what kind of snake is the best kind to get?

I would suggest a King snake but, if you know nothing about snakes, you should go to the library and a pet store and do some research first. Snakes need to be handled on a daily basis as to maintain friendliness from the snake. If you ignore the snake, it will become unpredictable and you won't be able to handle it. They need a heat rock, rough surface such as a tree limb or something to help with shedding, water dish, a shelter to hide under...this is just basic. The size of the home depends on the size of the snake. King snakes tend to be friendly if handled daily and in a loving manner. Good luck to you...hope this helps!

1) ball pythons are from south africa, not south america (I know it's not important, but it bugged me lol)

2) a ball or corn will need at least 30 gallons of room. Even then, that isn't a ton of space and you should give them more if you can.

3)garters aren't that easy. Any amimal that needs water is three times the clean up work (well, more work than a corn snake, anyway).

4) heat rocks are VERY BAD. Talk to any reptile rescue, they'll tell you about the burned snakes they get. Go with an under tank heating pad, and hook it up to a lamp dimmer so you can control the heat output.

5) I'd recomend a corn snake. They don't need special humidity (50% is good), they don't need speical lighting. Just a tank, hides, a water dish they can fit in, substrate (aspen is good), under tank heater, and a (frozen/thawed) mouse once a week. They don't get to big, and are known for their good temperment and good eating habbits. They geat about 5 -6 feet, but stay skinny.

Do lots of reseacrh on your own, a king, corn, or milk are all pretty easy to take care of. I'm sure you'll be fine.

(I also like rosy boas, but they need high humidity).

O.k. here goes it:

These are the basic things you will need for all snakes:

1.) An appropriate sized tank with secure lid.

2.) A light that puts out UVB rays.

3.) Somewhere to hide that is rough (so your snake can rub against to get off its shed a half log from a petstore works great for this)

4.) A water dish large enough the snake can fit in it.

5.) Depending on type of snake, something to climb on.

6.) Some sort of substrate depending on type of snake.

7.) Under tank heat pad.

8.) A humidity gauge and temp gauge.

Ball pythons get to be approximately 4-6 feet long and pretty big around. There temperments are pretty good, they are very laid back. They eat fuzzies in the beginning and the largest they require is jumbo rats. A ball python is going to need at least a 40 gallon tank at full size.

Corn snakes get to be approximately 4-6 feet long, however they stay alot thinner. They have great temperments, usually alot more active than ball pythons. They come in a variety of colors. The larges they will eat is medium sized rats. They will require a 20-40 gallon at full length.

Central american boas (aka red tails) get to be approximately 8-10 feet long. They have great temperments, only slightly more active than ball pythons. They can get large enough to eat small rabbits. They will require a 40+ gallon tank at their full size.

Garter or ribbon snake get to be approximately 2-3 feet long. They are VERY active. They very seldomly ever bite. They feed on minnows and occassionally pnkie mice. They will require a 20gal tank.

King/milksnakes get to be approximately 3-4 feet long. They are fairly active and great escape artists. They will feed on mice and can also eat feeder reptiles (anoles). They will require a 20 gallong tank.

These are the most common snakes that you will find in pet stores, my best advice is this.. go to a petstore that will let you hold them and see which temperment of snake you most get along with! Ball pythons make some people nervous because they have a tendency to jerk quickly away from people, redtails make some nervous because they are very explorative and often turn quickly towards you. Garters and corns often make people nervous because they are very active and tend to go in every direction at once. Kings are the same way. It just depends on what you are more comfortable with! You will get a feel for them in time.

I have a milk snake and have had boas, pythons, and kingsnakes. If your wanting something small I would say get a ball python, corn snake, or milk snake. If your wanting something non finicky with food, a boa, or milk snake. The adult milk snakes can live in a 29 gallon tank and are very docile when full grown. Mine is a baby and is very sweet.

My reason for a milk snake as a pet?

Because they stay small around 4 to 5 feet and eat full grown mice when an adult. They can even eat 1 time a month and will be just fine. I wanted something cheap, small, and docile. Which is why I got the milk snake.

Good Luck!

Corn snakes are great starter snakes.

Think of the tank as having two sides: one side is to stay cool and the other is to stay warm. They need to be fed a minimum of once a week. My best advice is to get them as a baby and handle them often. As babies, feed them pinkies (frozen baby mice). As they grow, feed them fuzzies (frozen juvenile mice) and eventually live mice.

Minimum of a 20 gallon tank (wide, not tall)

Heating pad that goes on the outside (on the warm side of the tank)

Hiding places on both sides of the tank

Something to crawl on

Water dish large enough for them to put their body into

Ceramic or UV heat lamp (for warm side)

Light for the whole tank

Bedding such as retile carpet or newspaper

Thermometers on both sides of the tank

Find some reputable websites, buy a book on the snake that you want to get and do your research before ever buying the materials. Think it over carefully and make your decision wisely. You do not want to buy a snake that will get bigger than what you think you can handle. Even the small ones are very strong and powerful.

I have a childerns python, they stay small. They grow up to 3.5 feet. So they won't bother your cat or dog. They can easily live in a 20 gallon tank. They require an under the tank heater too keep them warm, a light, substrait I like the cocnut fiber it looks and smells good! I have a hidy house, large water dish and a few fake plant in my 30 gallon tank that I got for free because it has a crack. My snake eats pre killed food, live food can attack snakes. I breed my own mice to feed my snake. He eats a hopper mouse a week. Snakes are very low matinece, since they only eat 1 time a week, they also go to the bathroom 1 time a week. Snakes need to be handleded often to keep them tame. Mine went throught a phase where he'd bite us every time we went to hold him(they have 100's of tiny teeth...) But now he's being good.

I think the easiest snake out there is the Garter Snake at first your gonna have to get some equiment But there are easy to maintian. Plus I have one myself and they are really easy and independent. Equipment: Water Dish(large),habitiat with secure lid, Water Mister( for Humidity),Substrate, light, and under heater. G Snakes ussally eat small Goldfish. P.S dont get a Heat Rock they requaire to put into a outlet and reqaure a little hole where your snake coluld escape.

A FLORIDA KING SNAKE OR A BALL PYTHON ARE EASY TO TAKE CARE OF AND DOCILE.

YOU'LL NEED A SMALL FISH TANK WITH A SECURE LID,

A HOT ROCK, A WATER BOWL, SOMETHING FOR IT TO

HIDE IN IF IT WANTS TO, SAWDUST,NEWSPAPER, OR ARTIFICIAL GRASS CARPETING FOR THE BOTTOM, AND A MOUSE ONCE A WEEK. IF MICE MAKE YOU SQEAMISH YOU CAN TRY A GARTER SNAKE THEY EAT

GOLDFISH.

Corn Snakes

They are easier to take care of

go to this link

http://www.anapsid.org/corn.html

I have a south American ball python. His name is Skitzer and ive had him for about three years. hes calm, friendly and definitely my favorite pet