What snake?

[BearGrylls4life]

so all my fish just died, for a reason im still trying to figure out, but anyway i have a fairly large tank and i want to put something different in it. i have kept many scorpions and tarantulas. so i was just wondering what kind of snake would be good for a beginner. thanks

 

[J.huff23]

Corn snake! Very docile and come in many colors and patterns. Fairly inexpensive too.

 

[victor]

well i got beat to saying a corn snake but a ball python is a good beginner snake as well.

 

[johnharper]

I have some bps they are great snakes I can't keep cornsnakes where I live . I am bit partial to jungle carpet pythons and coastals. California kingsnakes are also great snakes for someone who wants a snake that don't get too large.

John

 

[BearGrylls4life]

thanks guys. what is a good price for a corn snake?

 

[Fluke]

usually you can get them semi young at around around 10-12 inches at reptile shows for 20 bucks. My friend got a pink albino one for 25. Just be sure that you live in an area where you can get pinky mice- live or frozen. Usually the breeders or sellers will tell you if they have eaten recently and if they have eaten a frozen or live.

 

[arachnocat]

A great place to get snakes is craigslist. I got both of my corn snakes that way. Paid $50 for a 4 ft snow female with a tank and my big normal male was free! Both are very nice and I handle them a few times a week.
I just got a ball python and I really love her. Balls are a lot of fun to hold and very sweet.
I adopted my ball from a reptile rescue which is another great place to get snakes. They usually charge a very small adoption fee. Just make sure you ask LOTS of questions especially about their history, health problems, if they have any feeding issues, etc.

 

[Hornets23]

I personally prefer garter snakes. They are definitely not for everyone though. They are very active, and eat fish, worms or pinkies and they come in a lot more subspecies than you might realize. They are likely not as easy to handle as corns or ball pythons, but they are a lot more active.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Let's not get carried away, first we need to find out if your tank is even suitable for a snake. How big is it, what are its proportions (ie, if you have a tall skinny tank that's terrible for a ground-dwelling snake), and what kind of lid is on it? You need a screen lid that locks, or your snake WILL get out.

 

[ballpython2]

Also, if you dont know what killed your fish why would you want to put snakes in the same tank???

I assume you are going to bleach clean the tank out then let it air dry before you put some snakes in there?

 

[hardlucktattoo]

Let's not get carried away, first we need to find out if your tank is even suitable for a snake. How big is it, what are its proportions (ie, if you have a tall skinny tank that's terrible for a ground-dwelling snake), and what kind of lid is on it? You need a screen lid that locks, or your snake WILL get out.

That's not true I don't have locks on any of my snakes cages and none of them ever get out Either put a rock or a book on top or just use making tape and tape down the corners

 

[MooSmoo]

corn snakes are perfect for beginners, they are easy feeders, dont get too big and are very docile..

royal pythons on the other hand are easy to care for BUT they are such picky feeders, they can be a real worry for a new beginner and it can take months for it to start feeding regularly...

overall though i think it is down to personal preference

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Either put a rock or a book on top or just use making tape and tape down the corners

This is begging for an escape, sorry. I once thought like you and woke up at 6 am on a Saturday with a baby python in my bed. I never even figured out how he escaped the tank, because the lid was still on.

Locking lids, people. Locking lids. Even those cheap little metal L-clips they sell at PetCo work great, I haven't had an escape since.

 

[clam1991]

yeah locking lids work wonders
ive had no escapes from tanks with locking lids but recently i had to put frogger my frog i one and set something on top with a phone book on it
thought it would be okay
but my cat sassy let him loose

now hes under a locked lid where he can taunt her all he wants!

 

[Mina]

Personally, I would suggest a rosy boa for a beginner snake, they are a little harder to find and more expensive than a corn, but they are well worth it.
Rosy boas don't get very big, adult size is about 3 feet, they are very gentle with regular handling, they are easy to keep, and they aren't as spazzy as corns can be.
They don't come in as many colors as corns, but there are different colors and patterns to choose from.
I'm saying this as someone who owns rosy boas, corn snakes, ball pythons and red tail boas.

 

[BearGrylls4life]

Also, if you dont know what killed your fish why would you want to put snakes in the same tank???

I assume you are going to bleach clean the tank out then let it air dry before you put some snakes in there?

ya i already bleached it and it been air drying for about 3 days now. i had i little bit of a hard time trying to convince my parent a snake is no worse than anything else ive ever kept. but they gave in and i think im going to get a corn snake.

thanks for all the help, you guys have been great

Max

 

[calum]

what about a roughgreen snake? they are awsome little snakes, and they eat crickets and simmilar insects.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

thanks for all the help, you guys have been great

Please answer my questions about your tank, it's entirely possible that your tank is actually horribly suited for housing a corn snake. Better to figure that out now than later, and all that.

 

[JohnEDove]

what about a roughgreen snake? they are awsome little snakes, and they eat crickets and simmilar insects.

If the tank is not large enough or set up correctly all they would have is a dead snake in a couple of months with a Rough Green. They are not a good snake for someone asking such basic questions, not good for beginners.

I agree with Mushroom Spore, more info is needed before any suggestions can be made intelligently.