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[SlothHead]

I think that the most important thing to consider when considering to have a python is, what space do you have available long term for housing of the animal.

If you have a 3 x 2 x 2 enclosure and this is all you will ever be able to fit, then the best first snake will be a species in the Antaresia family.

They grow to a max size of 1- 1.5m and therefore this enclosure would be fine for them as they become full grown.

If for example you have more room and will accommodate as the animal grows. Then the best first animal will be;
A one that you find appealing to you,
B one that is relatively easy to handle and
C one that is hardy with respect to vivarium or enclosure conditions, and with respect to your geographic location.

So to elaborate further.
A: This is an individual thing and can only be decided by you

B. The reason why you would want your first species relatively easy to handle is because you are going to have to handle the animal at times. Whether this is for cleaning, or feeding, or whatever the case may be, just to get them out. So a species that it relatively more placid than another would be an advantage as you build confidence in your handling ability and you build your “snake reading” skills. As such species that are renowned for being more placid than another would be:
Inland Carpets,
Diamonds,
Womas,
Bredli, and
Stimsons.

C. Since it is the first python in the collection, you are going to want to start out on the right foot with respect to care of the animal. So ideally, you will want your enclosure to mimic the natural environment that the species is endemic to. i.e. temperature variation, humidity variation, seasonal changes. When this is considered, you must also consider your geographic location and therefore the temps and humidity that the animal will be kept in. What I mean by this is, if you live in Cape York, the general temp will be higher and the humidity will be higher than the natural environment that a diamond lives in.

So you must consider what ambient temps you have in the house (or wherever you are housing the animal). It is always easier to increase temps and humidity than it is to reduce them. As such a hardy species will be the one that you can easily imitate their environment.

Therefore, if you live in the south of the country where temps are lower and humidity is comparatively lower, then most species will be quite easy to keep. For example, if you live in the ACT, a diamond python can be easily kept with little change to their enclosure other than a basking light and fluoro, with no overnight heating. But if you lived in Cairns, keeping a diamond would be far more difficult as you would then have to have a cool area so that they are not kept at constant high temps.

So the first animal that you select should be one where you can easily imitate their environment with respect to temps and humidity, which is dependant on the geographic locality that you will be keeping them in

There is no simple answer as there are other factors that must be factored into the equation. Each individual will have a different out come with possibly differing reasons.

In conclusion:

If you have limited space for keeping an animal, then the only option that you really have will be a species from the Antaresia family.
If space is not a problem and you can expand where you are keeping them, then Inland Carpet, Diamonds, Womas, Bredli, Stimsons. These species are easy to handle, they don’t grow too big (relative to others) and their environments, depending on your location can be easily replicated.

All the best, and any further help I am always open for questions.