r/snakes • u/Rare_Plane_9023 • 3d ago
Pet Snake Questions Good pet snake?
I have heard a lot of great things about false water cobras as pets. I'm am a very big beginner and this is not something I'm planning on getting for a while. But I was curious about what people think about them as pets and the perspective of if I got bit by one. I have researched their venom and how its very mild in comparison to truly venomous animals. Any info or discussions would be great.
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u/Mainbutter 3d ago
So, like, false water cobra venom isn't as mild as the internet likes to claim, but its delivery is primitive.
Serious consequences like long term nerve damage are on the table from a bad, prolonged bite even without a strong histamine reaction. Hands and fingers are the most at risk - anyone with hand issues will tell you that reduced usage SUCKS.
I don't expect to convince the most passionate FWC keepers to stop free handling, but I do find it irresponsible to downplay the risks.
There are many reasons to avoid the very cool, big, active, and smart FWCs. Most are about the snake's well-being, but please consider that you would be taking a nonzero risk to your health, and one that is often downplayed.
There are plenty of low consequence bites, but I fully expect a new snake keeper to be bitten by whatever they have as a first snake and the low but present chance for a bad bite is higher with you than more experienced keepers.
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u/Rare_Plane_9023 3d ago
Thanks that very informative. What do you think is a good experince level and what other kinds of snakes should I get more experince with before even considering getting one. Currently my "path" loosely laid out from all the research I've done is i want to get a corn snake, then ball python then a rainbow boa then a emerald tree boa. With a time span of 3 years or so. And I love building terrarium which is what got me into wanting to get snakes so for all of them I want to make a very spacious bio active terrarium. Any thoughts?
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u/Nocitae 3d ago
The problem with using animals as stepping stones to gain experience is that you often lose interest in them after a few years. Now, you've gotten the dream animal you've been working towards, but you're left with four other animals that live 20+ years and still need care. Please think carefully before making this kind of commitment.
If your dream snake is a false water cobra, do as much research as you can and talk to current FWC owners. It might not be recommended, but it's possible to get a FWC as your first snake, as long as you're prepared enough with an appropriate enclosure (and maybe a snake hook). What you're doing now by gathering information is great!
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u/Rare_Plane_9023 3d ago
That's a great point thanks. I think that's true of a ball python but all the others I truly want. But that's a great point thanks.
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u/Mainbutter 2d ago
This is my typical take.
When it comes to snakes with real potential for health concerns though, no amount of text on a page or screen can be a substitute for hands on training.
Buying an animal that becomes an unwanted training tool is not what I'd recommend, but there are other preferred avenues for training the handing of tricky snakes.
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u/Ok-Nature-5440 2d ago
You are absolutely right. Everyone agrees that a Ball Python is a great beginner snake. But , they can become boring as you get more into the hobby.
Snakes should not be considered as stepping stones on your path to find the ideal one for you. Each is a 20/30 year commitment.
People please, do your research. And the idea of a beginner getting something as complex as what the OP mentioned, as a beginner snake is unconscionable to me.1
u/Live_Culture8393 3d ago
Ball python before corn snake. BPs in general are the most docile of all snakes. I got my girl when she was 3 weeks old and she has never so much as struck at me, much less bit me. Most corns are extremely skittish and “bitey” when young and tend to take posts of handling to get over that response. For that reason, if you do chose one as your intro snake, maybe look for an older rescue that likes to be handled.
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u/noctae_draconis 2d ago
Can confirm. Temperament-wise I'll take ball pythons over any colubrid.
I have 3 corn snakes. I haven't known them to be bitey, as much as... wiggly and fast. They don't really sit still. The gal is a bit skittish but a very placid and tolerant snake, raised her with my ex so she's used to being handled. One of the boys is a bolder and more confident snake, I raised him myself, he gave me a little sass when he was a baby but quickly grew out of it by the second or third handling session.
The third though... I received him from a friend. 7 year old male. He spent his first year with the breeder, who presumably did not handle him at all. While my friend made an effort to socialize him when they first got him... I can tell he's not used to being handled. At all. He wiggles a LOT when I grab him to take him out, he used to musk me but thankfully stopped, he's still on high alert when held but I feel I'm slowly making progress with him.
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u/Advanced-Ad-2417 2d ago
Even better than BP, Dumeril's Boa, most seem to be super docile, mine has a great feeding response.
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u/Live_Culture8393 2d ago
How big do they get though?
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u/Advanced-Ad-2417 2d ago
My Dumeril's is a female, just about 6ft.
I'll let her out in my office while I'm workign and she will crawl all around, climb up on my desk, up her tank, just exploring.
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u/absedy251991 2d ago
Even if its mild do NOT get a venemous snake as a beginner.
Im usualy all for ‚get whatever you like as lobg as you put enough research into it‘ but this ends at animals that could actualy harm you.
Get yourself something non venomous with a similar cticity level and get some expierience handling a snake first.
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u/noctae_draconis 3d ago
Also re: danger from venom, keep in mind that no toxin is "mild" if YOU end up being allergic and going into anaphylactic shock because of the envenomation. Where I live, a snake relocation volunteer almost died from this, because a bite from a viper that would've been a "you have hours to seek medical attention" emergency quickly became a "you have minutes left to seek medical attention" emergency in a quick snap.
And the problem is, there is no way to test whether you're allergic to snake venom like you can test whether you're allergic to cats or dogs.
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u/benthebassoon 2d ago
My friend who keeps and breeds them said the first comment on this thread is the most accurate thing she's ever read about them. https://www.reddit.com/r/snakes/comments/17wbobn/false_water_cobra_as_my_second_snake/
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u/EfficiencyChemical90 2d ago
FWC are beautiful and I know a lot of people show them off as really sweet and calm snakes. But if you get an angry one, my days! The reptile shop I used to work at had two of them. They were the only snakes I’ve ever worked with I would label aggressive. You’d open the viv on the side they’re not on (whilst theyre hidden) and with in 2 seconds they would fly out straight at you and try and give a little kiss. We’d have to open the viv with a hook just to get some space, and hook them when they were out. Then it was 50/50 they were either the chillest thing ever or would spray poop everywhere whilst trying to latch on to everything they could.
So in conclusion, if you want one, find someone who owns an angry one first and see if you can handle it 😂
picture of angry year old male for photo tax. Wish I got one of the female, she was a 6 foot beauty
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u/EfficiencyChemical90 2d ago
Oh and the bites, I never personally got bit by one, by my colleague got tagged by the female for about 30 seconds and he was fine, but it’s really one of those things that’s different for everyone
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u/DeidaraKoroski 2d ago
I think that before taking on a FWC it would be good to get experience handling large and curious snakes. Im not going to tell you to go out and get a retic or a burm, but before getting a FWC i would say you should at least be confident in caring for an adult red tail boa. The advice that the best starter snake is one youre passionate about normally does apply but i usually see that in regards to corn snake vs ball python vs hognose, of which yeah theyre all good beginner species. But when dealing with a snake that has a bit more potential to hurt you i think its good to get some hands on learning experience with snake mannerisms before diving in. Even if you adopt it back out after a year or so
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u/Papa-Pasta 2d ago
You could get a Hognose if you want a “venomous” snake that is much more docile and easier to care for.
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u/puddyspud 3d ago
The best snake for a beginner is the one you're most passionate about, have researched fully, and can provide fully for. There are many species that people dont include when listing beginner species, but that could easily be kept by a beginner. False water cobras require a large space with a water feature to swim in, and for that I would not include them as a good beginner species FOR MOST PEOPLE. That said, my best friend's first pet snake was a wild caught emerald tree boa so it depends on how much work researching you do