First Snake?

[FOUND VERDICT]

Hey guys, I hope this is the right place for this topic, if not please tell me and I'll move to the right thread ^-^

But simply, I need some help/advice from people who are experienced in keeping snakes.
I need tons of info to make sure my first snake will be happy in her new home. I like to inform myself about pretty much anything that could happen C;

I'd love to talk in this thread, or you can also PM me C:

First Question:

What's the best snake for beginners?
I never had any reptiles before, but I'm not afraid to touch/handle them and I have no problem with feeding them mice.

I tend between a Corn Snake (more lively, but smaller?) and a Ball Python...(more passive and calm, but could get bigger?)

So, any advice on which of them is better, or are the both pretty good for me ?
I do prefer bigger snakes (I heard females are bigger?), and I like pretty colours ^-^ But they also shouldn't be too expensive (not over 200$)



I have a lot more I need to ask, so I'd be really glad to find some nice people who know all things about keeping a snake and how to care for them C: Thanks!

[Cardinal]

Ive heard balls are bad beginber snakes because of hunger strikes.

[Soanala]

I'm going to help you as I have 5 ball pythons myself. LOL.

First off, Ball pythons are not bad beginner snakes, they are very good beginner snakes because they are so docile. If you are interested in spending the money, I would strongly suggest that you search around for a good reputable breeder and then contact them. Ball Python Morphs are going to be a little more expensive, depending on the rarity, then normals. If you're not in it for the look or color, and just want a snake companion, then getting a Normal Ball Python would be cheaper and better for you.

Snakes only bite during feeding, because when they smell the mice or rats, they know it's feeding time. You can avoid being bit, by using a long pair of grill tongs or a long pair of tweezers to offer them a rat or mouse depending on their size and how big of a meal they can take. Another way to avoid getting bit is to avoid picking them up or touching them for atleast 24 hours after they had just fed. They need that time to digest their meal and to also avoid causing them to regurgitate it back up. Touching them too soon can trigger that reflex.

Ball Python babies can be a bit nippy and food stubborn, so I would start off with something a little older. If you have any direct questions about balls, especially about husbandry, temperatures, hides, heat lamps (Which are bad) just feel free to PM me. Do not get a ball python or any snake, unless you yourself are well prepared for one, and know how to keep them healthy. Make sure you do your research on them first. :3

[Saracirce]

Ball Pythons can go on long fasts which tends to scare first time snake owners. That's why some people have stopped recommending them for beginner reptile owners.

BPs and Corns average about the same length but BPs get thicker. Some other snakes you could look at are Rat Snakes, King Snakes, Milk Snakes, Kenyan Sand Boas, Rosy Boas, Childrens Python and Spotted Pythons. Personally, my first snake will probably be a Kenyan Sand Boa.

[Grimace]

Honestly most snakes can be decent beginner snakes as long as you aren't getting something that gets gigantic or is really well known for being super bitey.
Were there any species you really liked?

[Soanala]

Snakes to avoid your first time
----------------
Blood Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Anacondas (Nasty Tempers)
Reticulated Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)
Green Tree Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Burmese Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)

These snakes are relatively tame
----------------
Ball Pythons
Corn Snakes
King Snakes
Hog Noses - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)
Milk Snakes
False Water Cobras - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)

[Grimace]

Snakes to avoid your first time
----------------
Blood Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Anacondas (Nasty Tempers)
Reticulated Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)
Green Tree Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Burmese Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)

These snakes are relatively tame
----------------
Ball Pythons
Corn Snakes
King Snakes
Hog Noses - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)
Milk Snakes
False Water Cobras - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)

I would highly recommend against false water cobras. Most of them are very jumpy, and they can get really crazy when food is involved or etc. A lot of them aren't even handleable and end up getting like 8 feet.
False water venom is also much stronger than something like a hognose, and they are much more likely to bite. Theres also the factor that no one is entirely sure how strong their venom even is.

Cool snakes, but definitely not for beginners.

[bin child]

Ball pythons and corn snakes are generally two of the best beginner snakes. Ball pythons average at about 4' while the corn snakes get no more than 5', but it varies. Ball pythons and thicker around too, and are less active than corns, but corn snakes tend to mellow out with age and consistent handling. Females are larger than the males in both species.

As far as pretty colors go, both are stunning snakes. Corn snakes, even for a fancy morph, are less expensive than pythons. They come in sooo many colors, like snow. caramel and amelanistic. Ball pythons, unless you get into those crazy expensive morphs, are usually earthtone, but nonetheless beautiful, like this pastel or this spider.

[Soanala]

Snakes to avoid your first time
----------------
Blood Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Anacondas (Nasty Tempers)
Reticulated Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)
Green Tree Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Burmese Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)

These snakes are relatively tame
----------------
Ball Pythons
Corn Snakes
King Snakes
Hog Noses - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)
Milk Snakes
False Water Cobras - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)

I would highly recommend against false water cobras. Most of them are very jumpy, and they can get really crazy when food is involved or etc. A lot of them aren't even handleable and end up getting like 8 feet.
False water venom is also much stronger than something like a hognose, and they are much more likely to bite. Theres also the factor that no one is entirely sure how strong their venom even is.

Cool snakes, but definitely not for beginners.

Raction to the hognose and false water cobra bites vary like be stings. There venom isn't really lethal but if bitten it can be wallop. In order for them to do any real damage they would have to continuously munch on you. I've got a friend who has a false water cobra, and she's a big baby. I guess it depends on how often they are handled and raised.

[Grimace]

Snakes to avoid your first time
----------------
Blood Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Anacondas (Nasty Tempers)
Reticulated Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)
Green Tree Pythons (Nasty Tempers)
Burmese Pythons (Docile but dangerous when full grown)

These snakes are relatively tame
----------------
Ball Pythons
Corn Snakes
King Snakes
Hog Noses - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)
Milk Snakes
False Water Cobras - Venomous - Rear Fanged (None Lethal)

I would highly recommend against false water cobras. Most of them are very jumpy, and they can get really crazy when food is involved or etc. A lot of them aren't even handleable and end up getting like 8 feet.
False water venom is also much stronger than something like a hognose, and they are much more likely to bite. Theres also the factor that no one is entirely sure how strong their venom even is.

Cool snakes, but definitely not for beginners.

Raction to the hognose and false water cobra bites vary like be stings. There venom isn't really lethal but if bitten it can be wallop. In order for them to do any real damage they would have to continuously munch on you. I've got a friend who has a false water cobra, and she's a big baby. I guess it depends on how often they are handled and raised.

Yeah, they aren't deadly or anything. I was just saying a 6-8 foot semi venomous snake that is fairly well known for generally not being very good for handling probably isn't the best first snake choice.