I'm considering getting a snake in a couple months and I wanted to know what species you all have had good experiences with. My offie has a couple of corn snakes, and they're awesome. The adult corn snake size is pretty much the perfect size I would like to own. I would also want one that will be docile and willing to let me hold. I've had a blast with the corn snakes.

Also, do you have recommended snake breeders or pet stores that sell the particular recommended species?

Thanks.

7/23/2006 9:41:37 PM

go in the woods and keep the first one you can catch w/out injury

7/23/2006 10:06:49 PM

Well black rat snakes can be all right but the others we commonly see in this area are too aggressive for my tastes. I don't really want a black rat snake either. So no that won't work out.

7/23/2006 10:09:40 PM

I've handled corn snakes and ball pythons in middle school.
The corn snakes are lower maintenance and the albino ones look pretty sweet.
The ball python ate too much and was too big.

7/23/2006 11:05:59 PM

I handled corn snakes and ball pythons and boas and kingsnakes and a bunch of other snakes in middle school as well (at school).

Corn snakes are pretty good as pets I think. They don't eat too much, they aren't psycho-aggressive. They don't mind being handled and don't mind being left alone. They're colorful and they don't necessarily make a huge stink (small snake, small poops). Their equipment won't be quite as expensive as well (again, smaller snake, smaller cage, smaller heating pad).

Boas and ball pythons are cool. They're very cool! They can be very docile and amusing to handle. However they're also big. Very big. Pissing them off can be annoying, especially when a 7 ft long boa grabs onto your arm and constricts the shit out of it while sneaking into your shirt to hide. They also eat big rats (which is SO COOL but not quite as cool if you're paying for it) and eat about once a week. Their craps are huge. Their cages have to be huge as well (like a china cabinet in size). They're exotic and have health problems. Basically they're not worth the trouble unless you're a nerd who really likes snakes.

So yeah, go with a smaller snake. Or just get a dog. Dogs are great.

7/23/2006 11:13:53 PM

I was gonna throw out a word for king snakes as well

but NOT king cobras

7/23/2006 11:36:29 PM

I had a corn snake when I was younger. It was a really good pet. The only time it was ever aggressive was when I cleaned its tank before it started shedding. It bit me, but didn't cause any major damage, and it was my fault for not paying more attention to the fact that he was getting ready to shed and couldn't see too well.
My mom had a friend who had two ball pythons. They grew to be ginormous, but they were still docile and easily handled.

7/24/2006 12:02:48 AM

haha, ball pythons aren't big.

7/24/2006 12:08:08 AM

youre too picky

7/24/2006 12:13:32 AM

Quote :

"Don't keep rattlesnakes as pets. The majority of rattlesnake bites occur when people (usually intoxicated young men in their 20s) tease or play with their "pet" rattlesnake. "

https://www.delta.com/traveling_checkin/itineraries_checkin/requirements/index.jsp

7/24/2006 12:45:39 AM

Quote :

"haha, ball pythons aren't big."

Boa constrictors, then? Whatever they were, they were big.

7/24/2006 1:43:55 AM

Corn snakes are good, especially for starters, and come in a variety of colors nowadays. Also, I've had good luck with milk snakes, but *some* can be aggressive, whereas I've never seen an aggressive corn.

Oh, and the Pet Pad in Cary generally has excellent reptiles.

[Edited on July 24, 2006 at 5:37 AM. Reason : meh]

7/24/2006 5:36:41 AM

I loved my corn snake, but my boyfriend didn't. my sister keeps him now. He is awesome to play with. He has NEVER bitten anyone and he is a beautiful coral and orange color. (albino)

7/24/2006 7:21:17 AM

I like snakes, but I hear that they are not good on muthafuckin' airplanes

7/24/2006 7:28:18 AM

^Was he afraid Fluffy was going to slither into his ear nd eat his brain?

7/24/2006 9:15:34 AM