just doing some research on snakes b4 i get one

[2leggerfreak]

Hi all im new to owning snakes. I dont have any snakes yet but i want to get into it. I was looking at corn snakes, but a 7 foot snake in a house i dont own(i dont think my parents wil go for, im 16 btw). So i was wondering what other snakes are there that would probaly stay under 3, 4 foot at the most. Im also completely new to this any and all help will be apreciated. Heres what i know already: im gonna need atleast a 20 gallon to start with, a substrate to allow burrowing, and a hideaway, with ether a heating pad or heat lamp(i heard heat lamps are better) at one side of the tank. Can anyone suggest a good snake for me?

 

[pategirl]

Well, max for a corn is usually around 6ft...they don't often get that big nowadays, since they're bred for color morphs and things rather than size. I think most king snakes stay relatively small, I've never kept any of them, though. What about a greybanded or California king or something?

 

[atavuss]

how about a rosy boa constrictor? they stay under 3 feet long, they do not tolerate humid conditions though. what about a western hog nosed snake, they stay under 3 feet too and are pretty "easy" to keep.
Ed

 

[2leggerfreak]

atavuss could you direct me in the way of some sites for care? i hate google an yahoo.

 

[atavuss]

Originally posted by 2leggerfreak
atavuss could you direct me in the way of some sites for care? i hate google an yahoo.

sure, try:
www.kingsnake.com
lots of herp info there.
Ed

 

[MrT]

I agree with Ed,
I just bought a Western hognose snake, and its great!
They stay pretty small, look really nice, pretty calm, and mine accepted F/T pinky's right off the bat.
You can see a picture a few threads back, " hognose."
Go to Hognose.com, for a care page, and pics.

You might also look at Ball Pythons..


Ernie

 

[Phillip]

If you can find a 7 foot corn send me an e-mail cause i want it.

Corns stay in the 3 to 4 foot range with 5 being a monster.

Another good small species once feeding is a greyband or as suggested western hogs are a good choice as well.

Phil

 

[Lasiodora]

How about a children's python. One of the dwarfs of the python world. They've become relativly inexpensive and are easy to care for. They too do not exceed 4'.
Mike

 

[OldHag]

You guys forgot Kenyan SandBoas..or Rubber boas...Rubbers are great cuz they dont need heat!!! or UVB light because therye nocturnal. I have both and theyre docile and pretty and...well COOL! Yeah, if you find a 7 foot corn....send it to me, Ill send it on to Phil
Michelle

 

[Immortal_sin]

Originally posted by atavuss
how about a rosy boa constrictor? they stay under 3 feet long, they do not tolerate humid conditions though.


Ed

I totally second this opinion. We have 1 snake, and it's a rosy. He is the most docile snake ever, and very easy to keep. He's fully grown in a 20 gallon long tank, he's got a heating pad, he's on calci sand, and he gets water in his dish about once every 10 days or so.
I got him from a breeder in San Diego, and he was reasonably priced.
I think it's the PERFECT beginner snake

 

[BigSam]

Ball python all the way, they may be a bit mean for a while but once they know you they start to become the most docile things ever. Don't let that light thing fool you, it's nothing, I taught that it would be a problem but all does it just sits on the top of the cage and you turn it on every now and then. on BTW I have two of them.

BALL PYTHONS

Sam,

 

[Bry]

Originally posted by BigSam
Ball python all the way, they may be a bit mean for a while but once they know you they start to become the most docile things ever.

Mean ball pythons? I have seen a couple aggressive ball pythons, but they were not the norm at all. Most are actually quite shy.

2leg, what everyone has suggested so far are good choices. Personally, I would recommend hog island boas. However, their maximum size would be pushing it over the limit you currently have under your parents' roof. They average about 5-6', but can max out at 7'. Mine are currently 2-4 years old, and have just finally reached the 4'-5' range. If you want to get one of these, I suggest you wait until you get your own place.

If you do go with ball pythons, or any snake for that matter, go with captive bred. Trust me, it's much better that way. With that being said, don't bother buying your snakes from Petco. If the snakes there aren't already wild-caught, they're usually loaded with mites or sick with something or other. As for the heating method, it all depends on what you feel works best for you and the snake.

There is some controversy over whether lamps or pads are better. Some feel that lamps are more natural, i.e. heat coming from above as in nature. Others feel that belly heat from the heating pad is more natural, as in nature, the sun heats up the ground the snake is on. Personally, I think both arguments are valid, so some of my cages have lights, others have pads. The important thing to remember is that the temperature is adequate, and the snake cannot come in direct contact with the heat source.

Bry

 

[BigSam]

come on Bry you know what I'm trying to say by mean. Like they might get scared when you touch them or silly things like that.

Sam,

 

[Lasiodora]

Originally posted by BigSam
come on Bry you know what I'm trying to say by mean. Like they might get scared when you touch them or silly things like that.

Sam,

That would be a sign of being shy, not aggressive. They are more likely to ball up than bite. Unless it is a feeding reaction.

What did you mean by this statement:
"Don't let that light thing fool you, it's nothing, I taught that it would be a problem but all does it just sits on the top of the cage and you turn it on every now and then."

Mike