When my brother and I first started having allergy problems, our doctor suggested we get a nice, cuddly family snake. If you’ve never had a snake before, here are some tips to help you pick a snake and get started.
Things to keep in mind:
- Some snakes can grow very large and possibly be dangerous.
- Do your research before picking a snake!
- Each different type of snake has its own diet and environment requirements.
- Escapes can (and will) happen — so make sure your enclosure has a secure door and no gaps! And prepare to find all the possible hiding spots if your snake does get out.
- Try to pick a captive bred snake instead of a wild-caught snake.
Wild snakes tend to be more difficult to tame and can come with unexpected parasites and other health issues.
What will your new snake eat? Skip the veggies altogether — pre-killed prey will be your easiest dinner to serve. Live rodents can actually injure your snake in their attempts to escape. Pre-killed rodents can also be stored in the freezer, which is easier than trying to raise or buy your own snake food.
If you are totally new to the world of snakes, experts recommend corn snakes, king snakes, or ball pythons as good starter snakes. These three are relatively small snakes (under seven feet in length) with gentle temperaments and easy diet and environmental needs. The ball python may be the trickiest to feed, as these snakes can sometimes go months without eating. And keep in mind that a snake can be a long term commitment — a ball python may live more than forty years! King snakes may live twenty years, and your corn snake will be with you for at least a decade.
Snakes to avoid if you are a beginner:
- Burmese pythons: these snakes need very careful handling and have been involved in cases of human fatalities. Size-wise, they can reach twenty feet and will need more than one person for handling and feeding.
- Red-tailed boas, also known as boa constrictors: these snakes can weigh fifty pounds or more and grow to ten feet in length.
- Tree boas and pythons: these snakes have very specific environmental requirements.
- Water snakes: these snakes can have very specific care requirements.
- Anacondas and reticulated pythons: these snakes are very large and generally have poor temperaments. They can also be dangerous to humans.
- Venomous snakes: these snakes can be dangerous to humans and a liability to the owner if the snake escapes.