Help out my newbie friend....please

[zxcv1234]

My friend wants to get his first snake. He wants something between 3-5 feet long, docile, one he could handle and easy to care for.

He was looking at a corn or king snake. Since I have never owned a snake, I dont know what would be the best answer.

What snake would be ideal?

Thanks

 

[Beastmaster]

I've got a ball python, they never get past 5 or 6 feet, though they do get kinda fat, but that's why I like em! eat's only mice, kinda finiky about it as I tried small rats once and had to keep them individually with the mice so they'd small like mice or Clyde wouldn't eat them...

 

[OldHag]

Kenyan sand boa. 36" TOPS...and thats a HUGE female.

 

[galeogirl]

Rosy boa, rarely bigger than 2 feet long, very easy to care for, sweet dispositions.

 

[Ishkabibble]

I'm a Boidae person myself... but I am venturing into some of the custom bred variations of Corn snakes. Depends on what kind of capital your friend feels like shelling out. Hogg Island Boas remain rather small, but generally aren't one of the cheaper species. I'm a believer that Ball Pythons are good first snakes if you learn about them first. Sand Boas... too ugly for me(I've had to look in the mirror everyday for 40+ years, so I know ugly when I see it). Corns are good, and there are a wide variety of colors and patterns available. If corn snakes interest your friend, have them go to www.extremesnakes.com and check out the varieties available. I have 2 Ball Pythons, 1 Redtail Boa, and 1 Hogg Island Boa(so far) myself, but will admit corn and king snakes are nice as well. And generally, corn snakes are inexpensive.

 

[Crotalus]

He was looking at a corn or king snake. Since I have never owned a snake, I dont know what would be the best answer.

I´d say a corn. Beautiful (if normal colored...) and care free. Always eating etc and they dont cost a fortune.

/Lelle

 

[Schlyne]

I'd also go with a cornsnake. Just make sure you've got that enclosure set up so it can't get out.

I admit I'm a Boid person, and I'm biased in the python direction, but for a first snake, the corn set up is pretty easy. You can get a lot of different morphs for a good price.

You won't be running around going nuts trying to get humidity and everything else exact like you would with a ball python (don't get me wrong, I love my ball, but it can be an uphill battle sometimes). And, ball pythons typically go off feed during the winter when they get older...

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Rosey boas are pretty!

 

[danread]

Corn snake definitely. I don't think there is a better starter snake.

 

[RaZeDaHeLL666]

Yes cornsnake all the way. Or a yellow rat snake.

 

[blacktara]

How about a king snake

I just got my first snake - a pretty banana king - About three feet long. Very very docile and easy to handle <P>

A corn snake would also be a good choice <P>

Alternatively, if you wanna catch your own - try a garter snake - I've read that they might musk at first but will usually calm down and adapt well to life in captivity and handling within a short period of time <P>

Rat snakes - I've heard people say they are easy and then have read from folks who say they had one that was totally docile for months and then out of the blue got moody and wanting to nip at everything, and then docile again. Maybe it was that time of the month?

 

[Ishkabibble]

I'd recommend against catching a wild snake. They can carry disease, and do not, quite often, adapt to captivity well. There are enough captive bred snakes available to be able to buy a healthy one at a reasonable cost. Let the wild ones live out their lives in their own habitat.

 

[roach dude]

Corn Snakes All The Way! I Have One They Are Pretty And Easy To Look After!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Corn Snakes All The Way Dude!!!!!!!!!!!!! :razz:

 

[roach dude]

Never Take A Wild Snake To Keep In Captivity That Is Cruel If U Do It U Cannot Love Or Care For Snakes Properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R Cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Fatb]

Ball pythons and corn snakes are great as a frist snake.

 

[ReptilianQueen]

My friend wants to get his first snake. He wants something between 3-5 feet long, docile, one he could handle and easy to care for.

He was looking at a corn or king snake. Since I have never owned a snake, I dont know what would be the best answer.

What snake would be ideal?

Thanks

Well, I recommend Coprnsnakes, Kingsnakes and Milksnakes. But Cornsnakes are the most colorful of the docile breeds.

 

[Beardo]

I would also suggest one of the North American colubrid species...such as Corns, Kings, etc.

I do not recommend Ball Pythons because they are a bit trickier to care for properly than many people believe. Plus they are also prone to go on long fasting periods that distresses many new keepers.

Never Take A Wild Snake To Keep In Captivity That Is Cruel If U Do It U Cannot Love Or Care For Snakes Properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! U R Cruel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a completely idiotic statement, pure and simple.....if we never collected wild specimens of ANY animal, we wouldn't have them in captivity at all. Some species are being saved from extinction due to captive breeding, so can you explain how that is "cruel"? lol

 

[Bigboy]

Boids woots

Childrens python all the way. Liasis Childreni.

 

[Beardo]

Childrens python all the way. Liasis Childreni.

lol...I think you mean Antaresia childreni.

Babies can be quite nippy FYI. This is often a put-off for many new snake keepers.

 

[Fatb]

I do not recommend Ball Pythons because they are a bit trickier to care for properly than many people believe. Plus they are also prone to go on long fasting periods that distresses many new keepers.
They can be tricky to care of if thier wild caught. Thats why you should go to a breeder for purchasing animals. Ball pythons may have some problems, like feeding. If your snake is not eating live feeders then try pre-killed. If the snake does not eat mice, then try rats, or gerbils. And only use force feeding as a last resort. But once you got the snake force fed, they should feed on thier own after that.