If you want a first snake, I agree with the above. The corn snake is great. They tend to be docile but do some reading or you will get bitten

I bred mine for a few years and had lots of fun. One escaped and we tore the whole house apart trying to find it... We did before the cat did thankfully.

A corn snake bite is more of a shock than pain because they are incredibly fast and usually get you when you're being stupid like me Just need a pair of tweezers to pull the odd tooth out once she lets go.

The set up can be a little expensive but generally the upkeep is cheap. Mine both ate one mouse once a week. The male sometimes went two before taking food and a gavid (with eggs) female will stop eating as the eggs fill her body.

They don't need companionship so can be left safely while you go on a short holiday, if you miss a week feeding, it's not a problem provided they're healthy.

Also watch out for mites, they are an absolute nightmare if they catch them. Like fleas they are quite difficult to get rid of. Mine were clear for years until one day I spotted them. The snakes never went anywhere so I never expected it. As it happened my GF visited the reptile house at London zoo a week before...

Handling is easy, they tend to be quite nervous at first and you do need to respect them as you move them around. be careful which body parts you wave at the head end as strikes can be unpredictable. Once they're settled on a warm arm or neck, they quite happily watch what's going on.

Basic set up is a vivarium, heat mat (preferably with thermostat) and light. The viv should have a thin hardboard back if wooden and the heatmat should go against that (not on the bottom). If you use a heated bulb instead (not recommended), make sure it is caged as they like to curl up around it for warmth which can be deadly.

You'll be keeping frozen mice in the freezer so make sure all house dwellers are ok with this Defrost in warm water (not boiling and definitely not in the microwave, the smell lasts forever) and using blunt plastic tongs, dangle them in the vivarium or feeding tub.

Don't feed two snakes in the same place. I tried once, it doesn't work!

I love them and would go back but my wife would leave me if I kept them

Hey,

I have just bought my first snake Witch is a corn snake! I was just wondering if i should keep him/her moist? If so how do i do it? Also should i feed him/her more than once a week? He/she is no more than 2 or 3 months old.

Thanks!

Millartime - You can try feeding them more often, but you'll probably find they won't be the slightest bit interested in eating.

As long as they have the warmth and a nice water bowl, they can keep themselves as moist as they like. The occasional spray into the viv (not directly on the snakes) with a mister might help, especially when they're getting ready to shed. You can get them from garden centres pretty cheaply.

Thanks mate!