Thinking about getting a snake -Questions

[prettyinpink]

There isn't a General Section...so I posted here, hope it's ok
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I know, I've said I'm not a snake fan but things change. I'm usually scared of snakes, but I'm always wanting to hold them.

I'm thinking about a snake and I don't know what type to get. This is probably the only animal I've never reasearched...so I don't know a single thing about them. (So the 'stupid' questions I'll be asking you'll know why) Can someone either link me to some good caresheets (I don't want to read the wrong ones)? I don't really care to be a member of a snake forum at the moment.

I look at the pics on fauna but they don't show how big they are. I don't want a snake too big, but I think corns may be on the small end. I just don't want the 20ft long ones.

I know there's a lot of snake fans/owners on here so I'm hoping you guys can help me out. I'll be going to NARBC and taking a look at the snakes there. But I want to be prepared if I decide to go with one.

My questions (Most can be answered from the caresheet, so I'll just ask 'personality' questions)
-I'm the type of person that's terrified they're going to 'attack' me, but if I know that's just a 'myth' or I'm acting like the people who are scared of lizards that'll make me feel better
-I'd prefer a snake not too small and not too big

Actually most of my questions will probably be answered from the caresheets so I'll leave it there.


Thanks so much guys!

 

[fuzzylogix]

i got my son a kenyan sand boa as a starter snake. they are perfect for first timers. they are easily handled, do not get large, very docile, easy to maintain, and not to mention beautiful to look at. my 8 year old twin girls can take care of her, even putting the pinkies in her feeding container and making sure she eats it.

 

[prettyinpink]

Thanks for the info, I just looked them up. Not really my taste

I don't really need a 'starter' snake persay. I think I worded that wrong. Maybe I'll just take one day researching all the different snakes. I just don't want the HUGE snakes...I think they're pythons but I don't know all the different snake names.

 

[fuzzylogix]

if you don't want a large snake, stay away from burmese, rocks, and retics, lol. if i could keep more than the one snake without my wife freaking out, i would have yellow and blue phase green tree pythons. stunning animals

 

[prettyinpink]

I want a large snake but not too big if that makes any sense. :S I'm having a real hard time telling these snakes appart other than their markings. I really like the ball python markings, but then I saw some other snakes not named 'ball pythons' that look almost exactly the same as them.

I'm trying to find a site that lists the different type of snakes like 'leo morphs' but I don't think there is one. :S Guess my question is harder to answer than I thought.

 

[fuzzylogix]

I want a large snake but not too big if that makes any sense. :S I'm having a real hard time telling these snakes appart other than their markings. I really like the ball python markings, but then I saw some other snakes not named 'ball pythons' that look almost exactly the same as them.

I'm trying to find a site that lists the different type of snakes like 'leo morphs' but I don't think there is one. :S Guess my question is harder to answer than I thought.

well at least you are starting out small :main_thumbsup:

just keep doing your research, make sure you have the room for an adult snake, the right habitat, willing to feed f/t or live prey, temperaments, etc. you will see a ton of snakes at the NARBC, but make sure if you decide to buy there that you ask questions regarding what they are currently eating, cb or wc, and average size as adults.

 

[prettyinpink]

Of course I'll be sure I have all the info I need.

Well I guess I'm off to read some care sheets I'll narrow it down and see if I have any more questions from there.

Thanks for the help

 

[Dog Shrink]

My son has a ball python. This one (and my previous one I had as a young 20-something) have wonderful personalities. The one he had shortly before this (a female) thought she was a pit viper but she was the exception rather than the rule. She went back to the pet shop for a more experienced owner that had the time to properly tame her. There are many different color morphs in the ball python just like the leo. http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1020&bih=601&q=ball+python+color+morphs&gbv=2&aq=f&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai= Spiders, bee, carmel, pied, etc. Many different morphs. My son's is just a normal, but really nicely marked.

Their tanks are relitively easy to keep, they don't need high heat (around 85-89-ish on the hot side), but more room than a leo. I would say a 30-40 gallon tank would be a fair size for an adult ball. My son keeps his in a 90 gallon natural set up.

The only downside I can see to owning Balls is that they can be notoriously picky eaters. Some can go upwards of 6 months with out eating. Loki is a picky eater eating about 1 large adult mouse a week. Loki has an awesome personality. Super friendly, active when you handle him and after sunset, even likes having his chin and head rubbed Very sweet snake. He has never struck at us thru the glass in his tank (like the one that thought she was a pit viper), never shown any tendancies towards hostility (unless you're a mouse).

I'd have to vote for Balls for a good first snake owning experience imo. Don't get too big (under 5-ish feet), docile, easy to care for, variety of color morphs, easy to maintain habitat. Just an all around great snake.

 

[prettyinpink]

Thanks so much for that info! I think I'm aiming towards balls, I like the Spiders, bees and the albinos

 

[T-ReXx]

You can't go wrong with Balls, IMO. They are commonly available, there are over 100 different morphs, they stay a good size(3-5 feet generally) are very gentle, and if you get a good eater are easy to feed. Spiders are known to be good feeders. I've kept all kinds of snakes, from burms to cobras, and balls are def the best for what you're looking for IMO. Other good choices include Children's pythons and Solomon Island Ground Boas. As a first snake ball pythons, corn, king, rat and garter snakes all make good choices, but if you want something a little bigger than a corn but not as big as a red tailed boa, balls are the way to go.

 

[Kristi23]

Ball pythons are definitely great. Of all my snakes, my rosy boa has the best personality. She was fiesty at first, but now she always wants to be out with me. They don't get too big and they have really nice colors. Corns are pretty small, too, and they're supposed to be pretty nice.

 

[Barbel]

There really is no reason to fear a snake anymore than any other type of reptile, especially the smaller ones (under 5 feet). IF a snake bites 9 times out of 10 you did something to provoke it and it is usually food related. There is always the rare exception of a strike crazy snake, but most often the are defensive strikes in which the snake lunges and bites, but releases immediately and does not wrap up; it is just a warning strike.

I have to vote for ball pythons as well. The vast majority of them are very docile and they are really easy to keep.

When we sell our babies to someone who has never owned a snake, we ALWAYS make sure we give them a good eater. One that has never refused, or very rarely refuses a meal. If you get a breeder that knows his/her animals well, he/she should be aware of the snake's eating habits and can pick you out a good one. :main_thumbsup: