Used 2 have geckos wanting a beginner snake. Help?

[twmattox]

Hey I used to have a gecko and I am hoping to get a snake. However, my dad is kinda doesn't like snakes too much, but he's letting me get one. So, I would like some help finding the right one. Please help!

 

[T-ReXx]

Can't get much better as a beginner species than corn snakes. Other good choices are king snakes, african house snakes, some rat snakes, some milk snakes, garter snakes, bull snakes, pine snakes, children's pythons, spotted pythons, rosy boas, kenyan sand boas, and possibly ball pythons.

 

[twmattox]

Well, I did like the corn snake. How would I house it? I have a heat lamp, night lamp, uva light, heat mat and two hides. Also, what does it eat and how big does it get?

 

[Dog Shrink]

Sounds like time to read

http://www.google.com/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=corn+snake+care+sheet&aq=f&oq=

 

[T-ReXx]

housing: 10-20 gallon tank(depending on size).

Full size: up to 6 feet.

Eats: mice.

Heating: mid 80s for a hot spot, cool end room temp.

Do some googling. There's plenty of cornsnake info out there.

 

[maggiee22195]

I would recommend a ball python. That was my first snake and I don't regret it at all. They are easy to take care of also! They are very docile and not as speedy and jumpy (most of the time) and a corn. The adults only get up to 28-46 inches in length. And 5 or 6 feet is REALLY big, and sometimes rare. They can be housed in a 20 gallon long tank as adults, eat 2 times a month as adults. And if you are looking for a heavier bodied, more docile snake, then the ball python is for you.
http://www.vpi.com/publications/the_ball_python_care_sheet
http://www.a1pythons.com/ball.html
http://www.reptilechannel.com/care-sheets/ball-python.aspx

 

[T-ReXx]

Ball pythons should be offered food weekly, not twice a month.

Also, ball pythons can have feeding issues that are complicated for first time snake owners to deal with. Corn snakes are good eaters and less nerve-wracking than most balls in that dept. Either species is good as beginner, but I'd say go with a corn if you've never owned a snake before and aren't familiar with dealing with potentially pick eaters.

 

[snakegirl]

Cornsnakes! are the BEST first time snakes!

 

[twmattox]

Ok well about how long can I keep a corn snake in my ten gallon tank? My tank is approx. 21 inches long and a foot high.

 

[Jill]

That will depend on how big it is when you get it, and how quickly it grows. As a rough guide it's definitely time to move up to a bigger tank / vivarium when your corn is as long as two side of your tank. They don't mind larger spaces, whatever you might hear to the contrary, but they don't usually make a lot of use of the space either unless you've got some interesting logs and stuff for them to explore. You won't need any lamps, but you WILL need a thermostat to plug a heatmat into.

Good luck

 

[M_surinamensis]

So... why does a thirty seven year old need their father's permission to own a snake?

 

[Jordan]

So... why does a thirty seven year old need their father's permission to own a snake?

lol nice.

to the OP, id avoid ball pythons as they can be picky eaters and sometimes not eat for ages.
corn snakes are great, and also house snakes. House snakes are really easy eaters but then again so are most corns.
Lights are unnecessary. But a heat mat is needed.

And they eat mice; pinky, crawler, large mice etc depending on othe size of the actual corn. and dont be put off by people saying they can grow 6 foot, thats like the max and also they are rarely stretched out completely straight lol.
the diameter they grow to is like 1 - 2 inches.

 

[twmattox]

For one I'm thirteen using my dads account and secondly, how would u find a lost cornsnake?