5 Pet Snakes That Are Ideal for Beginners

In my opinion, snakes have gotten a bum rap. Despite the unfortunate creepy reputation these lanky reptiles have earned, many species of snakes can make beautiful, docile, and hardy house pets! Of course, not all snake breeds are created equal, and first-time snake owners can easily get overwhelmed at the prospect of picking the right "starter snake."

If you're embarking on your first-ever foray into snake ownership, it's a good idea to pick a breed that's naturally docile, not too large, and reasonably easy to care for. These five popular snake breeds all fit that bill, making them ideal choices for the novice reptile wrangler!

A Note on Snake Ownership

Before we dive in, I want to stress the importance of fully researching whatever snake breed you're interested in before making your decision. Though all of these snakes are relatively low-maintenance species (with a few caveats we'll get into) all of them have unique requirements when it comes to their diet, habitat (including size, heat, humidity, and more), veterinary care, etc. Ensuring that your snake's basic needs are properly met is essential for keeping them healthy, happy, and docile, no matter how "low-maintenance" their breed may be!

1. Ball Pythons

• Size: 3-6 feet on average

• Lifespan: Up to 20-30 years in captivity

Ball pythons have become the quintessential "pet snake" breed, and it's not hard to see why. These snakes come in all kinds of beautiful patterns thanks to the vast variety of "morphs" out there, and many people think of their rounded faces as cute, even puppy dog-like. Furthermore, ball pythons tend to be very docile and agreeable with people, especially when properly socialized, and tolerate handling well. Maybe I'm biased, but as a co-parent to four very cute ball pythons, I think they're the greatest!

With proper care, ball pythons can easily live to be 25-30 years old, making them a long-term commitment (albeit a fairly low-maintenance one). The biggest caveat to consider is that they can be very picky eaters (though luckily, our ball pythons don't have this problem). If your ball python won't eat, try addressing potential stressors by cleaning its habitat, adjusting the enclosure's temperatures and humidity, or trying different food (for example, using live bait instead of frozen rats).

The good news is that a ball python can go for months without eating and still be healthy. That said, if your ball python starts to look thin or sickly (especially if their ribs are showing), and they still won't eat, you should bring them to the vet ASAP.

2. Corn Snakes

• Size: 2-4 feet on average, potentially up to 6 feet

• Lifespan: 15-20 years

Corn snakes are fearsome hunters of rats and mice in the wild, but are fairly docile and tolerant of gentle handling in captivity. They are also relatively small and easy to care for, and unlike ball pythons, they tend to be much less picky when it comes to food!

Unlike ball pythons, which hail from Western and Central Africa, corn snakes are native to the eastern United States. Because of this, corns tend to need less heat and humidity than ball pythons, making it a little easier for novice snake owners to maintain ideal habitat conditions. Corn snakes are active little critters who love to climb and burrow, so make sure to keep their enclosures full of lots of fresh substrate and a branch or two for them to climb!

3. Garter Snakes

• Size: 2-3 feet on average

• Lifespan: 10-20 years in captivity

Growing up in the Southeastern US, my brothers and I used to catch and play with wild garter snakes before releasing them back into the bushes. I know, crazy kid stuff, and definitely not behavior I would recommend as an adult. Still, that should indicate just how gentle and agreeable garter snakes are on the whole (though you should always get your pet garter snake from a pet store or reputable breeder, not from your garden).

These mellow snakes stay on the smaller side, but they still need plenty of space in their enclosure to move about, with branches and other climbing decor for enrichment. According to Allan's Pet Center, garter snakes are semi-aquatic, so their enclosure should also include a large water bowl for swimming and drinking, with fresh, non-chlorinated water that's changed out daily!

Related: Lost Pet Snake Returns Home With Help from Unlikely Source

4. Milk Snakes

• Size: 2-4 feet on average

• Lifespan: 15-20 years

Milk snakes are another species of colubrid (the same family that corns and garter snakes belong to) that make for popular "starter snakes." Perhaps the most popular breed is the scarlet milk snake, with its strikingly beautiful pattern of red, white, and black bands, often confused with that of the venomous coral snake (remember: "red on black, friend of Jack; red on yellow, kill a fellow").

Milk snakes are similar in temperament to corn snakes in that they're both active breeds that like to climb, burrow, and eat! One caveat many snake experts give, though, is that milk snakes tend to be more nervous than corn snakes when it comes to handling, and may occasionally try to bite (though their teeth are rarely big enough to break skin). Like other pet snakes, milk snakes can be socialized to tolerate handling well, but if their slightly more aggressive temperament makes you nervous, they might not be the ideal beginner snake for you.

5. Rosy Boa

• Size: 2-3 feet

• Lifespan: 20-30 years

Not all boas are the enormous, ten-foot-long constrictors many people think of when they hear the term "boa." The rosy boa, hailing from the deserts of Mexico and the Southwest US, only grows to be about 2-3 feet long on average. Rosy boas are incredibly hardy and long-lived, sport beautiful striped patterns, and are typically very docile and tolerant of gentle handling. Though not as commonplace in the snake trade as ball pythons and the aforementioned colubrids, they are good-natured, easy-going, low-maintenance snakes that have endeared themselves to many first-time snake owners!

A Final Note

I've already given the caveat that potential first-time snake owners should thoroughly research the care needs of whatever snake they're interested in before buying. One more piece of advice I'd give to novice snake owners is to be cautious of where you buy your first snake from. Though pre-owned pet snakes may sell for cheap, many rescue snakes can come with hidden health conditions that first-time snake owners often aren't well-equipped to handle. I'd recommend buying your first snake from a reputable pet source or breeder, as they're less likely to have potential health issues.

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