Are you seeking a beginner-friendly snake to keep as a pet? If that’s the case, you’ve come to the correct spot, and someone is coming over to buy a pet snake, so I’ll tell you about the “Top 10 popular pet snakes for beginners,” yeah! Yes, you read that correctly. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s keep scrolling since you’ll almost certainly receive your pet snake at the end.
We are frequently asked what is the best beginner-friendly snake for people who are new to the sport. Beginner-friendly refers to relatively simple plants to care for and require little more than excellent husbandry and attention to detail.
Snakes appear to be the most popular of all the reptiles available in the hobby. For those new to the sport or those looking to add a new species to their collection that is relatively easy to keep, we’ve put together a list of ten beginner-friendly snakes. However, the issue of whether snakes are good pets for novices comes first.
Well, the answer is dependent on two factors:
To begin, what is the snake’s species? Second, think about the kind of relationship you want to have with your pet.
Snakes make excellent pets. Depending on the particular snake and the species, they can be shy or outgoing, and some are simple to care for. There are several advantages to owning a pet snake for both adults and children. To begin with, snake care does not take a lot of time. In reality, the species listed below don’t require much attention.
Are you looking forward to it?
When I initially received my pet snake, I was apprehensive. But don’t worry, you’ll have a great time.
So, the first snake on my list is;
#1 Garter Snake
Garters are one of the most popular pet snakes common wild in the United States, and they are also popular as pets. These snakes can feed small fish and worms to these snakes. Despite their unusual diet, they have the same lighting and heating requirements as everyone else. They generally grow to be 1.5-2 feet long, with some growing four feet long.
Garters have a distinctive stripe along their backs and prefer meadows, marshes, and woods; therefore, they appreciate having a water supply in their tank. In addition, they like sunbathing and are one of the few beginning snakes that require a basking lamp.
Despite its reputation as a snake that lives in your garden (rather than as a pet), the Garter Snake is nevertheless a popular pet in captivity. They are mostly harmless in the wild and are quite easy to tame. Because of their mild and submissive temperament, they are an excellent pet for beginners. It is a reasonably priced pet, with prices ranging from $15 to $50.
#2 Corn Snake
The Corn Snake is the most common snake for beginners. They are found in terrestrial environments and are native to the United States. These snakes are generally red-brown to orange in hue, with dark red-black blotches; however, many captive-bred snakes come in various colours.
Corns are 10-12 inches long when young and grow to be 3-4 feet long when fully grown. They can be caught in the wild (by experts), but captive-bred animals are healthier and have superior temperaments. A 20-gallon aquarium, roughly the size of a medium-large fish tank, can hold an adult Corn Snake, and the temperature in the tank should be between 72°F and 90°F from one side to the other. They require minimal additional illumination, but because they are nocturnal, they should have hours of darkness.
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Pinky mice are a favourite food of corn snakes in captivity. They have minimal medical difficulties, and any complications that do occur are usually due to inadequate husbandry. They may live up to 20 years and cost anything from $40 to $100. Overall, they have a simple care regimen and a kind disposition that makes them easy to handle and care for, even for novice snake owners!
#3 California King Snake
The most common subspecies of King Snake is the California King. They are brown-black with yellow bands, stripes, or speckles and grow roughly the same size as a Corn Snake, growing to be 2.5-5 feet long. These reptiles, unlike Corn Snakes, are active during the day rather than at night. They should, however, continue to have normal daylight and dark hours.
They’re great for novices because they can fit in a 20-gallon tank. In captivity, they consume mice and can live up to 20 years. This pet might be timid at first, but with repeated handling, they become quite docile. When confronted, they would coil up to hide in defence rather than a strike in a fury. While being held, a reptile that has acclimated to handling and life in captivity should not be scared.
These snakes typically cost $70-$170 and require just a little care. They also have the advantage of being simple to handle due to their calm disposition.
#4 Milk Snake
Does it make you think of milk?
Milk snakes are, without a doubt, my favourite. The Milk Snake, like the California King, is a distinct species of the King Snake. They are endemic to the United States and Mexico, and their body rings are usually black, white, or red.
These snakes are often found in the woods or rocky places, and they like to absorb heat from rocks and logs rather than the sun, so an under-tank heater may be preferable for them. They require only the most minimal care and can survive for up to 20 years. This little reptile may grow up to 2 feet in length during its first few years.
Milk Snakes, like other Kingsnakes, are gentle and rarely bite. Therefore, they are doable for a novice herpetologist, and they usually cost $50- to $200 USD.
#5 Ball Python
Ball Pythons receive their name from the “ball” they prefer to curl up in when they want to be secure. They are native to West and Central Africa and like to dwell in grasslands, where they are most likely to burrow in rodent tunnels. They want to keep concealed during the day and are most active at night. They’re usually brown with lighter spots, but captive-bred ones are a different story. Ball Pythons are available in a wide range of colours. Adults are about 3.5-5 feet long and live for 20-30 years.
Ball Pythons are gentle creatures who avoid biting. When they are threatened, they like to curl up in a ball. If they are touched regularly, they will most likely grow out of this habit. These Pythons devour mice, but their dietary preferences make novice herpetologists nervous. Freshly killed, or these pythons prefer frozen food.
Depending on the rarity of the morph, they may cost anywhere from $25 to $200. Ball Pythons are a popular first snake because they have a simple care regimen and are extremely easy to handle, aside from their occasional food aversion.
#6 Rough Green Snake
Rough Green Snake is endemic to the southern United States and northeastern Mexico and may grow 2.5 feet long despite their small bodies. They prefer to live in wooded regions. Rodents, unlike other pet snakes, are too large for these reptiles to swallow. Therefore they like to eat insects and spiders. This snake is easier to care for in terms of general husbandry and feeding than others.
Rough greens can live for up to 15 years in captivity; however, many do not. While this species is little and maybe simpler to handle physically, they perform better in a household where they are not taken as frequently since they can grow anxious and terrified.
They’re ideal for novices who want to learn the fundamentals of snake care and how to keep them clean and healthy, but not so much for those who wish to handle their snake regularly. The Rough Green is a smaller, more delicate species.
#7 Ringneck Snake
The Ring Neck Snake is another North American native snake with a distinctive yellow or orange ring around its neck (as its name implies). They’re little, around a foot long on average.
These snakes feed earthworms and require more care (such as adequate heating and lighting) than the majority of the others on this list. They are typically placid and tolerate handling for short periods, but they may grow agitated if taken several minutes without a break.
Even though they carry venom to hurt their prey, this poison is harmless to humans. Because their jaws and teeth are so tiny, any efforts to bite your finger will be futile. They are not as prevalent as other pet snakes since they are not as popular. They can survive for ten years in captivity, but only six years on rare occasions, and cost between $10 to $30.
#8 Smooth Green Snake
Like the rough version, this snake is endemic to North America and has a very slim build. It may be kept in a tiny cage, such as a 10-gallon vivarium, and fed insects, but it does not endure long periods of handling well. They’re excellent for people who want to maintain a reptile as a display animal rather than a companion.
The Smooth Green Snake has the same care requirements and temperament as its relative, the Rough Green Snake. However, the availability of this pet is what puts it at the bottom of the list. As captive-bred animals, they are more difficult to come by. There are just a few breeders, and wild-caught can be more difficult for a variety of reasons.
If you’re a novice and can get your hands on a decent Smooth Green, you’ll be in excellent shape. Their small size provides for easy care, rapid feeding, and a fantastic learning experience, despite being able to be touched regularly. It may survive for up to 15 years, and the price will vary depending on where it comes from.
#9 Gopher Snake
The Gopher, sometimes known as the Bull or Pine Snake, is a reptile native to the western United States. They’re often mistaken for rattlesnakes, but amateurs can tell the difference since they don’t have fangs and have a rounded nose and pupil. This reptile can be nocturnal or diurnal, although it is highly active in both modes.
Gopher snakes are slightly longer than many of the other snakes on this list, reaching a maximum length of 4.5 feet. If they feel threatened, they may hiss and shake their tails, although they are not poisonous. Although their bite is terrible, they only bite in self-defence.
For novices, a captive-bred and tamed Gopher should be easy to manage. They may live up to 20 years, and like sunbathing, a basking lamp will be required in their vivarium. Depending on whether they are albino or not, they cost $90-$190. They are, nevertheless, highly energetic pets that are quite easy to handle for novices.
#10 Children’s Python
The Children’s Python, named after naturalist John George Children, is a medium-sized python that lives in Australia’s rocky regions and grows to be approximately 2.5-4 feet long. The care needs for this lizard are simple, and it feeds mice or rats.
They aren’t as colourful as others on our list, but they make excellent pets because they require no extra care and have stable temperaments, especially if handled regularly and gently.
Beginner herpetologists can certainly handle children’s pythons. They may survive for up to 30 years and cost anything from $70-to $350.
Warisha Fatima
You are reading about a person who resembles herself with a witch or a fairy, as she is a believer of self-spirit, which according to her is a super power. She believes in growth, and that belief in herself motivates her to take new steps, and to come up with innovative ideas. She believes in working hard, but working smart is what she loves. In short, being spiritually energetic, and able to grow every day, is what she is passionate about. Catch me at Facebook | Linkedin | Gmail
