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Tidy_1200

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Hi guys,
Im a newbie to the snake world.
I currently have 3 marine aquariums, which is well and good for display purposes, but I love the idea of being able to interact with a snake and handle it.
My question is - what is the best species of python for the first time snake owner...
Looking at getting a Reptile 'One Saburra 120' enclosure also.
Any help or advice would be tops...
Cheers guys,
Nathan.
 
G'Day and Welcome

as to your question..........There are plenty of good first pythons, but the question you should probably ask yourself is how big do you feel comfortable with as a first snake.

Good Luck
Hope you have fun and learn a lot
 
Hey Nathan,
Welcome to APS! Wow 3 marine aquariums eh! You must show us some pics one day.

Snakes are awesome and can be very interactive. My first snake was a hatchling Wheatbelt Stimson's Python from Snake Ranch. It was so placid and calm, never bitten me, even to this day years later! You will certainly get lots of suggestions from different people here on the forum, but for me anyway, getting the Stimmies was a really good start. She was just so good natured, had no problems feeding and was so easy to care for. I also have BHP's, Children's pythons as well as Darwin Carpets. Probably wouldn't recommend Darwin Carpets as your first snake but any of the smaller Children's group - i.e. Children's, Spotted or Stimsons, IMO make a great first snake. My BHP's are also fantastic, love them! They're also very good natured....well, my ones are anyway.

It's your choice whether you want something smaller and easy to handle to begin with, or jump into something a bit bigger from day 1. There are always the calm ones and the crazy ones in nearly every species.

If you're buying a hatchling or anything young and small, it's best to keep them in a smaller enclosure first. Don't put them straight into a 4ft enclosure to begin with as they won't feel safe or secure. Snakes like to squeeze and hide in tight places when they're little. The smaller the space, the better for hatchlings. Yes, it sounds strange I know!

If you like Reptile One stuff, I am using a few of their black hatchling boxes at the moment, which is like a black acrylic box with a clear sliding lid and inside has a thing to hold the water container so it doesn't get knocked over. So far, works pretty well for me. Not cheap but works pretty good and I love the black acrylic look.

Or you can make a "click-clack" yourself. Search this site for "click-clack" and you'll find plenty of pics and instructions.

Hope that helps ya mate!

Cheers.
 
hello and welcome! hope you enjoy this site, its awesome! my first was a stimsons python who i love, she's a small snake but she's amazingly sweet :)
 
My first snakes were adult maccies which were not handled and they are essentially display animals, having said that, neither have ever bitten or seemed likely to bite, they are just shy. My next snakes were a pair of Uluru Womas and a male Darwin het that I got within a day of each other. The male woma is wonderful to handle and the female is very cage defensive. The Darwin is placid as anything and I have since bought 2 more Darwins, another het and an albino. They are females and are also both great to handle. The female het did tag me once but it was entirely my own fault as I startled her and it did not hurt as she is tiny. I guess it depends what size snake your after and what you like the look of but I don't have a problem at all with Darwins, and by all accounts Womas are also usually very nice natured.
 
Welcome - As said a few times in past threads. For first timers avoid 1. Vens, 2. Large Snakes (eg. Scrubbies and maybe Olives and Water Pythons), 3. Harder to keep / special conditions (Gree Tree Pythons). Other than that - Get what you want.

Browse this site, look at the snakes, read the posts. All the info is there. From all the research I have done there is no major difference in keeping any of the Moralia (carpets), Antaresia (Childrens), Aspidites (Womas, BHPs). All are very similar to keep with a few specialised requirements (eg. possible UV for Diamonds and temperatures). The temperment tends to relate to individual snakes and not sub species. There is a sticky post in the general section "tips for Newbies". Worth a read.

There will be a lot of replies with everyone suggesting their preference. Everyone has there own likes / dislikes. Go with what suits you - what you like the look of and will feel comfortable with as size. Maybe head down to a reptile shop with plenty of specimens or better yet head to an Expo.
 
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...There are always the calm ones and the crazy ones in nearly every species....
Very true.

Welcome - As said a few times in past threads. For first timers avoid 1. Vens, 2. Large Snakes (eg. Scrubbies and maybe Olives and Water Pythons), 3. Harder to keep / special conditions (Gree Tree Pythons). Other than that - Get what you want.
Agree, pick what YOU think is an awesome looking snake and start researching what their requirements are. Temperament is a little hit and miss sometimes.
 
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I think the best advice I have ever receieved from this site and has been mentioned already, get something you are going to love. no matter what you read about a species someone will say something negative. Snakes live a while, so pick something you believe you will love that whole time.
 
Thanks for the awesome advice...
Whats the model of the reptile one box your using for hatchlings with the water container? Because I'm interested in gettin a hatchling, as I really wanna see it grow up.
Although I'm aware that you cant really handle them for the first year or so...
Cheers.
 
I havent got my first python yet do next week, but ive heard you only need to leave them for a week or 2 before you start handling them, otherwise they will become defensive adults.
 
Thanks for all your advice and help guys, lots of useful information that I will certainly take in...
oh and def have to take a look at the tips for newbies section... lol :)

I havent got my first python yet do next week, but ive heard you only need to leave them for a week or 2 before you start handling them, otherwise they will become defensive adults.

ok cool, so just cant handle them til they settle in and are comfortable with their enclosure and seeing you?
 
Hey buddy. Welcome!!!!
I would suggest a stimmie. They are very docile, inquisitive and calm. They only get to about 1m long and are beautiful to look at
 
Although I'm aware that you cant really handle them for the first year or so...

Hey commadore bloke - I'm not sure where you got the idea that you can't handle them in the first year. I got my hatchy at 3 months old and after a 2 week settle in period handle him every day except after a feed. He's now 9 months old and he hasn't carked it yet.

It's best you do handle them so that they get used to it and become more tolerant when young. This will hopefullly mean that they are more amiable to being handled when older.
 
Hi!!

I have found this site and the ppl on here VERY helpfull! Im yet to get my 1st snake 2!! As everyone has said b4 me find one you like learn as much as you can, talk to as many ppl as you can!! Good luck at let us know what u get!!!
 
Hey commadore bloke - I'm not sure where you got the idea that you can't handle them in the first year.

Hi mate,
For starters - the names Nathan as I said at the top of this thread... which also says 'newbie'. So I dont appreciate the 'hey bloke, your wrong' comment... Thats why I signed up, to find out information and get the right practices before going out and buying a pet which I had no idea how to tend to...
Now thats outta the way - Thats awesome news, as I cant remember where I read it either, but bugger waiting that long to handle hahaha
So just wait til they're settled then start handling as soon as possible? COOL...
Cheers.
 
Hi Nathan welcome to the snake world and APS. As most said you will find this site very very helpful so ask away as many questions as you like! MOST people on here are very nice and more then happy to help. As to your question - GET WHAT YOU LIKE!!! but research first and make sure your set up is ready before you bring your pride and joy home. And don't stress if you like more then one - the cool thing about snakes is that they are addictive so in no time you will have more then one:) Enjoy and make sure you post pics once you get it:))) (them lol)
Gosia

Hey commadore bloke - I'm not sure where you got the idea that you can't handle them in the first year.

Now thats not very nice :-(((
 
Hi!!

I have found this site and the ppl on here VERY helpfull! Im yet to get my 1st snake 2!! As everyone has said b4 me find one you like learn as much as you can, talk to as many ppl as you can!! Good luck at let us know what u get!!!

hi lol,
what snake you looking at getting for your first??? I'm looking at either a good looking Hypo Bredli or a Spotted Python... still havnt decided hahaha
 
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