Getting interested in a snake...

[Conner]

One of my LFS' has recently started getting in some nice looking little corn, milk, and kingsnakes, and I've been thinking more and more that I really like them. They don't seem too badly priced, most between $50-100, depending on species and morph. I've looked on Kingsnake.com classifieds and they seem comparable in price, if you include shipping, with most of the similar snakes on there.

Anyways, I'm interested in a snake, but I want something that doesn't get huge (hence the 3 I listed above), but is at least visible or active enough to keep my interest. I don't want to get a snake just to have it hide in a cave all day, and only come out after the lights are out at night. Are any of the snakes I listed good candidates?

Or should I be looking more into a lizard/monitor/tegu type reptile, for something that is more active during the day? I just don't want to get something I'd be bored with in a month or two...

Thanks,
Conner

 

[MadBob]

colubrids are very cool snakes, just too high strung and reclusive for my taste, granted most snakes are too high strung and reclusive for my tastes, I'm a ball python fan...

They don't need more room than an adult colubrid, they're beefier, IME hardier, I've never seen one that had a problem with handling.

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

A corn snake would definitely meet your requirements. They are active during the day and they don't get huge. They are very hardy snakes...the one I had never passed up a meal. I can't really speak from personal experience for milks or kings, but I believe that they are similar to corns as far as their behavior.

 

[Noto]

Yeah, any of those three would be fine. I'm partial to common kings myself. I suggest you buy a snake that's already eating frozen/thawed mice, it will make things much easier and cheaper for you.

 

[Louie]

I keep mt kings and love them . All are easy going never been bit in 6 yrs but I have to agree with Imartelli if you want an active snake go with corn.

I have one male Ruthven which I have posted before he NEVER hides and is out all the time but the others hide and out at night or here and there but like privacy in their hide box or behind driftwood .

None are active like a corn usually is . Corns come in a zillion colors .

I love the albino Okeetee even as adults (some colors get dull as adults) still find them stunning .
http://www.corn-utopia.com/Corn%20Utopia%20on%20the%20Web/-%20CORN%20SNAKES%20-%20cornsnakes%20for%20sale%20Cornutopia.htm

 

[Louie]

colubrids are very cool snakes, just too high strung and reclusive for my taste, granted most snakes are too high strung and reclusive for my tastes, I'm a ball python fan...

They don't need more room than an adult colubrid, they're beefier, IME hardier, I've never seen one that had a problem with handling.

I have never kept a ball python but thought as a whole fairly reclusive? .

 

[Conner]

Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

I've got an empty 10 gal sitting around collecting dust is why I asked. What kind of bedding should I consider, and are the undertank heating pads ok? Or would a heat lamp be better?

Edit: and I know the 10g won't last forever, but it'll work out for a start from what I've read online so far. What's the max size (dimensions) tank that these guys would need? I was thinking I could build a plywood tank to specs, and just put a glass pane in the front...

 

[Noto]

The tank size will depend on which variety you get; there's a lot of variation even within species. Some of the bigger milks and kings get 6' or more, corns and most Lampropeltis are 3-4', and there are even some small varieties that seldom reach 3'.

You'll find different opinions on undertank pads. I don't like them; I only use heat lamps. Newpaper or butcher paper is a fine substrate for a bare-bones setup, but you can also provide a burrowable substrate such as aspen shavings, "chunky" coco bedding, or the paper-like stuff (Carefresh is one brand name) that's used for rodents. Avoid pine, cedar, and cypress; the first two have potentially toxic aromatic oils, the second is dusty and is harvested unsustainably.

Besides that, provide at least one hide, a heavy water dish (they'll burrow under and tip light dishes), and you're pretty well set.

 

[Louie]

Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

I've got an empty 10 gal sitting around collecting dust is why I asked. What kind of bedding should I consider, and are the undertank heating pads ok? Or would a heat lamp be better?

Edit: and I know the 10g won't last forever, but it'll work out for a start from what I've read online so far. What's the max size (dimensions) tank that these guys would need? I was thinking I could build a plywood tank to specs, and just put a glass pane in the front...

I love eco-earth by Zoo med . It comes in bricks and bags . I feed my snakes in their enclosures and never had a problem (imagine by accident some has been ingested) its cocunut fiber and easy to clean.

I no longer use any heat for my snakes as all are kept in room by themselves with AC vents opened or closed depending on season but when I heated them in NY I loved Cobra UTH .

This is not best pic but only one I have stored in phone but it shows the eco-earth substrate. If you use branches for your corn its amazing watching them climb and hang on the branches just use lock clips on the screen cover.

If you want to stick with a 10 gallon a M Rosy boa is another option.

 

[ExoticEctotherms]

Cool. Thanks for the feedback.

I've got an empty 10 gal sitting around collecting dust is why I asked. What kind of bedding should I consider, and are the undertank heating pads ok? Or would a heat lamp be better?

Edit: and I know the 10g won't last forever, but it'll work out for a start from what I've read online so far. What's the max size (dimensions) tank that these guys would need? I was thinking I could build a plywood tank to specs, and just put a glass pane in the front...

I also love eco-earth bedding. It looks nice, keeps humidity in the proper range, cleans easy, and is a "green" product.

Undertank heating pads are good as long as you use a thermostat on them. If left unregulated they can cause some nasty burns on a snakes belly. Heat lamps are good too, as long as they are kept outside of the enclosure so there is no direct contact with the snake.