Beginner snake care...
I love snakes so muuch! Snakes, in my opinion, are the best pets! The best part is that, they eat once a week. I mean, how cool is that? Also, they don't require too much room, except the larger species of pythons and boas. I have concluded that the Cornsnake and California Kingsnake are the best beginner Snakes.
Housing: When you first get your snake you will need an aquarium. Now, if you get a hatchling you will only need a 10 gallon, but any snake that is 24 inches long, and over, should be moved to a 20 gallon. A 20 gallon tank could be the snake's home for the rest of the it's life. For substrate(ground cover) there are lots of choices. I use CareFresh. It is a paper mulch, kinda like ripped up egg cartons. CareFresh does not smell, it is easily cleaned, lets your snake burrow in it, and it collects fecal material well. You can also use aspen, newspaper, astroturf(becareful when feeding), and you can use dirt if you want a natural look, make sure it has no perlite in it(the white balls). They also need large water dishes and maybe a branch but it isnt really needed. In my experience with corn snakes, the babies ted to be up high in the cage. Although a branch is not needed, It provides more areas for your snake to explore and in the long run, keep them stimulated. One of the important things snakes need are hideboxes. These are shoe boxes, burrows, egg cartons, corkbark, or anywhere the snake can retreat from peering eyes. This also helps because the snake will not be as stressed.
Heating: Snakes need an area to warm thier bodies up so they can digest meals that have been previously eaten. They also need a cool side, to get away from the heat. All they really need is an undertank heater on one side of the cage. You leave it on 24/7. Its great. You dont need lights or UVB lighting.
Temperment: The cornsnake can be a little nippy as babies but with handling they become docile as ever. My baby corns were very skittish when I first brought them home, but after about a week of handling they were fine. The adults I used to own were sweet and calm. The California kingsnake is very docile even as babies. The only problem is that kingsnakes eat thier own kind. This basically means, plan on getting one. Unless you want two you will need to seperate them. With snakes it is important to handle them alo as babies. About 15 minutes a day, for 4-5 days a week is fine. My friend's cal king is even because he barely handled it. He sure did pay for it when it tagged him on the hand!
Feeding: This is the fun part! Baby corns and kings will eat pinkies(baby mice). As they grow thier food will grow with them. Once they get bigger you can feed them fuzzies, then hoppers, and last adults. For baby snakes Feed them twice a week and adults only once a week.
Conclusion: These snakes are equally great you just need to chose which is best for you! Good luck!
Home