Beginner-Friendly Pet Snakes and How to Care for Them

They are wonderful pets, low maintenance giving great reward with the right choice for beginners. Unlike dogs or cats, they need only a little care each day, don’t need company and can be content in an enclosure that is kept clean. But picking an appropriate species of snake, as well as learning how to care for them, is critical in providing a pet that is both happy and healthy.

In this article, we’ll share some of the best pet snakes for beginners along with essential care tips to help you create a cozy home for your new reptilian companion.

Why Choose a Snake as a Pet?

Snakes tend to be unique, quiet, and fairly low-maintenance pets, which is why so many people are drawn to them. This reasons listed is why snakes are excellent pets.

✅ Easy to care for – Snakes unlike dogs or cats don’t want to be walked, washed or petted daily.

✅ Dosent Take Up Much Space – All that is required is a properly sized terrarium.

✅ Longevity – Most pet snakes can live 10-20 years and beyond, so once you get one, you’re in it for the haul.

✅ Non-Allergenic – Snakes don’t give off dander like furry pets do, which means they’re a good choice for allergens.

✅ Interesting to Observe – With unique behaviors and hunting techniques, they make for interesting pets.

Here are some of the best snakes for beginners, as well as how to care for them.

Best Pet Snakes for Beginners

1. Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Further adding to the popularity of the corn snake as a beginner snake is its docile nature and care requirements. They are docile, generally nonaggressive, easy to handle and come in many colors and patterns.

✅ Size: 3-5 feet

✅ Lifespan: 15-20 years

✅ Temperament: Gentle and easy to work with

✅ Diet: Frozen/thawed mice

✅ Size of Enclosure: 20-40 gallon tank

Feeder animals should be no larger than the thickest part of the corn snake's body.

2. Ball Python (Python regius)

Another great beginner species is the ball python. They are named for an inclination to roll into a ball when frightened. Calm, slow and easy to handle, they make great first snakes.

✅ Size: 3-5 feet

✅ Lifespan: 20-30 years

✅ Temperament: Shy but docile

✅ Diet: Thawed and frozen rats or mice

✅ Enclosure Size: 40-gallon tank

Ball pythons are notoriously finicky eaters, so with some time, they will often fall into a feeding pattern.

3. California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae)

California kingsnakes are patterned with bold black-and-white or brown-and-yellow stripes and are active and curious. These are robust and adapt very well to captivity, so they can be a great option for beginners.

✅ Size: 3-4 feet

✅ Lifespan: 15-20 years

✅ Temperament: Defensive but can be tamed with frequent handling

✅ Diet: Frozen/thawed mice

✅ Minimum Size of Enclosure: tank or 20-40 gallons

They can be food-aggressive, so do not handle them just before or after they eat.

4. Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata)

The rosy boa is a tiny, slow-moving, docile, and easy-to-care-for species. They’re also available in stunning orange, pink and gray patterns and require low humidity, which makes them easy to care for.

✅ Size: 2-3 feet

✅ Lifespan: 15-20 years

✅ Temperament: Gentle and easy-going

✅ Diet: Frozen/thawed mice

✅ Size of the Enclosure: 20-gallon tank

Provide a deep substrate for burrowing as rosy boas prefer to hide in burrows.

5. Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Garter snakes are active and curious, and they are fun pets to watch. Garter snakes, unlike most pet snakes, eat fish, worms and small amphibians as well as mice.

✅ Size: 2-4 feet

✅ Lifespan: 10-15 years

✅ Living surroundings: Adaptable, good in most homes

✅ Diet: Small fish, earthworms, mice

✅ Rack Size: 20-30 gallon tank

Garter snakes are social and can live in small groups if properly cared for.

How to Take Care of Your Pet Snake

Once you’ve decided on the type of snake, you will need to create a safe and comfortable habitat. Here’s the need-to-know care tips:

1. Choosing the Right Enclosure

Your snake’s health depends on a right enclosure. The tank should be secure, appropriately sized, and well-ventilated.

• 20–40 gallon tank: Group 1: Corn Snakes & Kingsnakes
• Ball Pythons: 40-gallon tank
• Rosy Boas & Garter Snakes: 20 gallon tank

When catering for the animal, ensure enclosed space is complete; an enclosure has a corner — a tight-fitting lid to keep the escape.

2. How to Achieve Ideal Temperature & Humidity

As ectotherms, snakes depend on external sources to warm their bodies.

• Offer a heat gradient with a warm side (85-90°F) and a cool side (75-80°F).
• Use a heat mat or ceramic heat emitter—never heat rocks, as they can burn.
• Keep Humidity at Appropriate Levels:

• Ball Pythons: 50-60%
• Corn Snakes & Kingsnakes: 40-50%
• Rosy Boas: the minimum humidity they need is 30 to 40%

Check humidity with a hygrometer and mist the enclosure as needed.

3. Hiding Spots & Substrate

Snakes thrive and feel secure in an environment where they have places to hide. Set at least two hides down, one on the warm side and one on the cool side.

Best substrate options:

✅ Aspen bedding — Perfect for burrowing snakes

✅ Coconut fiber – It has a good ability to retain moisture

✅ Reptile carpet – Easily cleanable.

Don’t use pine or cedar; their oils can be harmful to snakes.

4. Feeding Your Snake

The majority of pet snakes are fed frozen/thawed mice or rats in size appropriate for their dimensions.

• Juveniles: Feed every 5-7 days
• Adults: Every 10-14 days feeding

Fully thaw all frozen prey and never feed live prey, as it can harm your snake.

5. Handling Your Snake

To establish trust, exercise a gentle and regular handling of your snake where possible but be careful with handling:

❌ Immediately after feeding (wait 48 hours)

❌ When shedding (they might feel cranky)

❌ When the snake feels stressed or defensive

Move slowly and support the snake’s body to avoid stressing it.

6. Cleaning and Maintenance

You can also help keep your snake’s habitat in a healthy condition by:

🧹 Daily spot-cleaning (waste and uneaten food)

🧽 Replacing substrate every 3-4 weeks

🌡 Daily checks of temperature and humidity

Cleaning regularly avoids bacterial growth and prevents your snake from getting ill.

Conclusion

Snakes are quiet, low-maintenance, and fascinating pets that can be excellent companions, especially for beginners. By selecting gentle, easy-to-care-for species like Corn Snakes, Ball Pythons, or Rosy Boas, you’ll have a rewarding pet experience.

Provided you set up proper habitat and you feed and handle it well, your pet snake will be in great shape for many years to come.