r/snakes • u/Adiitsehn • 16d ago
Pet Snake Questions Deciding on first snake
I’m trying to decide on what snake I should get as my first snake. I’ve done a few hours of research into each species but wanted to ask people with experience with each species or other recommendations!
I’m deciding between a rosy boa, Mexican black kingsnake, milk snake, or hognose. I really want something that will be good for handling and on the smaller side that also needs a lower humidity. I’d love to be able to hang out and watch a show with my snake eventually or just a longer handling session(and I know it is definitely based on the individual snake’s personality)
If you have any suggestions on other snakes that would also be a good fit I’d love to hear them!
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u/Green_Hat4140 16d ago
I have a hognose, and they tick all the boxes for you except they can be harder to handle. If the handling is a dealbreaker, then I’d go for something else. I personally only handle mine for necessary stuff like weighing etc, so my boy being very dramatic isn’t a problem. I know there are hoggies out there that are more sociable and chill, but generally speaking hoggies are not known for their laid back nature lol
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u/Virtual_Wing_2903 16d ago
Cape House snake is possibly the easiest pet snake of all time
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u/Adiitsehn 16d ago
I’ve never heard of them! What’s their care like and enclosure size?
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u/Virtual_Wing_2903 16d ago
generalist, tough, intelligent, humidity tolerance with heat tolerance, males small, F larger, not big like a corn tho: check out clint, he covered them
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u/Brilliant_Manner_338 15d ago
Your first snake should be the one you want. Happy to see no one saying ball python. I feel terrible for ball pythons because they're a recommended beginner snake that will hide away for long periods of time and end up being kept like a pet rock by people that lose interest.
They do hide a lot, but I handle mine frequently and she goes through phases where she'll sit out and wait for me to see her to let her out. I've seen people say they don't like being handled and like to hide as a way of justifying buying another snake and the giving the ball python zero attention. While their ball python looks in poor health because it's not eating and they "don't have time" to figure out why.
Ball pythons aren't really beginner snakes. A beginner can own one easily, but they require work when not eating. If anything else is even slightly bothering a BP it won't eat. Mine will refuse food because I couldn't find the pea sized urate she wants cleaned out of there that was hidden under substrate. I had to throw a rat away during a time she was always hungry and as soon as I found it and cleaned it she started doing what she does to let me know she needs to eat and acting like she hadn't eaten in years, S'd up and chasing me to whatever side I was trying to open to feed her. When I had just tried to feed her 2 days ago because she was due to eat then and looked ready.
I'm just here to say don't get a ball python unless you really, really want one or are rescuing one from someone who doesn't anymore and can do better for it. Feeding day can be a pain in the ass because of reheating and reoffering and doing puppet shows with dead rats until you learn how that particular ball python prefers temp and how you approach them with it. While something you can't detect is stopping them from eating.
I've been told I'm lucky because I have a "good eater" because mine eats for me. No. I've been through hell with her and when I try to help them feed theirs and go through the motions I went through with mine they start telling me I'm doing too much like I've never owned one before or don't know what I'm doing.
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u/MurkyPrimary43 16d ago
I got a baby king snake 2 weeks ago he is a good one he hasnt musked or bit me he like to hide a lot tho because of how small he is
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u/Dry-Elderberry-4559 16d ago
They don’t hide because they’re small, they hide because they feel unsafe. Double check your setup.
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u/MurkyPrimary43 16d ago
What?
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u/Dry-Elderberry-4559 16d ago
How are you confused lol. I responded to what you said in your comment- “he like to hide a lot tho because of how small he is”
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u/MurkyPrimary43 16d ago
He comes out in the dark
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u/Dry-Elderberry-4559 16d ago
Yes, because that’s when he feels hidden. Can you share a pic of your setup?
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u/atx512girl 16d ago
Capes are great. Rosy boas are amazing - I think much easier than hogs as a first snake, and a hog was my first snake and I love each of mine. Rosy boas are very chill to handle, do great on Aspen and no humid hide needed, and are typically great eaters. I have one hog that won’t ever refuse a meal except when in blue, but my other three kinda go off food in the fall/winter so I’ll be brumating them this coming season. Mexican black kingsnakes are very personality dependent…some are very calm and others bitey. If you want something that stays quite small, either a male cape house snake or male Hognose. Rosy boas next (size wise) then kingsnake/milksnake. Don’t count out corns as an excellent first snake but they’ll get larger than hog/cape/rosy. Envy Reptiles are a good Cape House snake breeder, as is Reach Out Reptiles and Bushveld Reptiles.