How to choose My first snake.

Eric · #1 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 12:50 AM

Well with some help from everyone on the forum this is what we have come up with so far. I think it is pretty good.

What Is The Best first Snake?

Ok so you want to get a snake. How do you choose which one is right for you?
We have come up with this post to try and help you decide. This only covers commonly kept species.

We will start of with questions you need to ask yourself when researching a species.

1) How much space do you have to dedicate to the snake now and in the future? This is very important if you only have a small amount of space you will want to stick to the smaller species of both families.
2) How much will it cost to feed and care the snake you are looking into? If you live on a tight budget getting a snake that can potentially eat large rats and rabbits might not be the best choice.
3) What is your skill level? This is a very broad subject and only a question you can answer after researching a certain species. You will be the only one that can truly decide if you are up to the task.
4) The biggest question is. Are you getting into this hobby for the long haul? Most snakes live over 15 years. Are you willing to dedicate yourself to this hobby for that long?

Ok now that you have asked yourself a few questions and hopefully found good answers. We will give you some info to help you make the best choice.

The best snake for you would be the species that strikes your interest the most. There is no point in buying a snake that you really don’t want. You both will suffer cause of it. You will need to find a few species that strike your interest and research their care and husbandry if you can accommodate for the snake you chose it might be a suitable snake for you.

Although being a new comer to the hobby you will want to stay away from the larger members of the boidae family such as Anacondas, Rock python, Burmese python, Indian python, and reticulated pythons. You will also want to stay away from snakes that require advanced husbandry like tree boas and tree pythons. Really none of these snakes will make suitable starters. There are exceptions to the rule however but for the most part not for beginners. I will also add venomous snakes to the list rear fanged or otherwise definitely not for beginners no exceptions there.

Most snakes have similar husbandry requirements so this should not have a major bearing on your decision. The best option for you is to research a few species that strike your interest do lots of research and talk to people that house that particular species. After doing this you will know which snake will be right for you.

The reputation a species carries does not include every individual snake of that species. There are exceptions to every rule. Species known to be docile can have aggressive individuals and vice versa. This is why it is important to pick your snake out carefully. We will cover choosing a healthy snake later in the post.

Things to look for when purchasing your new snake.

1) Make sure the snake is active and alert.

2) make sure there are no visible signs of parasites such as mites and ticks.

3) If possible purchase a CB snake rather than WC.

4) make sure the snake is taking food if possible.

5) Skin should always be smooth not sagging or with cuts/abrasions. The body should be firm and muscular not soft and squadgy.

6) Eyes should be clear with no denting - haziness/denting implies dehydration or retained eye caps from a previously bad shed

7) The mouth should be tightly shut with only the small gap at the front the tongue passes through. It should also be clean and clear with no thick mucus or cheesy deposits on the gums.

The snake should breathe silently and there should be no signs of mucus (however large constrictors do often 'huff' when they're handled from lumping around and forcing air out of the lungs faster than normal). Many snakes also 'wheeze' as bit prior to a shed so if you're told it's due to that wait and see the snake again after its shed.

9) The snake should move in a clear and smooth way, any uncordination can indicate other problems.

10) Is the viv clean and maintained fresh water and clean substrate.

Snake Species List.

Colubrids

Corn Snake – Easy - £30 to over £200 – 4 to 6ft – Great beginners snake, docile temperament, easy to care for and available in a wide range of coulours.
Black Rat Snake
Bairds Rat Snake
Grey Rat Snake
Great Plains Rat Snake
Yellow Rat Snake
Fox Snake
Taiwan Beauty Rat Snake – Intermediate
African House Snake (L.Fuliginosus) Between £40-£80. Females grow larger: F:<5ft M:<3ft. Can be quite nippy when young but quickly settle. Afew colour variations available.
King Snake – Easy – Can be cannibilistac, must be housed alone
Milk Snake – Easy
Western hognose (Heterodon nasicus) – Easy - By far the easiest and most manageable of the hognoses. Plentiful in the UK, prices between £45-90. Adult length 2-3 feet. Temperament - Generally very good
speckled hognose (Leioheterodon geayi) – Intermediate - Less common in the UK (more easily obtainable in Europe) and less suitable for the beginner. UK prices are around the £100 mark if you can get them. Adult length around the 4ft mark
Temperament - Generally steady and decent natured.
Madagascan Hognose (Leioheterodon madagascarensis) – Hard - Becoming more common in the UK. Prices around the £100 mark.
Adult length - 6ft ish. Temperament - Known to be more aggressive than the speckled, they certainly seem more keen to bite but can tame down well with regular handling.
Tri - colour hognose (Lystrophis pulcher/semicinctus/matogossensis) - Easy - Becoming much more popular in the UK and now relatively easy to get hold of. Prices vary between £125 -200. A nice first snake for those into something more unusual, but very small! Adult length - Often as small as 20". Temperament - Can be easy to startle but generally very good.
Pine Snake – Easy
Gopher Snake – Easy
Bull Snake – Easy
Garter Snake – Easy – 2 to 3ft – Can be fed fish
Ribbon Snake - Intermediate – 3 to 4ft – Slender, fast moving snake, feeds on fish.
Trinket Snake
Egg eating snake

Pythons

Royal Python – Easy – 3 to 5 ft -£40 to over £200 – Docile temperament, chunky, can be picky feeders.
Jungle carpet Python (JCP) – Intermediate – Hatchlings can be nippy but calm down with gentle handling. Semi Aboreal, requires a tall viv.
Diamond carpet Python – Intermediate – Hatchlings can be nippy but calm down with gentle handling
Coastal / Jaguar carpet Python – Intermediate – Hatchlings can be nippy but calm down with gentle handling
Irian Jaya Carpet Python – Intermediate – Hatchlings can be nippy but calm down with gentle handling
Children’s python - Generally priced £50-£100 a hatchling
Borneo Blood Python – Intermediate
Malaysian Blood Python – Intermediate – Some examples can be aggressive
Sumatran Blood Python - Intermediate

Boas

Common Boa (BCI) – Easy – 6 to 8ft – Docile. Large individuals can grow to 12ft, females are generally bigger.
Red tailed Boa (BCC) - Easy –8 to 10ft – Docile. Large individuals can grow to 12ft, females are generally bigger.
Hogg Isle Boa – Easy – 4 to 6ft
Crawl Cay Boa – Easy
Dwarf Boa - Easy
Kenyan Sand Boa – Easy – 2 to 3ft
Rosy Boa - Easy – 2 to 3ft – Requires a dry setup
Columbian Rainbow Boa (CRB) – Intermediate - £60 to £100 - 5 to 7ft
Brazilian Rainbow Boa (BRB) – Intermediate - £100 to £140 - 5 to 7ft. Requires high humidity.
Argentine Rainbow Boa (ARB) – Intermediate
Dumerills Boa

tigger79 · #2 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 01:02 AM

Thats very interesting, and i feel a Mod should make it a sticky, so people new to snake keeping can see it.

Thanks Eric, you have done something that some one should have done a longtime ago and prevented many a wasted thread, with people giving out the wrong advice,

LeeH · #3 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 01:19 AM

this is excellent...big thumbs up and well done to all who contributed to it...its really good

SiUK · #4 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 01:21 AM

looking good mate that should definately be stickied

Eric · #5 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 01:23 AM

I think it would make a great sticky as well. I emailed the admin a while back with no response so I don't know who else to email about making it a sticky.

Feel free to email mods about it.

tigger79 · #6 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 01:24 AM

i have pm'd nige (cornmorphs) hopefully he gets it when he come back on.

rantasam · #7 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 08:15 AM

A great thread, well done to all those involved. I'm sure many people new to the hobby will benefit from this in the future.

Morelia Matt · #8 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 08:26 AM

Diamond Pythons require some extra care as they are suseptable to a disease of the bone (Diamond Syndrome) and cost in the region of £1000, i wouldnt say that they are really suitable as a first time snake? other than that, great stuff and good idea.

Deano · #9 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 09:56 AM

Oops, how did that get on my list?! I'll take it off next time I update it...

Nice one pulling this all together Eric!

Now how about some housing basics - Equipment required, Heating, setting up the thermostat. A 'rule of thumb' for enclosure size.

FreddiesMum · #10 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 11:12 AM

Well done

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