I'm looking into snakes, I need advice from people who have experience...?

So I hear snakes make pretty neat pets, but I'm not planning on getting one too soon. Still looking into it. Two kinds that I have been looking into are Ball Pythons, and milk snakes. Are those good beginner snakes? What others do you recommend OTHER than corn snakes. How big of a tank would I need for the two I mentioned?





Thanks a lot!I'm looking into snakes, I need advice from people who have experience...?
Both should have a 20 or 30 gallon tank as adults.





Ball pythons are nice snakes, but are notoriously picky eaters, and are somewhat sensitive to humidity levels. I don't really recommend them for beginners.





Milk snakes are easy to care for, and are beautiful snakes. They don't get too large, but in my experience they are feisty little things. With regular handling they should mellow out. They do fine in lower humidity, and I don't think I've ever had one refuse a meal.





Honestly, my favorite snakes for beginners are sand boas or rosy boas. They are hardy, unique, fairly easy to care for, and they don't get that big. Males get around 18 inches and would do fine in a 10 gallon tank, and females get 2-3 feet and would do best in a 20 or 30. They are great and beautiful snakes, and fairly inexpensive. I don't know why people always push the balls and corns and overlook these little guys.I'm looking into snakes, I need advice from people who have experience...?
I have a 6 year old 3 ft ball python and I love him. I keep him in a 32.5 gallon vivarium. I use 2 heating lamps and sponges for humidity. They are very docile and easy to care for. One way that you can make sure you don't get a picky eater, tell the owner of 1 you are considering to feed the ball before you buy it.
King or Milk snakes are so much better then ball pythons because they don't need to eat big rays or rabbits, and they're cheaper. keep in mind that ball pythons are PYTHONS and they can be unperdictable.
Ball python Adults generally do not grow to more than 90-120 cm (3-4 feet) in length,[2] although some specimens have reached 152 cm and even 182 cm (5-6 feet), but this is very rare. [4] Females tend to be slightly bigger than males maturing at an average of 4, 4.5 feet. Males usually average around 3, 3.5 feet. [5]The build is stocky[2] while the head is relatively small. The scales are smooth[4] and both sexes have anal spurs on either side of the vent, although males have larger spurs.[6]





The color pattern is typically black with light brown-green side and dorsal blotches. The belly is a white or cream that may or may not include scattered black markings.[4] However, those in the pet industries have, through selective breeding, developed many morphs: genetic mutations with altered colors and patterns.[7]








[edit] Common names


Royal python, ball python.[2]





The name ball python refers to the animal's tendency to curl into a ball when stressed or frightened.[8] The name royal python (from the Latin ';regius';) is based in part on the story that Cleopatra supposedly wore the snake around her wrist.








[edit] Geographic range


Found in Africa from Senegal, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Niger and Nigeria through Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic to Sudan and Uganda. No type locality was given in the original description.[1]








[edit] Habitat


Prefers grasslands, savannahs and sparsely wooded areas.[2]








[edit] Behavior


This terrestrial species is known for its defense strategy that involves coiling into a tight ball when threatened, with its head and neck tucked away in the middle. In this state, it can literally be rolled around. Favored retreats include mammal burrows and other underground hiding places where they also. aestivate.[2]








[edit] Feeding


In the wild, the diet consists mostly of small mammals, such as African soft-furred rats, shrews and striped mice. Younger individuals have also been known to feed on birds. Captives usually do well on domestic rats and mice, either live, pre-killed, or frozen-thawed.[4] The size of the prey item should be equivalent to or slightly larger than the width of the largest part of their body. This python is known for being a picky eater and may not eat for months. While this is not odd, care should be taken to watch that the snake does not experience significant weight loss. [9]








[edit] Reproduction


Oviparous, with anywhere from 3-11 rather large eggs being laid (4-6 being most common).[4] These are incubated by the female underground and hatch after 90 days.[2] Sexual maturity is reached at 12-18 months for males, 24-36 months for females. Age is only one factor in determining sexual maturity and ability to breed -- weight is the second factor. Males should be no less than 900g (2.0 lbs.) to breed, and females should be no less than 1500 g (3.3 lbs.).[4]








[edit] Captivity


Due to their smaller size compared to other pythons and commonly docile temperament, these snakes are bred in captivity and have become popular as pets.[10] Juveniles tend to be more aggressive at first, but typically calm down as they get used to human contact. Wild-caught specimens have greater difficulty adapting to a captive environment, which can result in refusal to feed and parasitic infection. Longevity is 20-40 years, with the oldest captive specimen on record reaching 48 years of age
ball pythons are relatively easy to care for. its like having fish though, they pretty much just look cool and decorate the room, the only difference is you can hold them. they don't do very much. and feeding them can be gruesome.


all snakes get infections and parasites quite easily, so are you willing to take him to an exotic vet or give him shots?


aside from that, the tank size depends on you budget and how big your snake is. i own a 4 ft ball python and he resides in a 40 gallon tank. you have to have a lid that clamps down because they can and will escape. you also need to watch the temperature and humidity, you can buy gauges at any pet store. a ball python's temp should roughly be around 80 degrees and the humidity should be 30-50.


for substrate you can use a number of things, i have used recycled newspaper pellets often.


make sure he has a large enough water dish for him to soak in, he will do this often especially when he needs to shed.


heaters, you will want one that sits on top of the tank (or two depending on how big it is) and one that sticks to the bottom of the tank. you will also need a timer for the lamps so they shut off after 12 hrs.


avoid using a heat rock, they can burn themselves on it.


and lastly you will want something in there he can hide in, like a carved out log. you can get all of these at a pet store.








good luck on choosing your new pet, hope this helped!














*EDIT* oh yes, one more thing.. you will want a separate smaller tank to feed him in, you should NEVER feed him in its own tank, or he will think that every thing that goes in there is food, including your hands.