Me and my partner are thinking about getting a snake. I've read up on them a lot, but I have a few questions.

Does anyone know what kind of snake would be good as a first? In terms of space I've got plenty! We could probably accomodate anything upto a 5ft tank. We'd like something bigger than corn snake but not absoloutely huge!

In terms of price, obviously I don't want to run up a massive credit card bill but I'd rather fork out and get decent equipment and buy a snake thats been well bred and cared for. I noticed theres websites that sell snakes online! For what seems to me very cheap, I was thinking this looked rather dodgy though! That brings me to my next point. I actually have no idea where to buy one from! I was wondering how I go about finding pet shops or local breeders? (I did a search online but found nothing.) My partner likes garter snakes, but I've looked on the ads on this site and couldn't find any... does anyone know how difficult they are to get hold of?

Also, it would be nice to have a snake we could handle. I also want one thats non-venemous and relatively easy to look after. I don't have any experience with snakes so I'm not really sure what I'm getting into and would like to find out as much as possible first.

I've seen some photo's of snakes on here in plastic tubs... is a glass tank just as appropriate?

I have a pet cat but am sure this would be fine if the snake was in a tank it wouldn't get out of? My cat is always into everything and managed to get into a tightly shut room and then into a secure cage to kill my hamster a while ago! So I would take every precaution possible to make sure they didn't come into contact.

I think a snake would make a pretty amazing pet, but I don't want one just because they're "cool" and I want to make sure I've got as much info as possible.

Thanks in advance for any advice

to the forum! you've come to a good place! garters are lovely snakes! good choice! good starter snakes! corns are also a good starter snake but it sounds like you're pretty set! in terms of equipment and caring for it, there is a section on here called caresheets; once you've decided what snake you want, have a look on there and see what they need as different snakes need different conditions.

In term of breeders, ive bought 18 reps from people on here and not had any problems so if you go to the classifieds section and select snakes you may find what you're looking for and they all state the area. Area is a key factor when looking to purchase a snake; price and availability varies between parts of the country!


Hope this has helped a bit!

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If you want bigger than a corn, try looking into other rat snakes, some are slightly larger, and most have similar husbandry to corns so a relatively easy to keep

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Id sugest looking on line and in ya yellow pages for rep shops in your area and go see what snakes you like face to face so to speak, they would also most likely let you get snakes you like the look of out to hold.
Oh and to RFUK.

Hi, I don't think i'm qualified to give any advice but I just bought my first snake almost 3 weeks ago, I got mine from a local garden centre that had a reptile house, the guy there really knew his stuff and was very helpful (not like other shops I don't care to mention) I was set on getting a Chinese king rat snake, stunning black and yellow. The guy asked me if I had ever owned a snake and then told me that, that particular snake was a repeat striker! (somehow I new what he meant) I felt a bit down until he took this tiny little snake out of what looked like a tupperware container. She was so cute and so cheap £65. A Sonoran Gopher Snake. So I bought her there and then but still had to buy her a house (Viv). The viv cost me £99 (3ft x 2ft x 2ft), I know you can get them cheeper If you don't mind flat pack and building it yourself. Then there's all the stuff that goes in there and there's no limit to what you can do but you do need a heat mat, somewhere for the snake to hide and water. All in all, the whole set up cost me less than £300 including the snake and she will never have to move home, assuming she don't get over 8ft long

I would also suggest buying a table top freezer unless you don't mind having frozen rodents with your burgers!

I'm afraid thats about all of my knowledge as i'm just a beginner too.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Jay

to the forums and i suggest to either get a cron snake its perfect for gigginers ig ot 1 myslef or a rat snake which is a like a corn but a bit bigger

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I'll go corn pretty easy to keep & good natured.

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The classic first snake is a corn snake. But the best first snake is the one you really want.

Have a look in books etc and try to make your mind up. Look in the classified on here and you'll get a good idea of prices etc.

A corn can start in a plastic tub with a heat mat and thermostat, and might end up in a 3*2 viv.

There are loads of snakes that need just a bit more experience or a little help from an experienced keeper. If you have the option of a 5ft viv then some of the dwarf boas might be an option or one of the smaller carpet pythons. Make sure you get experience handling snakes before you go for one of these.

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To RFUK

Thought of these ...?

Corn snake
house snake
ratsnake
milksnake
western hognose (My faverouite :P)

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great that you are getting a snake. i will most likely get stick for this but i dont think royals are a good idea for a first snake. unless you understand that you are getting a snake that you may never be able to handle or even see.

corns
kings
rat snakes
if you do your reading and understand them mayb even a boa

best of luck

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