Looking To Purchase new pet in Future

[Black_Zodiac]

New to the forum and soon to be new snake owner.

I have narrowed my choice to ball python, blood python or King Snake....Which is better as a first time pet?

Should I feed live or frozen rodents?

How big of an enclosure should I start off with if I get a baby?

Heating pad vs heating rock; which is better for the snake?

What kind of furnishings should I aqcuire for enclosure?

[SerpentLust]

Originally Posted by Black_Zodiac

New to the forum and soon to be new snake owner.

I have narrowed my choice to ball python, blood python or King Snake....Which is better as a first time pet?

Should I feed live or frozen rodents?

How big of an enclosure should I start off with if I get a baby?

Heating pad vs heating rock; which is better for the snake?

What kind of furnishings should I aqcuire for enclosure?

All of this information you can find on any basic care sheet. I wouldn't do a Blood Python for your first snake. Ball Pythons are great but can be somewhat finicky when eating and stress easily. So I would vote a Kingsnake, or check out Spotted Pythons...

Frozen is always better than live rodents.

Heat rocks are an ABSOLUTE NO-NO! You really should have any heat source attached to a rheostat or thermostat to regulate the temps properly.

Furnishings should be at least two hides, one on each end. A waterbowl big enough for the snake to soak in. And an appropriate substrate, some of which include Aspen Shavings, Paper Towel, Reptile Carpet, and Cypress Mulch.

Here are some caresheets which'll help you along:
BALL PYTHON: http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBall.html
BLOOD PYTHON: http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareBlood.html
KINGSNAKE: http://www.newenglandreptile.com/CareCalKing.html

And here's a Spotted Python caresheet you may want to look at, that was my first snake and I couldn't be happier:
http://www.lowergroundreptiles.net/c...s-spotted.html

Just as a pointer, with Ball Pythons anyways, rubbermaids make better enclosures than tanks. They maintain proper humidity and make the snake feel more secure. I don't use tanks anymore, I did in the beginning. Now all my enclosures are custom made wooden enclosures with locking sliding glass doors.

Hope this helped.

Jenn

[gonesnakee]

Blood Python is not a good choice for a first snake. Ball Pythons can be finicky eaters, make sure if you choose one it is well established on F/T (frozen/thawed) Rats, not mice or live prey. Kingsnakes make good first snakes depending on which type you are looking at? California Kings are nervous babies & will bite & musk. Graybanded Kings are good starters as long as they are well established on F/T mice first. Lots of choices out there, best bet is to see what is visually appealling & then research its husbandry & see if it is appropriate for you as a beginner. Mark
P.S. as mentioned Spotted Pythons are good too or better yet a Children's Python. Either as long as they are well established on F/T prey

[Black_Zodiac]

Thanks for all the great advice, will take a look at those caresheets. THanks again.