I want to start on snakes, but I need info!!

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
one of my first snakes was a Mexican milk snake- not only very beautiful, ( red black and gold) but extremely gentle and easy to care for. Most milk snakes stay at three feet or less, in general, (mine ended up getting closer to four feet, which is rare) and he lived in a 20gal for his life. I had him around eight years- he was bred and raised by a friend, and was about two years old when I got him. I've been told 8-10 years is about average for this type of snake.

the only time he ever bit me was by accident- grabbing for a mouse, and got me instead- his teeth were so small they almost didn't break my skin, and he was so embarrassed I acted like it really hurt for his sake. ( I really hardly felt it)

Ball pythons and corn snakes are excellent beginner snakes as well, but the one difference is their teeth will hurt more, should they accidentally bite you.
 
Tanks aren't great for keeping snakes, but a ball python or a corn should be okay. Anything that's picky and needs relatively high humidity should be kept in a non-glass cage with at least a partially-covered top. Vision cages are good but expensive; a lot of people I've talked to (and I) use appropriately-sized Rubbermaid or Sterilite bins.

snakes rock!
 
you can keep a female okeetee corn snake in a 20 gall or any of the specialized morphs they stay smaller in the 3-4' range which is fine for a 20 g long ,forgot about keeping a ball python though you need a 75g for a adult ball 3-6' but their girth is to much for a narrow tank and you must be prepared to keep one for 50 yrs not a begginers snake try a corn if you get one i'll tell you how to set up the tank just ask when youre ready
 
fishnutham said:
you can keep a female okeetee corn snake in a 20 gall or any of the specialized morphs they stay smaller in the 3-4' range which is fine for a 20 g long ,forgot about keeping a ball python though you need a 75g for a adult ball 3-6' but their girth is to much for a narrow tank and you must be prepared to keep one for 50 yrs not a begginers snake try a corn if you get one i'll tell you how to set up the tank just ask when youre ready
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Ball pythons do not like big open spaces; in nature they live in small burrows. The height of the enclosure should be small like 6"inchs tall. They general need two tight hides on the the hot (92F) and the cold side (82F) of the enclosure aswell. Ball pythons are great pets and breeding projects but they are not like fish; bigger tanks are defiantly not better for their well being. I do not like my snakes in aquariums I find rubbermaids to be far better.
 
i agree sunpoe tupperware is a lot better i'm in the process of building a rack system as we speak but i'm not sure your info is 100% most keepers i know keep adult balls in 50 gall plus display tanks with hides what size rubber maid do you use for a ball if you have one just curious i have mine comming this month.

I got confused i stand corrected a ball is fine in a 30g min as an adult still .
 
fishnutham said:
i agree sunpoe tupperware is a lot better i'm in the process of building a rack system as we speak but i'm not sure your info is 100% most keepers i know keep adult balls in 50 gall plus display tanks with hides what size rubber maid do you use for a ball if you have one just curious i have mine comming this month.

I got confused i stand corrected a ball is fine in a 30g min as an adult still .
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I have all my balls in rubbermaids that are all are about 6" in height, length can vary some what, but most are in a rubbermaid that is 3' in length. There are people that keep balls in tanks but I have had bad experiences and I know others that have had bad experiences with high enclosures. A lot of balls just seem to get stressed in high enclosures and don't eat or eat erratically. Not to say if you set the 50+ tank up right you can't have a health snake, but tight hides are a MUST!
 
thx for the info give me some needed info i wasnt sure how big of tubs i would need for him.

just noticed your're from T.O. cool , do you use heat tape for your containers and where do you get it all my suppliers only carry pads i need something i can wire up a single plug for a dozen tubs.
 
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