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Suitable starter snake?

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beginner
3K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  FishForLife2001 
#1 ·
Hi,

My son will be 15 in June and is desperate to get a snake. I've told him he is to do a thorough research about housing, husbandry and cost. He likes a spotted python. Is this suitable for a beginner?
 
#4 ·
Yes it will be a baby. Personally I'm not into snakes so it will be entirely him who looks after it. I've got my own zoo to take care of. Thanks.
 
#25 ·
As long as it is a guaranteed feeder on pinks, it should be a fine choice. But he will have to handle it fairly regularly to tame it, otherwise Spotted & Children's pythons can be quite bitey- I've seen one in a shop that used to snap at the glass every time a customer walked past!

king snakes and milk snakes are also popular beginner snakes but as a boa owner i would stay clear since its going to be your sons snake these are powerful and and can get to 10ft a bit too much for a inexperienced boy
True that it will become big, but the kid is 15. By the time a Boa is big enough he will be 18 or 19. I see so many kids that get colubrids for starter snakes and they get bored with them. Many people love them, but a teenage boy generally wants a big snake. I would not go any bigger than a Boa, but i would say its a bad starter snake.
The answer is to consider one of the island dwarf boa locales, as Louise suggested.
 
#5 ·
Spotted python also know as children's python are good for beginners. Corn snakes are also good beginner snake as well.

I know some may say a royal python but personally think they aren't good for beginners. Can be very fussy eaters and long hunger strikes.
 
#8 ·
Spotted python also know as children's python are good for beginners. Corn snakes are also good beginner snake as well.

I know some may say a royal python but personally think they aren't good for beginners. Can be very fussy eaters and long hunger strikes.
Hate to be pedantic but I'm afriad Spottred & Children's pythons are not one & the same.

Spotted Python - Antaresia maculosa

Children's Python Antaresia childreni

Aside from that I really hate the term "Beginners Snake" (or lizard for that matter, putting aside the highly venomous or monsters of the world there are very few reptiles that with sufficent rersearch/knowledge & set up should be deemed as not suitable forthe new keeper. In fact I'd go as far to say that starting with a "beginners" reptile doesn't help long term as peeps new to the hobby realise this is a fallacy & then look to move on thier "beginners" reptile as they want something a tad more unusual/uncommon & there we have another unwanted "beginners" critter dumped onto the for sales pages. Would it not be better to have a look around at what's out there, research it & then if it's still what you want go for it & be happy with it.

(Not telling the OP what he should/shouldn't buy, just maybe saying go look what's out there & yes, Childrens & Spotted Pythons are cracking snakes)

Have fun :2thumb:

I'll get me coat :blush:
 
#6 ·
I picked up my first snake little over a month ago now. I decided to go with a Boa Constrictor. I'm not saying these are ideal beginner snakes however I have had zero trouble with him. He has never hissed or struck at me (even accidentally) and he eats readily every time. He doesn't seem to have any problem with being handled but I have to be wary as he likes to explore and can knock things over if he reaches out.

This is just from my personal experiences as a fellow beginner snake keeper.
 
#12 ·
True that it will become big, but the kid is 15. By the time a Boa is big enough he will be 18 or 19. I see so many kids that get colubrids for starter snakes and they get bored with them. Many people love them, but a teenage boy generally wants a big snake. I would not go any bigger than a Boa, but i would say its a bad starter snake.
 
#9 ·
Aside from that I really hate the term "Beginners Snake"
Totally agree. As well as the reasons you have given, "beginners" and other similar adjectives suggests a temporary, stepping stone type scenario.

We see it all the time. I may have even asked it myself not so long ago however, beginners is not really a suitable tag to give to an animal that may live well beyond 20 years. Irrelevant of how easy or hard they may be to look after, they all demand a serious commitment, not to be taken lightly.
 
#14 ·
Maybe the pair of you might want to rethink this and wait until he's completed his education. Not that snakes take a lot to look after, but there are so many posts from parents wanting to re-home a snake as their son / daughter are at uni and no longer able / wanting to be responsible for the upkeep.
 
#17 ·
I had my first snake at 15 and yes it was a Corn Snake. He is still with me now at the grand age of 14. Unfortunately Corn snakes are brought as a starter snake and people do move on from them. I have had royal pythons and a Brazilian Rainbow Boa, both royals and boa were rehomed when going through my degree, my corn snakes stayed and now I only have corn snakes. I think if your son gets a snake then to get one that is manageable but more importantly one he wants and future plans are considered in the decision.

A further word of warning would be that Snakes and Reptiles in general are addictive ;-) once you get the bug your spare room will become as reptile room :-D
 
#19 ·
I am aware of the addiction as I have my own collection of lizards/inverts.I am not letting him rush into anything until he knows exactly what the care entails. If he shows that he is not fully commited to the care and cost of keeping a snake then I will not let him have one. If he does then I will guide him. It will be a learning curve as it was for everyone who started out in reptiles.
He knows how much I have to do to care for mine so this should help him. He is a very switched on and mature for his age.
Maybe the term "beginner" should not be used. But I wouldn't have begun my collection with something large and hard to keep until I was experienced and comfortable to do so.Which is why I asked which snake would be easy to look after first I.e not aggressive, doesn't grow to big and easy to handle etc.


Thank you all for advice and comments.
 
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#20 ·
I'd recommend a carpet Python. I had one as my first snake.

Good feeders, like to climb so good for display,p. Depending on type they can go from 5 to 10 feet but never very bulky.

Great snakes if you ask me.


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#21 ·
Whilst i agree to an extent with the comments on beginner snakes. I think we all know what the OP means. Ultimately some snakes are far more robust than others and with all the research in the world, hands on experience is valuable. You don't want something that can decline rapidly and seemingly without reason if you don't have the experience to spot the signs or how possibly to reverse it.

I think for a first snake it's a good idea to pick something that is CB, Doesn't have high humidity requirements and isn't a specialist reptile / amphibian eater or prone to erratic eating. Beyond that pick what interests you the most.

There are a huge amount of species that could be suitable. The best bet is to decide what interests you the most then check with others if there is any reason why someone without hands on experience shouldn't try to keep them.
 
#22 ·
I asked this same question last year when I looked into getting my first snake (as the age of 22 :blush: ). I was told a corn and went out (after weeks of research) and bought a corn set up. Went to get a corn... Come back with a normal Royal. Changed the set up and wallah. 5 weeks of no eating later, she now eats like a champ and I've never had a problem! I've since added a 2nd Royal and I'm adding a Crawl Cay in the next month. No animal at all is a "beginner" snake really, it all depends on how much you want to spend on set up/for the snake itself/how much research you do/how much time you have :)
 
#26 ·
I'm 14 and I would say my greenish ratsnake is the better beginner snake between him and my corn. He is active throughout the day (especially so in the mornings so good to see before school etc) and an excellent feeder. They require the same care as a corn so not difficult either.

I am not sure on the biggest size but mine is around 3ft and 3 years old but I have heard they can reach much larger sizes.

Although I like big snakes I wouldn't agree that a teenage boy wants a big snake exclusively. Possibly because it seems 'cool' but in that case a pet wouldn't be a good idea anyway.


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