Ideal for beginners or not ?

ratboy · #1 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 12:29 PM

I often hear the corn snake quoted as the ideal beginners snake... but are they ?

In my experience, baby corn snakes are usually VERY nervous animals that bite readily and are very afraid of being handled and of open spaces. They are often very bad or fussy feeders and juveniles do not take well to being handled. I can actually think of 3-4 different species of rat snake that are probably more suitable beginners snakes than corn snakes. namely :

Russian rat snakes : Cool temps, Diurnal and far more placid and personable than any corn snake.
Taiwanese Beauty Snakes : Large and easy to handle snakes, eating machines.
Trinket snakes : Pretty, Placid, Small and extremely rare to find poor feeders.
Diones rat snake - Cool temps, Placid, Small and amazing array of colours and patterns

So do you think corns are the best beginners snakes and if so why ?

and Geckos, BD's, Royals, etc ... are these all good beginners animals or are there better species in your opinion ?

PendleHog · #2 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 12:34 PM

I definately agree on the Russian rat front, such sturdy, sensible animals and beautiful to boot.
I think milksnakes are good beginner snakes too, normally very calm, small and manageable and in lots of beautiful colours - much nice than corns IMO.

I have also often wondered why rankins arent more popular than BDs too. They dont eat you out of house and home, dont need huge vivs and are still personable without being too large for a small child to manage. Again they are sturdy and good eaters.

Ssthisto · #3 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 12:53 PM

I think one of the reasons that corns are quoted as beginner snakes even when there might be more suitable rat snakes is because:

1. Readily available. Everyone and their dog breeds corns.
2. Cheap. Because everyone's breeding them, they're easy to come by. Even colour morphs are inexpensive.

Do any of the four species you've mentioned fit those two qualifications (in addition to temperament/etc) ?

That said, I've not been bitten by any of my baby corns, nor had feeding problems or flighty issues (nor have I ever been musked) - possibly because I DON'T try to handle excessively!

I think one thing to keep in mind is that BABY reptiles generally do not make a good beginner's pet regardless of species. They're quick, they're nervous, they're more likely to stress and have feeding problems. I'd always recommend a grown-on or yearling of any species rather than a baby.

I'd say that leopard geckos ARE pretty good for beginners, even as juveniles... they settle fairly quickly as long as they are well-started by the breeder.

In my opinion, a royal is probably a good second or third snake, once someone's learned when NOT to mess with the reptile - part of ownership, in my opinion, is learning that if you want something to cuddle, a reptile probably isn't the right pet.

matty · #4 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:01 PM

well i got a royal as my first snake and have never had any problems whatsoever with him, feeds every time, sheds perfectly, and is really docile..then i got a common boa who is also really good as far as feeding and shedding goes, hes also really nice to handle..

however, i got a baby corn next and although feeding and sheddings fine, he was really skittish when i irst got him, he would bite every time i put my hand near him and you had to be really careful as he used to shoot out the minute you opened his yub lol..that sais, hes really calm now (just after a few weeks) so id say they were good starter snakes if people are prepared to put the time in..

yellow_rat_gal · #5 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:03 PM

Ideal pet for beginners : a stick

SuperTed · #6 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:03 PM

oo not this thread again! all i say is there is no such snake as a "beginners" snake within OBVIOUSLY within reason e.g over 10ft+ or venomous! is not within reason!

Athravan · #7 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:06 PM

I don't think that corns can be fussy feeders, not if you have the right environment and they are started off well... once mine have had 5+ feeds I would be more than happy to offer a 6 or 12 month guarantee that they will continue feeding regularly unless in shed.. as long as the setup is correct. And for hatchlings I have maybe 1 in 20 non feeders usually... but any reputable breeder would not sell those until they are established.

All the hatchling trinkets I have seen have been VERY feisty, neck puffing and striking - it's often for show, but this could be very offputting for a nervous or first time handler.

My thai beauty also tries to attack anything that moves

but i've never had an aggressive corn snake... just nervous babies.

Fixx · #8 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:16 PM

Strange hobby we all partake in isn't it? I mean, if someone was going to get a Rottweiller as their first dog you don't get many people saying "Ooh you ought to get a Yorkshire Terrier first, small, easy to handle....etc".

As Kellogscornsnake said, there really are no beginners 'animals' (within reason and even then it depends on the circumstances), if someone loves dwarf caiman and this is going to be their introduction to reptile keeping, or the only animal they want to keep, then what's the point in starting them off with Leo's? They won't have the interest and won't enjoy it so much. As long as you have the back-up, prior research, hopefully met some examples of what you want to keep, and you are in the position to offer the animal what it needs then go for it is my advice.

captaincaveman · #9 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:17 PM

Ive found certain morphs or corns to be more aggressive than others, okeetees and bloodred spring to mind, ive heard sunkissed are similar but not had any personal experience of them(yet)

Im not sure where the poor feeding things come from? yeah you may hear of a few non/poor feeders mentioned, but look at the quantity being produced, that happens in amny species but not always mentioned

shiva&kaa123 · #10 (**permalink**) 13-08-2007, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssthisto

I think one of the reasons that corns are quoted as beginner snakes even when there might be more suitable rat snakes is because:

1. Readily available. Everyone and their dog breeds corns.
2. Cheap. Because everyone's breeding them, they're easy to come by. Even colour morphs are inexpensive.

Do any of the four species you've mentioned fit those two qualifications (in addition to temperament/etc) ?

That said, I've not been bitten by any of my baby corns, nor had feeding problems or flighty issues (nor have I ever been musked) - possibly because I DON'T try to handle excessively!

I think one thing to keep in mind is that BABY reptiles generally do not make a good beginner's pet regardless of species. They're quick, they're nervous, they're more likely to stress and have feeding problems. I'd always recommend a grown-on or yearling of any species rather than a baby.

I'd say that leopard geckos ARE pretty good for beginners, even as juveniles... they settle fairly quickly as long as they are well-started by the breeder.

In my opinion, a royal is probably a good second or third snake, once someone's learned when NOT to mess with the reptile - part of ownership, in my opinion, is learning that if you want something to cuddle, a reptile probably isn't the right pet.

BAxk to the handling/non-handling arguement-I've read hundreds of books which say that handling is a big no-no as it apparently causes them stress but IMO therre are plenty of handleable reptiles, some even seem to enjoy it.
Obviously handling some reptiles is stupid i.e anything venomous, anything ill, anything that's recently moved/been under alot of stress and then there's things that are to delicate-red eye treefrogs, newly born hatclings etc.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode