Ball pythons (also known as royal pythons) are medium-sized snakes that are native to western and central Africa. Baby ball pythons start out at around 10 inches, and can grow to be between 3 and 6 feet long, though females are typically larger than males. With the right husbandry, they can live to see their 30s (there have even been some cases of them living beyond that!). These snakes are extremely docile and hardy. Though they require a bit more attention than your average beginner snake, with the right care and dedication, ball pythons can make excellent starter snakes. 

Before you decide which enclosure will be the best fit for your reptile, you should have a basic understanding of the enclosure’s features, so you can determine which will suit your reptile’s needs more. Glass aquariums, glass terrariums, and PVC enclosures can all potentially be excellent enclosures with the right husbandry and modifications. They each have pros and cons, which we will discuss in order to help you decide which is the best match for both you and your reptile. 

Whether you have a corn snake, a ball python, or something in between, there is a good chance you defrost frozen mice or rats once a week to feed your snake. “Make sure the mouse is hot enough!” and “Be sure to defrost it all the way!” are things you hear all the time, but what does that really mean? How hot is hot enough? There is a bunch of unorganized and unreliable information scattered all over the internet about frozen/thawed mice. If a mouse isn’t hot enough it can cause your snake to regurgitate, which can be very dangerous. Here is the step by step guide on how to properly defrost mice to make sure your snake stays healthy.

In the wild, Red Tail Boas can be found in the rainforests of Central and South America. These semi-arboreal snakes can grow to be between 6-10 feet long and can weigh up to 50 pounds (females typically grow between 7-10 feet, and males grow between 6 - 8 feet). A Red Tail Boa’s lifespan can reach 30 years in captivity if properly cared for. Due to their strength, size, and care requirements, Red Tail Boas are considered to be intermediate/hard snakes, and therefore should be cared for by an experienced snake owner.

Corn snakes are nonvenomous colubrids that are known to be great beginner snakes because of their hardy and docile nature. They are outgoing snakes that rarely bite, and don't require too much attention. Part of their hardiness is due to the fact that they can be found all over the eastern United States in different temperatures and environments. In the wild they normally live between 6-8 years, but in captivity these snakes can live to see their 20s. They are readily available at most pet stores as well as through online corn snake breeders. Corn snake morphs come in a wide variety of colors and patterns, such as the lavender corn snake, okeetee corn snake, and tessera corn snake.