Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

robbo · Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2006 9:08 pm Post subject: Newbie Advice

Hi all,

I'm after a bit of advice.

My daughter loves animals and after handling a (rather large) snake on her hols has decided she wants one! I'm quite OK with this as I did have a royal for a short while a looong time ago (and would love to get one again myself to be honest Wink

).

I'm really after something that is easy to keep and handle as she's the type that would want to handle it all the time. I don't really want anthing that is liable to give her a nip as I think this will put her right off the snake!

I like the idea of a Royal, but there are also some good looking Milk/King snakes around (esp. the red, black & white banded Milks) which would appeal to her. What are your thoughts? Do Milks/Kings handle well?

Also, what are your thoughts on housing? I've seen starter kits with all the gear in on some websites ( www.everythingforpets.com & www.exotic-pets.co.uk). Are these any good/worth the money?

Finally, where is the best place/places/people to buy from?

Any advice would be much appreciated, thanx.

Scott W · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 8:19 am Post subject:

Hi Robbo,

Milks and Kings can be great first time snakes, Pueblan & Sinaloan milks are great. Corn Snakes is the main recommended first pet snake and you can get some fantastic colour morphs.

Try and buy a yearling of which ever species, that way it is already past any difficult stage and is a better size for regular handling.

As for buying the set up and snake, I think it would be best to buy from an actual shop rather than online, this way you have a friendly face to go back to if you have any problems etc.
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

Peter Parrot · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 10:16 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum Robbo. Cool

I keep a few kings and milks of various types and I would go along with Scott`s advice of looking for a snake of at least a year old. Hatchlings can be very flighty and sometimes nippy too. Thay are programmed that way as a survival tactic. All of mine have settled down (some more so than others) as adults, the majority to the extent that anybody can handle them with no risk of a bite. The rest are safe to handle also but with such a strong feeding response (great sign of a healthy snake) for obvious reasons use caution at feeding time. Wink

My Mexican blacks and California Kings are extremely well handleable as adults. Perhaps even more so I have found are my grey banded kings, which I have found as adults to be very chilled out and gentle creatures.

I also have various milks such as Pueblans and Hondurans and they too are great snakes although I would say that they do tend to stay "nervy" , though not aggressive , compared to the kings but even so I have not been bitten by one but I have been weed upon a fair few times! Laughing

The best of luck to you and enjoy your research. Wink

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robbo · Posted: Fri Sep 08, 2006 7:50 pm Post subject:

Thanks vm for the advice. Can anyone recommend retailers in the Liverpool area so we can have a look at some of the snakes, housing etc..?

Cheers

Scott W · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 8:57 am Post subject:

can't recommend anyone as I've never been there, try starting a thread in Breeders & Suppliers section
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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

robbo · Posted: Sat Sep 09, 2006 10:24 am Post subject:

Will do, cheers.