Advice

[Kimmy]

I've never kept snakes and although as a child I was never scared of them, I was never keen on them either. However, recently I've been getting more and more into reptiles, I own a gecko and look after many more. What is your favourite type of snake to keep and what snake would you say would be good for someone wanting to start up?

[Paul]

Theres many arguements on forums about what is the best "beginner snake". Majority of the time it is said that Corn snakes are the best.

In my honest opinion these are the best snakes for people who want to start out:-

Colubrids

- Corn Snakes and some Rat Snakes (Some can be rather snappy)
- Milk Snakes
- King Snakes

Pythons and Boas

- Children's Python
- Royal Python
- Rainbow Boas
- Sand Boas

These are all fairly easy to look after. Setups are very basic. Word of warning though with royals and some rainbow boas. Some can be very fussy eaters. Make sure you buy one that is a proven feeder. Do not always take the Sellers word for it.

Another arguement that arouses a lot of concern is whether Boa constrictors are good starter snakes. My only advice to people who want to buy one is make sure you have the space as they can get very big.

AS for larger snakes like burmese pythons and reticulated pythons I would strongly advise not getting into them until you have have plenty of snake handling experience and have the extra room for something that will grow past the 20 foot mark.

[Kimmy]

Thanks for the heads up. What's your favourite type of snake?

[Paul]

I like a lot of snakes but my top five are:-

-Jampea Dwarf Retic
-Kenyan Sand Boa
-Yellow Anaconda
-Brazilian Rainbow Boa
-Red Bamboo Ratsnake

[ccfcexile]

When I first got into snake keeping It was common practice to start with Garter snakes, they were generally thought of easy to keep and cost hardley anything as you could pick up the food from your garden (worms, slugs etc) However, they tend to be nippy and aggressive but this was acceptable because they didn't grow large!

The shift has changed and more people want constrictor types like pythons as for status value, Corns are definatley the best starter constricter, non-aggresive and beautiful all the same and not a fussy eater like alot of the other species. Milksnakes and Kingsnakes are easy to keep also but may be a little nippy (I haven't experianced that myself though). I keep all 3 and they are fantastic (see my pics in the photo's section).

I have kept Burmese Pythons, Royal Pythons (or Ball), Reticulated Pythons, Common Boas and Garters in the past and my favourite must be the Burmese as they can be friendly providing you look after them well but I hold in awe the Reticulated Python as it is the largest snake I have ever owned but I'd doubt I would ever have another one as they are so agressive ... If it don't like you then it will let you know!!! My arm was the victim of some serious constriction when I was 10 and my mother after that incident will never go near a snake again as she was the victim of it's striking whilst crushing my arm! (and that was 20 years ago)!

If you want a snake get a corn but research it first, They are very easy to look after.

[Paul]

I hold in awe the Reticulated Python as it is the largest snake I have ever owned but I'd doubt I would ever have another one as they are so agressive ... If it don't like you then it will let you know!!!

Sounds like you found out plenty of times

When i worked at our local reptile shop the owner brought in his Bali yellow head. Gorgeous snake to look at but I hardly think they are one for cuddling up with.

He did tell me that when striking at humans they find that the most inviting part is between the eyes because thats where a lot of our heat is.
Not sure if anyone else had heard that before.

Still retics are still one of my fave snakes (I repeat.....to look at lol ;D)

[Kimmy]

Thanks for the info! It's a wide subject and I know a lot of information would have to be understood before I even began to think about getting something.

[fionak]

Err, Paul...I got chewed by a Bali dwarf in a shop..aggressive little madam she was (did herself out of a good home)...wouldn't be the same one by any chance would it??

My Pueblan Milksnake has never once struck at me or even hissed. He can be very fast though.

Cornsnakes are a great snake for beginners. One of the few snakes that seem to like to be handled. Kingsnakes are brilliant too. A sweeter natured snake I would be hard pressed to find than my Sammy. An absolute sweetheart - and my new Kingsnake boy has a very similar nature. I'm one lucky bunny

Of the boids, Boas Constrictors tend to be very gentle but size has to be a consideration. Royal Pythons are very gentle too but can be fussy little beggars. One of mine likes rats, then goes off them and prefers mice the other loves rats. Then they go on hunger strike when it suits them

For a starter snake I don't think you can go wrong with a Cornsnake or a Kingsnake

[ccfcexile]

Yeap, def agree with a corn, milk or king!

That Retic was given to my family by Penscunor Wildlife Park in south wales becasue they couldn't handle it. We (as a family) were well known to be snake enthusiasts and took it on for them... They wanted our Royal Python so we swapped (Royal is another story all together).

For the first week of having that Retic we couldn't make out what the problem was, it would come out and be handled lovely and then in the second week it got it's backside out and decided that people wern't good to have has mates!

We took it out to clean it's water bowl and from the off it was striking everything. We dumped it in the middle of the sofa where it stayed curled up ready to strike, did it's water and went to put it back. He wasn't having it!!!

I was putting a glove on and every time I moved it would go for me, my dad tried to distract it so I could get the glove on. Eventually I grabbed it around the neck and before I could get the tail in my other hand (Bearing in mind I'm 10 at the time and this thimg is close to 8feet long) it wrapped around my arm and squeezed... Was I crying?, I could have filled a bath!

It managed to get it's kneck about a foot out from my hand and started to go for anyone including my mum's hand! My dad managed to unwrap it at the tail and it dropped into the tank.

A week later we took it to a specialist where he gave us a burmese insted... Just as big in captivity but actually liked us!!!

[Kimmy]

did you never find the reason for its aggression?

[Paul]

That Retic was given to my family by Penscunor Wildlife Park in south wales becasue they couldn't handle it. We (as a family) were well known to be snake enthusiasts and took it on for them... They wanted our Royal Python so we swapped (Royal is another story all together).

For the first week of having that Retic we couldn't make out what the problem was, it would come out and be handled lovely and then in the second week it got it's backside out and decided that people wern't good to have has mates!

We took it out to clean it's water bowl and from the off it was striking everything. We dumped it in the middle of the sofa where it stayed curled up ready to strike, did it's water and went to put it back. He wasn't having it!!!

I was putting a glove on and every time I moved it would go for me, my dad tried to distract it so I could get the glove on. Eventually I grabbed it around the neck and before I could get the tail in my other hand (Bearing in mind I'm 10 at the time and this thimg is close to 8feet long) it wrapped around my arm and squeezed... Was I crying?, I could have filled a bath!

It managed to get it's kneck about a foot out from my hand and started to go for anyone including my mum's hand! My dad managed to unwrap it at the tail and it dropped into the tank.

A week later we took it to a specialist where he gave us a burmese insted... Just as big in captivity but actually liked us!!!

Jeez that was some experience I'm surprise at being so young it didnt put you off keeping snakes. It does that with some people now and again.

Ah well. End of the day you got a burmese which was tamed down so thats an improvement compared to the retic.

Err, Paul...I got chewed by a Bali dwarf in a shop..aggressive little madam she was (did herself out of a good home)...wouldn't be the same one by any chance would it??

Couldnt tell you , unless you were in a shop in coventry.

[ccfcexile]

Wasn't put off because I didn't really have the opportunity to be, My dad had loads of snakes and he needed the help!!! I put aggression down to the breed, they are known to be aggresive but I also blame the original owners as he was dumped outside the wildlife park in a hessian sack. Obviously something amiss there.

However I still reackon the Garter Snakes are the most aggressive.stick your hand near them and out of principle they bite but being small don't sort of have the impact that an 8' Retic has!!!!

[fionak]

The Bali Dwarf Retic I nearly bought (it was a beauty) had a right go at me. She was in the shop and I had every intention of buying her so got to hold her. She was about 4 1/2ft long - 4 1/2ft of pure spite. There she is, coiled round my arm and the next I see is this large open gob heading straight for my face

I managed to move my head back just out of reach so she quick as a flash turned and grabbed my other hand. Did she let go? Did she heck. She proceeded to chew my hand, so there I am in the middle of the shop with a Retic with PMS chewing on my hand, me dripping blood. Eventually the shop owner got her off my hand. She then turned her attention on the snake hook he had and was biting that for all she was worth. She was one mean mother ******

I thought that if she was that aggressive at 4 1/2ft long, what would she be like at 8ft + long. Decided not to take the chance with her.

By contrast they also had a normal Retic and she was as gentle as a kitten. I would have bought her but it wouldn't be fair buying a snake that is going to grow to 20ft +. I would have hated to have taken her home then in a few years have to find a more suitable home for her. Once I take a snake on, it becomes part of our family for the rest of its life.

I was more than a bit disappointed at the Dwarf Bali's aggressiveness as I really wanted her but knew I'd be taking on a major problem. I believe she's now at a local wildlife park that has quite a lot of reptiles. I think she should be happy there as she obviously hated people.

One day I shall have a dwarf retic but I'll wait until I can find one with a good temperament.

[Lee]

i like
liasis and morelia pythons
kingsnakes
obsoleta ratsnakes
pituophis
i think with different tastes you can't pinpoint an exact snake that is suitable to start with....IMO if you like colubrids corns,kings,milks,African house wheras sand/rosy boa,spotted/childrens python or if you like a challenge male common boa or the royal python

[punkyjen]

CORNS, are by far the best snaks to get!
their colours are amazing, are fairly easy to look after, and tend to eat well. They are my fave snakes to own, i dont like huge snakes, they scare me, altough jungle carpet pythons are pretty too. i have two corns, but i warn you now!!!! its addictive!