First Snake Help

[herpkid97]

So my b-day is coming up in october and my rents give me some money usually on my bday...so I kinda want to get a snake with it....but I can't choose between Hognose or Corn Snake....I like the hognoses cause they have the cute upturned nose and they're pretty small, dont bite unless u smell like their food and also are pretty easy to feed once u get them on mice! Corn snakes i've heard have good temperments, feed pretty easy, and like to be handled, the thing is they need a bigger cage( no big whoop) they get larger (4-5 ft. right?) and are escape artists... but if you put weights on the cover or keep it locked that is easily prevented... another thing is that my mom hates snakes...like is terrified of them....and the worst part is..its for no good reason...she couldnt even be in the same room with me when i was handling a little foot and a half RTB or a baby corn snake is there anyway to get people who dont like snakes to at least stand them??? my dad doesnt rly care as long as he doesnt have to pay for it and my lil bro loves snakes (whenever we go to the store to pick up some crickets he always wants to hold one of the juvenile Rainbow Boas or Blood Pythons) the WI.R.E. is coming up on sept. 19 and i might get a snake there if i can save up my own money....the NARBC is coming to Chicago even closer to my bday though and i hear they have awesome corn snake morphs there! if anyone can answer these questions or help me choose that would be great!

[_Sam_]

There really isn't going to be a way to force your mom to like snakes. It may come with time, it may not. I've had snakes a few years now and although my mom tolerates them, she still will not touch or hold one. People have fears- even if they seem irrational to you, it may be serious to them. Fear of snakes ranks pretty high among common fears; the best thing to do, IMO, is be supportive and understanding about it. Don't complain and try to force it on her, it may make matters worse. IF she somehow allows you to have one in her house, be very careful and maybe one day it will grow on her and she'll at least be able to be in the same room.

As for which snake, I'd say a corn snake would be better. They're pretty simple to care for and generally don't cause much problem with feeding and whatnot.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[HERPHAPPY]

I agree with Sam's post, give your mom time & space, and NEVER allow your pet to escape! Both corn & hognose are good choices, and the one that stays smaller (hognose) may be better "accepted" on that basis...but be sure it is well-started on mice...(& I am assuming you refer to Western hognose, wouldn't recommend the others). They don't usually bite, but if they do, be aware the bite may affect you more than the corn snake's bite. The bite of a baby corn is barely (if at all?) felt. For appearance, I much prefer corn snakes...they are so pretty! But it's your call!

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[John_White]

Tell your mom that you want cool face tattoos like these guys

or a pet snake.
She'll about rip your arm off pulling you to the reptile store

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[Icicle]

I would say give your mom time, talking helps. she may surprise you someday.
I know my dad is afraid of snakes, but he slowly getting over that when he comes over, and he's held held my big boa.

I would go with a corn snake, but they move a little faster than others.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[Snake18]

corn hands down. in my experiences.they take f/t mice no problem. very easy to handle. I agree with not pusning the snakes on your mom . You could make it worse. My wife isnt a big snake person but the baby corn grew on her. She even holds em now.

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	Frozen/Thawed A rodent or other prey item that is frozen and then thawed to be fed to a reptile or other animal.

[Coffee Succubus]

I would say a neat colored corn snake!

My first snake was a Snow corn. And even my grandmother who didn't really like/care for snakes held her and thought she was really pretty! Because who can resist a pink, white and yellow snake?

It's kind of the same thing with Tristin(my Kahl albino RTB), people who "don't like snakes" are often in awe of him because hes so darn pretty. I'll offer to let them pet him with his head turned away if they're nervous and the next thing you know, they want to hold him.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[HERPHAPPY]

I think for those who are afraid of snakes, darker colored snakes seem more sinister...so like Coffee said, a pretty pastel snake does NOT seem so scary! Corn snakes color up as they grow, as you may know, and that's fun to watch as well. The parents should give you a good idea of what the hatchling will look like eventually.
I know I have shown my adult Okeetee corn snakes to people who don't like snakes and they are awestruck by how pretty a snake can be! It opens the 'door' just a little wider....

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[herpkid97]

thanks for the help guys but just one more thing...do adult corn snake bites hurt? like in comparison to a hamster or rat cause i hate those sharp teeth on those guys...i know corns dont usually bite but if an adult did would it be really a big deal or just a little pinch and some blood?

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[Snake18]

IMO not bad at all. Like a pinch. Dosent last long. If you get it as a baby you probably wont have to experience it.

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[Icicle]

I have no clue, I never got a bitten from my corn.

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[Snake18]

I have only been bitten once. It was one of the ones that was wc and 4.5 ft long at capture.

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	Wild caught wild caught

[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by herpkid97

thanks for the help guys but just one more thing...do adult corn snake bites hurt? like in comparison to a hamster or rat cause i hate those sharp teeth on those guys...i know corns dont usually bite but if an adult did would it be really a big deal or just a little pinch and some blood?

I'll take an adult corn snake bite over a bite from a rodent ANY DAY!!! Rodent bites exert a great deal of force with their teeth and carry more germs of concern. (I have had various snake bites over the years & never had one get infected...& honestly don't usually pay much attention.)
Hatchling corns do not have long enough teeth to penetrate my (adult!) skin on my hands, and thus they do not hurt. A very young child with softer skin would maybe feel it a little?
The bigger the snake grows, the bigger their teeth grow (but they never have anything like fangs!): they have rows of tiny translucent teeth that can break off and become a splinter in your skin if you jerk your hand in panic when they bite. (They let go quickly when they realize their mistake if you can stay calm.) The bite itself will leave rows of tiny pinprick marks (like a very tiny sewing machine? LOL!) and will bleed a little but it's no big deal. The teeth are not deep enough to do real pain or damage, and any such bite will heal quickly.
Most corn snakes tame easily...by the time they are bigger, they know you and don't bite anyway; of course, bites can happen if you get in the way when feeding them, as they grab their food quickly, so use 12" feeding tongs (or blunt ended kitchen tongs such as those used frying tortillas etc). And don't confuse them by handling (and thus smelling like) their food.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[Sakara]

I'll take a burm or retic bite over a rodent bite any day.......... Rodent bites HURT... snake bites (provided a larger snake doesn't wrap) are just like pin pricks... They are annoying but don't hurt too bad, lol... A corn snake bite might poke a little and bleed a few drops, but it's NOTHING compared to a rat, rabbit, prairie dog, etc. bite.....

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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[herpkid97]

Originally Posted by Sakara

but it's NOTHING compared to a rat, rabbit, prairie dog, etc. bite.....

i dont even wanna know how you know what getting bit by a prairie dog feels like....actually now that i say it i do lol

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[Sakara]

it sucked! lolol... we babysat one for a friend and she got scared while she was in the bathroom and when I tried to get her out she chomped me HARD... not fun, lol

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[louise]

one of my first snakes was a hognose. they are not good beginner snakes. get a cornsnake.
as for your mom, i wish she could come meet chance. chance has changed many minds. really all i can tell you is talk to your snake in front of her. it really works to give it human emotions. humans relate to human things. i use to say so my mom could hear....'look chance, grandma is here' and stuff like that. let your mom see how much you love your snake and she may just pick up on that. NEVER EVER scare her with the snake. always make sure nice happy things are going on when the snake is out. name it a cutesy name. stuff like that.

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[louise]

also remember, hognoses are mildly venomous.

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[tucuxi88]

I would love to get me a hognose, and I'm not really a little snake person at all.

I don't know if it would be relative to you but it seems that people who are scared of snakes warm up a lot quicker to hognoses due to their sheer cute-factor. I've seen my friend's hognose charm many snake haters in the past to my surprise.

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[HERPHAPPY]

Originally Posted by louise

also remember, hognoses are mildly venomous.

It's not that they are all that likely to bite, but if they do, you might bleed for a while and cause concern for your non-snake-loving parents...I too really recommend a corn snake! I've been into snakes for over 24 years now & still keep some corns! They are neat snakes! They are pretty, have personality & wonderful climbing abilities too! (...."easy" is a good thing!)
There is also a tiny chance that you could be "sensitive" to the bite of a hognose/garter/water snake...getting a more serious "allergic" reaction and a total "NO GO" on snakes from your parents at this point?

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

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