Choosing the Best Small Pet Snakes for Beginners

Nowadays there are varieties of snake species that are offered in just about any pet store. Some of you who want to own a snake are probably looking for the best small pet snakes for a beginning snake owner. You are perhaps looking for the snake that can survive in a minimal space.  It may be true that there are snakes that would be difficult to take care due to their aggression, size and natural habit. However, there are also snakes that are perfect for the beginners.

Beginner’s Guide on the Best Small Pet Snakes

Having a snake as a pet is a long-term dedication and commitment. Some of them can live up to 20 years which is significantly longer compared to the average lifespan of your cats or dogs. Below are some of the best small pet snakes that are intended for the beginners.

In terms of being good pets, I would argue they (and some other ambush predators like tarantulas) are among the best-suited animals in the world for being pets. They aren’t like dogs or cats or ferrets, or even monitor lizards, that crave enrichment and whose ideal day involves ranging over 50 miles or taking a three-hour run. They get full nutrition from a single readily available food source, they have clear indications for most common ailments, and they beat out fish because they can learn to interact positively with their handlers. Most importantly, they reach their optimal flourishing in an enclosure. The world’s happiest snake is the one that looks for food once a week, finds it almost immediately, subdues it without injury, and can digest it in peace and safety. They don’t wish they had brothers or sisters, they don’t miss the wide open outdoors, and they won’t get stir-crazy from being cooped up.

Choose the Correct Pet For Your Lifestyle

The real question is whether these near-perfect pets are a good fit for your desires. There are individuals of some species that can be handled every couple of days for significant chunks of time with no ill effects, but they aren’t going to yearn for your attention and won’t spend most of every day with you. They also aren’t generally vocal if you’re messing up their care, so due diligence falls more squarely on the owner here than in many other cases. If you can handle the responsibility and understand their limits, they make wonderful pets.

Corn Snakes

Perhaps corn snake is one of the best small pet snakes for the beginners. It is sometimes called as the ‘red-rat snake’ that is a forgiving and docile type of snake. This is definitely the choice of the starters since most of them have been raised in captivity. Choosing the corn snakes provides a lot of benefits. First, the high availability of the corn snakes makes it relatively simple to find it in your local pet shop. Due to the increased availability, it is also cheaper when compared to other varieties of snakes. Prospected pet owners also have an array of shades to choose from. You can also choose a corn snake with different color combinations such as brown, black, white, pinks, orange, and red.

Ball Pythons

There are different reasons why people think that this is one of the best small pet snakes. When you heard the word ‘python,’ you will immediately think about a large snake that they’ve often see in the zoo. You will be surprised to know that the ball python can only grow up to 5 feet. They also look sturdy and stocky compared to the corn snakes. This makes them an ideal choice for those who want a little more challenge.

Hognose Snake

With an average length of 3 feet, this is certainly one of the best small pet snakes. It is ideal for pet owners who have limited space. You can also keep it inside the vivarium, and it will be comfortable. This snake has a unique snout appearance that has a striking similarity with the pig snout. However, the hognose snake will not be easy to find like the corn snake and ball python. If you really want this variety, you will have to exert more effort, and the cost will also be higher. The color ranges will also be limited due to the restricted breeding level.

In case you are planning to invest on the best small pet snakes, be sure to give them a quality vivarium that will keep them comfortable. It should not come with holes since the snakes are flexible enough to escape on a slight gap.

Warning: Snakes and Children

Reptiles and amphibians are popular pets with many families. Turtles, frogs, iguanas, snakes, geckos, horned toads, salamanders and chameleons are colorful, quiet and often kept as pets. These animals frequently carry bacteria called Salmonella that can cause serious illness in people. Salmonella can spread by either direct or indirect contact with amphibians (e.g., frogs), reptiles (e.g., turtles, lizards or snakes) or their droppings. Salmonella infections can also result from having contact with reptile or amphibian environments, including the water from containers or aquariums where they live. Persons under 5 years of age are more likely to develop severe illness. Parents are warned to keep snakes, frogs, and turtles away from young children.