Best Beginner Snake - WA

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rainmonitors

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So I've owned my first reptile - blue tongue skink - for almost half a year now, and definitely want to buy my first snake this year. What do people think is generally the most docile and curious species of snake available in category B for WA? Are they the 'best beginner snake' too? (Not too sure what I mean by that, but I'm sure many of you know what would be best for a beginner owner and handler!)

We have 9 species in cat B.
- Stimsons Python
- Childrens Python
- Pygmy Python
- Woma Python
- Black-Headed Python
- South-West Carpet Python
- North-West Carpet Python
- Green Tree Snake
- Water Python

Whilst I am very happy to hear all opinions about any of those species, I am honestly tied between stimsons and womas! I have a lot of time to decide and change my preferences though, so if you think I'm missing out on one of the other species, definitely recommend them and show me your opinions/thoughts, and even your snake!
 
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Womas are probably the most interesting...
 
The laws in WA have just changed, putting cat 2, 3 and 4 all into the one category, now known as Cat B. The only category above this is Cat C and this is for the vens, olives and a few monitors.

So you could get a stimson, swcp, children's, woma, bhp, water python, green tree snake or pygmy python. I recently got my first reptile and it's a Woma python.

A lot of people recommend a stimson as your first due to them being placid and small, swcp are also another good one, but some can be nippy and if they bite they tend to cause a bit more blood.

I'm a little biased toward Womas myself, I think they are absolutely beautiful looking snakes, they definitely have an interesting personality, but again lots of people say they get cage defensive and rather nippy, I haven't run into anything of the sort with mine yet, I'd say that more comes down to a snake by snake basis.
It does seem if a woma does bite though, that they dont want to let go more often than not, but if you are careful enough and show it enough respect it's always possible you couldn't get bitten at all.

The other snakes such as the bhp, pygmy, green tree or water I'd say are probably better left til you are more comfortable with snakes.

Pygmys being the smallest python in the world are a lot more fragile than others.

Green tree snakes eat mostly fish and could take some work to get across to frozen/thawed mice, so are a little more special needs.

Bhps are basically the same as womas, but grow a noticeable amount larger, womas grow between 1.5 and just over 2m, where bhps grow to 2.5 to 3m-ish all depending on localities etc, obviously a larger snake may not be the best starter.

Water pythons grow up to around the 3m mark so again a large python, although extremely beautiful to look at.

Obviously the size of the enclosure you can supply can change what you can possibly house too.

But I suggest looking in to womas, they are gorgeous snakes, grow to a good size but not huge, they have a great personality and can be housed in an average sized enclosure (something 1200x600x600 for example), they also respond well to food so getting them to eat isn't really an issue.
 
Womas are probably the most interesting...
The laws in WA have just changed, putting cat 2, 3 and 4 all into the one category, now known as Cat B. The only category above this is Cat C and this is for the vens, olives and a few monitors.

So you could get a stimson, swcp, children's, woma, bhp, water python, green tree snake or pygmy python. I recently got my first reptile and it's a Woma python.

A lot of people recommend a stimson as your first due to them being placid and small, swcp are also another good one, but some can be nippy and if they bite they tend to cause a bit more blood.

I'm a little biased toward Womas myself, I think they are absolutely beautiful looking snakes, they definitely have an interesting personality, but again lots of people say they get cage defensive and rather nippy, I haven't run into anything of the sort with mine yet, I'd say that more comes down to a snake by snake basis.
It does seem if a woma does bite though, that they dont want to let go more often than not, but if you are careful enough and show it enough respect it's always possible you couldn't get bitten at all.

The other snakes such as the bhp, pygmy, green tree or water I'd say are probably better left til you are more comfortable with snakes.

Pygmys being the smallest python in the world are a lot more fragile than others.

Green tree snakes eat mostly fish and could take some work to get across to frozen/thawed mice, so are a little more special needs.

Bhps are basically the same as womas, but grow a noticeable amount larger, womas grow between 1.5 and just over 2m, where bhps grow to 2.5 to 3m-ish all depending on localities etc, obviously a larger snake may not be the best starter.

Water pythons grow up to around the 3m mark so again a large python, although extremely beautiful to look at.

Obviously the size of the enclosure you can supply can change what you can possibly house too.

But I suggest looking in to womas, they are gorgeous snakes, grow to a good size but not huge, they have a great personality and can be housed in an average sized enclosure (something 1200x600x600 for example), they also respond well to food so getting them to eat isn't really an issue.

thank you SO SO MUCH for this information!! I had no idea the laws had actually been changed, I just heard talk of it a few months ago!
I definitely love womas too, honestly was just choosing between them and stimsons. Whilst I'd prefer a smaller snake as my first, I also realise that if I buy a hatchling - yearling woma (or bigger species), it's just gonna grow with my confidence? So by the time I'm more comfortable it'll be growing larger? But I also really like stimsons!
I see a lot of the previously known cat 4 reptiles/snakes are still intermediate reptiles, but it's definitely nice to know and now have an almost all inclusive license! Definitely will give them more thought after owning my first snake!
What's it like owning a woma? I'm not really sure what I mean by that, but it'd be really nice to see some more thoughts on them than already said in your last replies! The fact that they do seem more nippy, but ofc isn't a guarantee bc personalities differ, makes me a little anxious to own one compared to a stimsons or other antaresia that obivously have smaller mouths. But I'd love to hear more about your womas! Do you handle your woma often? Does it sit still when taken out, or is it more inquisitive and curious about its surroundings? Do they communicate their language well? (Like obviously showing they don't want to be taken out, instead of some species I've seen American Youtubers own that just seemingly strike without warning).
 
Stimsons are great starter animals. Ive had my hatchy for a couple months and have had no problems at all. Womas are generally a bit more active and inquisitive than stimmies, which might be a bit confronting for your first snake. Womas also love to eat and may be a bit nippy. Stimsons are really placid and he has only struck once when he responded to my movement when I was feeding but didn't actually connect
 
I’ve seen some crazy food motivated womas, aswell as womas that’ll eat the rat head first right out of your hand slowly

I just like their face markings aswell as their craziness
 
You can't go wrong with either one. You will probably just end up with both anyway ;).

Also, just watch your license - If you got it last year then you are probably on a Cat 3. It seems DPaW aren't retroactively upgrading your license and you would need to get a Cat B if you wanted any prior Cat 4 animals. That being said, Stimmies and Womas were both Cat 3 anyway.
upload_2019-1-4_20-4-31.png
^ Not me, but found a thread on that earlier.
 
thank you SO SO MUCH for this information!! I had no idea the laws had actually been changed, I just heard talk of it a few months ago!
Yeah it's pretty cool, but what Blighty mentioned does seem to be correct. So while Cat 3 is entry level and technically Cat B is also entry level, If you have Cat 3 and want to own what used to be a Cat 4 reptile you need to re-apply for a Cat B license. Pretty stupid way of working if it you ask me but that's how they have done it.

I definitely love womas too, honestly was just choosing between them and stimsons. Whilst I'd prefer a smaller snake as my first, I also realise that if I buy a hatchling - yearling woma (or bigger species), it's just gonna grow with my confidence? So by the time I'm more comfortable it'll be growing larger? But I also really like stimsons!
That's definitely the case, If you get a smaller one your confidence will grow with it, So if you intend on looking at larger snakes in the future, don't let that hold you back with what you choose now. Obviously if you get an adult Woma right off the bat it may be a bit overwhelming, But in the next month or two a lot of people have Womas coming up for sale as they are in season at the moment. A Woma will cost you more to obtain than a Stimson by a fair bit, But that kinda comes down to what you choose. I definitely don't regret dropping $400 on my Woma back in october, she was 10 months old at the time and well worth the price.
Even last years hatchies aren't crazy huge, Mine was from a January batch last year and shes only now about 70cm long, Nothing crazy. Just make sure you have the correct size enclosure for what you do want to keep, As I said a 1200x600x600 is enough to house an adult Woma.

I was in a similar boat to you before I got my girl, Wondering if my confidence will grow along with the snake and it definitely does. I'm pretty much at the point now where it wouldn't matter how fast she decides to grow, I will still be comfortable with her.

If you do end up deciding on a Woma (you really should) check out the ''West Aussie Womas'' or ''The Banding Effect'' Facebook pages, They have some absolutely stunning Womas up recently, Dan from ''The Banding Effect'' is the one that put me in touch with the breeder that sold me mine, so even if he has nothing he will probably help put you in touch with someone who has.

What's it like owning a woma? I'm not really sure what I mean by that, but it'd be really nice to see some more thoughts on them than already said in your last replies! The fact that they do seem more nippy, but ofc isn't a guarantee bc personalities differ, makes me a little anxious to own one compared to a stimsons or other antaresia that obivously have smaller mouths. But I'd love to hear more about your womas! Do you handle your woma often? Does it sit still when taken out, or is it more inquisitive and curious about its surroundings? Do they communicate their language well? (Like obviously showing they don't want to be taken out, instead of some species I've seen American Youtubers own that just seemingly strike without warning).

Owning a Woma is amazing, Stimsons are cool (my sister recently got one, and hes a character on his own) buuuuut I've fallen pretty hard for my girl.

Womas being more nippy as I said is a snake by snake thing, I've heard lots of people say their Woma is an asshole, but they still love them. But I've also seen lots of people say their Woma is the most gentle thing around. Can go either way but one thing for sure is people seem to love their Womas even if they are asses.
The only experience I have with them is with my personal one, and she is an absolute sweetheart she hasn't struck at me yet, only pulled back to an S pose once and that was cos she kept tryna get into a garden and I kept stopping her.

I handle my Woma every day or two, Kinda depends on how she is being really. I don't handle her within 24 hours of her eating so she can relax and digest, And I don't handle her when she is in shed unless I have to. but aside from that I handle her a good amount more often than she is fed, To make sure she doesn't associate her enclosure being entered with food.
(don't feed in a seperate tub btw, just make sure they don't associate enclosure opening with food by interacting with them enough and its much easier to feed in the enclosure, and you aren't stressing them by moving them right after a feed)

When I take her out though she has different moods, I haven't had to use a hook to take her out yet. I tend to give her a gentle rub on her side so she knows I'm there before I pick her up and at worst shes maybe squirmed a little while being picked up, but once supported is fine.
Sometimes she will just chill and seemingly goes to sleep on my hand, other times she can't stop moving and looking around while tryna get into small spaces so I have to keep a good eye on her. While she is in her enclosure shes usually chilling but goes through days where shes climbing everywhere and checking everything out, she also has times she will sit against the glass looking out into the ''wide world'' of my house and watching what goes on outside her enclosure.

I can't speak for all snakes on how they show their intentions, but mines been pretty good. as I said shes only struck an S pose once but tbh that was just cute. Apart from that she has areas of her enclosure she knows it's harder for me to get her from (like inside her paper towel rolls) and if shes in them I tend to just leave her, Kind of a ''safe spot'' for her and I'm pretty sure she knows they are just that. It's all just about showing them a good level of respect, So finding a balance of giving them their own time and taking them out is pretty important, but that comes with the experience of owning one.
 
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Just simply pick what interests you.

The whole "beginner snake" trend is fairly redundant in my opinion. I began with an adult carpet python first thing because that's what interested me and not once did I feel overwhelmed or intimidated. There's no sense acquiring a species you don't want because it's considered a beginner's snake. If temperament is important to you ask the owner or breeder what their temperament's like. You'll find that within any species there are placid individuals as well as snappy individuals. Some begin snappy when they're little and then grow out of it. Others don't.

In my experience all of my SW carpet pythons have been wonderful to handle. A few individuals were jumpy/snappy when I first acquired them but they calmed down soon enough with little effort on my part. I have a friend who has a few Woma Pythons and they're so calm it's as though you're holding a rubber snake. When it comes feeding time, you better watch out however!

Availability and price may also be an important factor to you. Some species, or even individuals may be cheaper or more expensive. Stimson's tend to be cheap as potatoes these days. It's not because they're a bad snake to keep, it's simple because the market is saturated with them and they breed readily. SW carpet pythons and Woma Pythons are reasonably affordable. Black Headed Pythons are still expensive but eventually the price will drop when more become available. North Westerns and Children's Pythons are virtually none existent in captivity at the moment. Water Pythons and Green Tree Snakes are expensive and not too readily available. Although I wouldn't recommend Green Tree Snakes as a beginner's snake because they have a few specialist needs, that and they're currently worth a couple thousand.

Just pick what you like. If you like Woma Pythons and Stimson's Pythons then pick one of them.
 
Just simply pick what interests you.

The whole "beginner snake" trend is fairly redundant in my opinion. I began with an adult carpet python first thing because that's what interested me and not once did I feel overwhelmed or intimidated. There's no sense acquiring a species you don't want because it's considered a beginner's snake. If temperament is important to you ask the owner or breeder what their temperament's like. You'll find that within any species there are placid individuals as well as snappy individuals. Some begin snappy when they're little and then grow out of it. Others don't.

In my experience all of my SW carpet pythons have been wonderful to handle. A few individuals were jumpy/snappy when I first acquired them but they calmed down soon enough with little effort on my part. I have a friend who has a few Woma Pythons and they're so calm it's as though you're holding a rubber snake. When it comes feeding time, you better watch out however!

Availability and price may also be an important factor to you. Some species, or even individuals may be cheaper or more expensive. Stimson's tend to be cheap as potatoes these days. It's not because they're a bad snake to keep, it's simple because the market is saturated with them and they breed readily. SW carpet pythons and Woma Pythons are reasonably affordable. Black Headed Pythons are still expensive but eventually the price will drop when more become available. North Westerns and Children's Pythons are virtually none existent in captivity at the moment. Water Pythons and Green Tree Snakes are expensive and not too readily available. Although I wouldn't recommend Green Tree Snakes as a beginner's snake because they have a few specialist needs, that and they're currently worth a couple thousand.

Just pick what you like. If you like Woma Pythons and Stimson's Pythons then pick one of them.
yasssssssss this
 
I got my first snake this year, his a marble childrens python. He is one of the calm snakes ive ever handled, especially compared to my sisters spotted python. If you were after a small easy to handle snake id deffently recommend.
its just a plus that this snake is soo beautiful
323d29d9a6397768c78d60dab5a85f9e.jpg
5f9bee33618201dccf20f423cb2f33c2.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
I got my first snake this year, his a marble childrens python. He is one of the calm snakes ive ever handled, especially compared to my sisters spotted python. If you were after a small easy to handle snake id deffently recommend.
its just a plus that this snake is soo beautiful
323d29d9a6397768c78d60dab5a85f9e.jpg
5f9bee33618201dccf20f423cb2f33c2.jpg


Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
But... but... Womas are beautiful too :(
 
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