While dogs and cats make excellent home pets, a reptile may be a perfect choice for your schedule if you want a low-maintenance companion.
Snakes are no longer considered strange or uncommon pets, as captive-bred snakes are easily accessible these days!
They do not necessitate morning walks or feeding as dogs, but they enjoy getting out of their chamber when given the opportunity. Neither do they poop daily!
Snakes are remarkable creatures, but pet owners must choose one that is appropriate for them and that they can adequately care for.
On top of everything, a companion that lives in a wooden box won’t be monkeying your property!
Read along to learn about the ten best pet beginner snakes.
Table of Contents
1. Corn Snake, Calm
| Colour | Red, brown, and yellow |
| Distinctive feature | Bellies resembling checkerboard patterns |
| Behavior | Calm |
| Family | Colubrid |
The famous corn snake was the first renowned pet snake and is still quite prevalent in captivity. Indeed, you can get one for as low as $20.
Corn Snakes may be housed in several enclosure styles because of their resilience and versatility.
Plastic tubs that have been appropriately put up can operate just as well as pricey melamine vivariums.
These pet snake species are also simple to maintain regarding meals. Like most of us, this snake for beginners loves eating! A healthy frozen mouse or two each week is all they require.
In addition to excellent hardiness and docility, you can see why these beautiful snakes took the top rank here.
2. Boa Constrictor, Solitary
| Colour | Brown, red, cream, or grey shades |
| Distinctive feature | Triangular, with dark streaks from the eyes to the back of the jaw |
| Behavior | Solitary |
| Family | Boa |
Boa constrictors are giant snakes with heavy bodies. Boa constrictors snake will need a 4-6 foot enclosure.
When provided with warm temperatures and moderately elevated humidity levels, Boa constrictors are generally at an ease of care.
They are also tough, gorgeous, docile, and voracious eaters. But even so, their size may make them difficult to handle and house, so keep that in mind.
While a Boa constrictor can be a decent beginner pet snake, there are some drawbacks that a novice may encounter.
A dwarf (smaller-sized) male boa constrictor or Boa constrictor imperator is ideal for beginners.
Petting Boa constrictors are very exciting for first-time snake keepers. It is recommended to do adequate research before keeping these species of snake.
3. Rough Green Snake, Peaceful
| Colour | Bright green |
| Distinctive feature | Camouflage |
| Behavior | Docile and peaceful |
| Family | Colubrid |
Rough green snakes make excellent pets that all snake-lover should contemplate. These snakes are nonvenomous and tiny with emerald-green skin.
They are native to North America and reside in wetlands where they search for bug and amphibian meals.
They swing their bodies in an unpredictable swaying pattern as they approach their prey, resembling green branches flowing in the breeze.
They are excellent pets for snake owners to observe during the daytime since they are diurnal (active throughout the day).
4. African Egg-Eating Snake, Even-tempered
| Colour | Grey or reddish-brown |
| Distinctive feature | Angular patterns |
| Behavior | Even-tempered |
| Family | Colubrid |
The African Egg-Eating Snake, as the title implies, only eats bird eggs! This is an extraordinarily unique and particular dietary need, which has to be one of the few drawbacks of harboring this snake.
These popular species are not particularly giant, about 2-2.5 feet long, and are found in much of Africa.
Because they are from dry settings, they do not require high humidity like other species.
Aside from that, they passively guard themselves, emulating the colors of more deadly reptiles rather than biting. But don’t worry, they are incapable of biting and injuring humans!
They are peaceful, gentle, and easy to handle. African Egg-Eating Snakes may survive up to 15 years and cost between $60 and $160 in pet stores.
5. Milk Snake, Camouflage
| Colour | Black, white, red, or yellow |
| Distinctive feature | Smooth scales |
| Behavior | Solitary |
| Family | Colubrid |
Milk snakes are well-known for their resemblance to coral snakes, a sort of evolutionary camouflage used to warn off possible predators.
Despite their bright colors, which generally signify danger, milk snakes are safe and contain no venom.
Because these little cuties are related to king snakes and corn snakes, they have a comparable structure: long and thin but well-muscled.
A captive milk snake has a lifetime of ten to twenty years, which is short compared to certain other snake species.
Their cage should be at least two-thirds the overall length of the snake. Milk snakes will take advantage of branches and savor the chance to clamber.
They are diurnal, and due to their inherent enthusiasm, they aggressively wander their habitat during the day.
6. Rainbow Boa, Docile
| Colour | Brown or red |
| Distinctive feature | Rainbow-like scales |
| Behavior | Docile |
| Family | Boa |
The rainbow boa is an excellent first larger snake for someone with prior reptile management knowledge.
Rainbow boas might be hesitant and protective as pets, but they loosen up to stroking after a few weeks.
Rainbow boas are named from their rainbow scales that refract light, producing a distinct rainbow glow over an orange and black body. They are the most visually appealing snake in our collection.
With proper care, your lovely companion Rainbow Boa may grow to be six feet long and survive for up to twenty years.
A big cage, ideally a 100-gallon tank, is required for this species’ basic care requirements.
Rainbow Boa’s proper enclosure must contain enough shade and protection to decrease stress.
If you want to simulate their native environment, the tank configuration must also have high temperatures and humidity, which can be challenging to maintain in a big tank.
Rainbow boas are Amazon River, basin natives. This species thrives near the ground in warm, damp woods and savannas.
7. Gopher Snake, Defensive
| Colour | Shades of brown, red, and yellow |
| Distinctive feature | Flathead |
| Behavior | Defensive |
| Family | Colubrid |
The three to seven feet long bullsnake, Sonoran gopher, and Pacific and Great Basin gophers are among the nine popular subspecies of gopher snakes.
Their appearance and behavior have led to them being misidentified as other poisonous species.
This is also due to one of its defense abilities: trick predators by resembling venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes.
Though not highly tamed, adult gopher snake makes friendly pets when treated carefully. A gopher snake can cost anywhere from $30 to $100.
8. Rosy Boa, Slow-moving
| Colour | Yellow and orange |
| Distinctive feature | Spotted or pink bellies |
| Behavior | Docile |
| Family | Boa |
Rosy boas are known for being friendly snakes and are significantly smaller than other types of boas. These non-venomous snakes can only grow to a manageable size of 4 feet long.
They are more sluggish and slow-moving than other snakes, have a peaceful disposition, and take handling well.
Their slow movement makes them excellent if you have a youngster who isn’t used to dealing with reptiles and reduces the possibility of your snake falling from your hands.
Rosy boas have gorgeous stripes along their bodies that set them distinct and make them fascinating to observe as they move around in their cages.
They are avid eaters and will feast as long as you feed them! Their hunting instinct is so strong that they may confuse your fingers for a mouse and bite you if you aren’t careful at feeding time. Because they are such insatiable eaters, this snake is prone to obesity.
Though they have become more prevalent in recent years, they are still more challenging to obtain than other starter snakes, so the best location to get one is usually at a local reptile show near you.
9. California Kingsnake, Visually Appealing
| Colour | Black, yellow, or brown |
| Distinctive feature | Longitudinal stripes from head to toe |
| Behavior | Docile |
| Family | Colubrid |
If you love dark and ominous stuff, the California kingsnake is the snake for you! This stunning species is coated with black or dark brown and white patterns. It is visually appealing and one of the amateurs’ most fantastic pet snakes.
California kingsnakes are endemic to the west coast of the United States, as their name suggests. They can also be found in Nevada, Oregon, and Arizona, in addition to California.
With a life expectancy of more than 20 years, this snake takes a significant time investment to care for.
Fortunately, they are relatively simple to pet and are sociable. New homes or old ones, these pet snakes rapidly become accustomed to being handled.
The California kingsnake is not as hospitable to other snakes and animals. Due to the cannibalistic tendencies of California Kingsnake, housing another snake together is not recommended.
10. Ball Python, Shy
| Colour | Shades of brown and yellow |
| Distinctive feature | Stripes on the faces |
| Behavior | Shy |
| Family | Python |
Because of their predisposition to curl up into a ball when confronted, royal pythons are also known as ball pythons.
These snakes can grow the same length as corn snakes but have a much larger girth. This bulkier look might make them appear much larger than they are.
Despite their size, royal pythons do not require excessively big caging due to their sedentary lifestyle.
Indeed, ball pythons housed in bigger vivariums will occasionally go off their diet due to feelings of insecurity in such a vast cage.
Ball pythons are available in a wide variety of colors, are one of the most peaceful snake species to handle, and may live for a long time. Definitely a species to think about!
The main disadvantage of this species is that it will occasionally go off its meal and fast for a long time.
As you can see, snakes – at least some kinds – may make excellent pets. Right?
You must ensure you know what to expect and choose a species appropriate for your housing arrangement and skill level. It would be best if you also studied everything you can about the species you chose.
The knowledge about your pet care will help you to provide the most incredible life for your pet.
Not all snake species are the same when entering the realm of pet snake ownership. As you are presumably aware, the recommended choice for beginners’ snakes listed above is substantially diverse.
Keeping this in mind, you should avoid some wild-caught snakes unless you’re willing to travel the additional mile…..to the hospital!
Interested more in snake information? Do you know about the red racer snake and sunbeam snake? Find out whether these snakes are good for pets or life-taking venomous creatures.
(Last Updated on September 14, 2022 by Sadrish Dabadi)
