What is the best beginner snake?

[RZL36]

I often attempt to convince my friends to get snakes. I usually suggest kings or milks, but how many would say garters?

[adamanteus]

Personally I don't think Garters are the ideal first snake. That view probably comes from the out-dated attitude that 'they're cheap, so it doesn't matter if they die'. Garters can be problematic, as we all know. I would recommend Corn Snakes, or as you say, Kings.

[enigma200316]

Personally I don't think Garters are the ideal first snake. That view probably comes from the out-dated attitude that 'they're cheap, so it doesn't matter if they die'. Garters can be problematic, as we all know. I would recommend Corn Snakes, or as you say, Kings.


I have to agree, but I would also suggest to find some one who has them or what ever animal it is that your looking at to get some real hands on advice and training......or atleast do every bit of research possible first, before buying..........................:)

[Sid]

I agree with James. Corn and Kings are easier to handle and care for, but with any snake or other pet I highly recomment the individule do a lot of researce before purchasing.

[Stefan-A]

I don't think any snake out there comes with training wheels. I started with garters, but because I did a good deal of research before I bought my first snake, there weren't any real surprises. Most of my problems have been related to actual performance, not lack of information.

Is there really any point in picking a corn or king snake just because it's easy and available, if you're really interested in another species? Corns and kings can provide a good introduction, but there are plenty of small rodent-eating colubrids that are about as easy to care for, but maybe harder to get your hands on. Lamprophis, Coelognathus, Gonyosoma, Nerodia, Elaphe, Rhynchophis, Oreophis, Orthriophis, Zamenis, Pituophis.. It might be a good idea to consider some of the alternatives, there are quite a few snakes that aren't significantly harder to keep, but in my opinion a lot more interesting and attractive than corns or kings. ;)

[Charlet_2007]

me and my husband fist snake was a high white albino berm python.. we jumped in it full force lol :D

[Bay_area]

Reticulated Python...ROTFL I would go with a cornsnake

My wife "hates" this snake of mine:eek:


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/IMG_0717.jpg

[Ameivaboy]

ha, nice retic there.

from the genus' in stefans list I would have to say lamprophis are awesome snakes that are hardy stay small and have awesome feeding responses


: )

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h8/Ameivaboy/DSC02157-1.jpg

[Bay_area]

ha, nice retic there.

from the genus' in stefans list I would have to say lamprophis are awesome snakes that are hardy stay small and have awesome feeding responses


: )

Nice house snake there, I just got a pair of those in a trade.

[enigma200316]

awsome Retic there, how long is it? and how long have you had it?.......:)

[drache]

I'd say a good beginner snake is different for an adult than for a child
when I got our first snake ostensibly for Mikhaila, I got the 5' king from the rescue, because I figured, she wasn't going to hurt it accidentally

[Bay_area]

awsome Retic there, how long is it? and how long have you had it?.......:)
Thanks, He is about 15+feet & I bought him fromm LLL Reptiles when it was a baby 4 years ago.

[enigma200316]

Thanks, He is about 15+feet & I bought him fromm LLL Reptiles when it was a baby 4 years ago.


wow, I love pythons and boa's they were my first snakes I ever had, now you make me want to get another, but I just don't have the room right now.......:)

[zooplan]

I think there is no snake best for a beginner.
Or even no beginner is best for any snake;)
Best is a book for a beginner!
When you have a nice collection of books, it´s the right time to start on life animals.

[Snaky]

In my opinion you don't buy a snake because it's a beginner snake... I wonder if you'd really have the best interest for the snake if you buy it with that intention. And how long will you be keeping the snake if that's just a snake to get you started...

I think there are good starters in every genus, it all depends what you're interested in. Just look everything up and visit some keepers, get informed and go for that first snake for 100%.

[drache]

you know
it probably all depends
I think there are snakes that are more appropriate for children of busy parents than others
there's a big difference between an adult beginner who can read things peppered with scientific terms, and a child who may have every good intention, but just not quite the skills to do it all on their own
there are people who love futzing with the specifics and there are some who prefer just having an easy to care for animal that they get to spend lots of time with

[Stefan-A]

I don't think any animal is really appropriate for children to begin with. Ultimately, it's the adult that has to take responsibility for the animal, and at least the adult has to know how to take care of it. Well, it's really just a matter of opinion, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect a child to take full responsibilty for an animal. None of this applies to anybody here, you all know how to take care of snakes, but try to imagine any random family with a kid who wants a snake. I've had plenty of pets in my youth that my parents knew absolutely nothing about, but of course you have to wonder if that was a good idea. I'm not convinced it was.



The ideal pet snake for a child is a big, aggressive rat snake. At least it won't end up like one of Lennie's mice. ;)

[zooplan]

In Germany you must not sell any animal to a child until it is 16 years old.
So it´s very clear the adult that has to take responsibility.
But there are some parents too that buy snakes for thier chlidren in opposite to the fact that they really don´t like even to stay in the same room with a snake.

[Stefan-A]

We do have a similar law here, but I think the age limit is 18. Anyway, that law certainly never stopped any store from selling me any animals when I was a kid. In my opinion, the parent has the right and the obligation to say no, if he or she isn't prepared to take complete or even shared responsibility for an animal.

[drache]

that being said
a snake that may seem boring to us, may seem perfect for family where one person wants the pet, but another has to be responsible for it
it would never occur to me to get something for Mikhaila, I wasn't willing to take care of myself
there are children who have that perfect mindset to do it on their own, but that's pretty rare

[zooplan]

Hi Rhea,
you must be talking about my non rare girls:D
All their pets are choosen to be nice to me too;)

[drache]

Udo, Du Glückspilz
my daughter has all the willingness, but not quite the focus, to do it on her own
so for the sake of her pets, I remind a lot and do much myself

[RZL36]

I say the best beginner snake for a kid is a bothrops. Asper, atrox, it doesn't matter. They are all just so lovable.

In seriousness though, boids and pythons are terrible. I don't know why anyone would keep them. They are wildly unpredictable, usually do nothing but sit and eat you out of house and home. I know those folks are gonna be after me, but I just don't get it. My first snake was a ball python. Boring as the day is long. I'm saying kings all the way.

[anji1971]

As a parent, I honestly think the best kind of snake for a kid is a stuffed toy one!!!!:D:D
No , really, I'm saying that only because, even though the kids brought home ours, they really aren't that into all the care that goes into it, and if anyone asks, Mom's going to say it's HER snake, not theirs!:D If it had been up to my kids the poor things would never have made it through the first couple of weeks- as soon as I told them what we had to feed the snakes it was "EWWWW! I'm not touching WORMS!!" In fact, my daughter still isn't sure she's all that keen on touching the snake!!!!!!!
I however, am thrilled that they found the snake, and am proud to admit I'm an addict to these pets:)

[zooplan]

Hi Rhea,
you misunterstood.
My girls are the "non rare", the normal kids like yours.
I´ve choosen thier pets because I knew the work will be left to me.
My wife is allways trying to motivate and to remember them but what remains undone is for me.

[drache]

alright
no reason to be jealous then
yeah - I veto any pet I'm not interested in
I compromise on the ones I would not choose, but don't mind as long as they're not labour intensive (gerbils okay - birds not)
and I do a lot of redirecting (wouldn't you rather have a pair of these lovely radix . . .)