times. Rather nasty. Just make sure it feels well supported, and that you keep your movements slow and smooth to minimize stress. Let the snake move, while using your hands to guide it. Don't let it get near your face. It's not as bad with a corn, but with other species of boids, the heat from your breath can induce a strike.
Do's and Don'ts: That I know of, corns are one of the easiest species to take take care of. Just make sure that feces and shed skin is removed as soon as you spot them, change water every day, and keep the gradients in the proper range (unless you're breeding, that changes everything) and you should have a long lived snake. Leave it alone for at least 24 hours after feeding, as handling after a feeding can cause regurgitation.
That should be it. Check out
www.reptilia.org and
www.newenglandreptile.com for some good caresheets for different species. They go over kings and pythons and such as well, to give you more info. If you like the sound of corns, check out The Cornsnake Manual, by Bill and Kathy Love. They're two prominent breeders, and know what they're talking about. Keep asking questions and reading, as knowledge is power. Good luck, and PM me if you have any more questions.
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