Small pet snakes are an excellent choice for those who want to keep a reptile as a pet but have limited space. Some popular small snake species include garter snakes, corn snakes, and king snakes. These snakes typically reach adult sizes of 2-4 feet and are relatively easy to care for with a diet consisting mainly of frozen or live rodents.
07 Small Pet Snakes
The species of small pet snakes that we can have as pets in houses:
- Rosy Boa Snake
- Corn Snakes
- Milk Snakes
- Western Hognose Snake
- Kenyan Sand Boa
- Children’s Python Snake
- Bimini Blind Snake
Rosy Boa Snake
Size | 2-3 feet |
Temperament | Gentle, Docile |
Availability | Reptile Shows, Online Shops |
The Rosy Boa (Lichanura trivirgata) is a small, non-venomous snake native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. They are known for their beautiful, rosy coloration, varying from light pink to deep red. Adult Rosy Boas typically reach lengths of 2-3 feet and have a relatively docile temperament, making them a popular choice among snake enthusiasts.
They are relatively low maintenance and easy to care for. They can thrive in various enclosure sizes, but a 20-gallon enclosure is generally considered suitable. They also don’t require high humidity, and a heat lamp or under-tank heating pad can provide a basking spot. They are also relatively inexpensive to feed, as they primarily eat mice or rats.
Corn Snakes
Size | 2-4 feet |
Temperament | Docile |
Availability | Commonly Seen Everywhere |
Corn Snakes have a vibrant and striking appearance. Their coloration can vary greatly depending on their subspecies, but generally, they have a base color of orange, red, or yellow, with brown, black, or gray blotches running down the length of their body. Some subspecies also have a distinctive black and white checkers pattern on their bellies.
They have slender body with smooth scales, and their head is slightly wider than their neck. They have vertical pupils, which give them a distinct appearance. Adult corn snakes usually reach a length of 2-4 ft. Their coloration may change as they age, and some individuals may become more vibrant or dark.
Milk Snakes
Size | 2-4 feet |
Temperament | Calm but some may bite |
Availability | Commonly Seen |
The appearance of Milk Snakes can vary depending on the subspecies, but generally, they have a base color of red, black, and white bands, which is where they get their name, as it resembles the pattern of a cow’s milk. They have slender body with smooth scales, and their head is slightly wider than their neck. They have vertical pupils, which give them a distinct appearance. The banding pattern may be uniform, irregular, solid, or have different shades.
Some subspecies may have a different coloration or pattern, such as the Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum), which has a gray or brown base color with red and black bands. Adult Milk snakes usually reach a length of 2-4 ft. Their coloration may change as they age, and some individuals may become more vibrant or dark.
Western Hognose Snake
Size | 1-3 feet |
Temperament | Docile |
Availability | Widespread |
The Western Hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus) is a small, non-venomous snake native to North America. They are known for their unique and distinct appearance, with a stocky build and a short, upturned snout, which gives them their name “hognose.” They are known for their docile temperament and hardiness, relatively low maintenance, and easy to care for.
In the wild, Western Hognose snakes can be found in various habitats such as prairies, deserts, and sandy areas. They are primarily diurnal and are known to burrow and actively forage for food. They are opportunistic feeders and mainly eat toads and frogs in the wild, but they can also eat small mammals, lizards, and insects.
They can thrive in various enclosure sizes as pets, but a 20-gallon terrarium is generally considered suitable. They also don’t require high humidity, and a heat lamp or under-tank heating pad can provide a basking spot.
Kenyan Sand Boa
Size | 2-3 feet |
Temperament | Flighty |
Availability | Commonly Seen |
They are known for their docile temperament and hardiness, relatively low maintenance, and easy to care for. They can thrive in various enclosure sizes as pets, but a 10-gallon terrarium is generally considered suitable.
They also don’t require high humidity, and a heat lamp or under-tank heating pad can provide a basking spot. They are also relatively inexpensive to feed, as they primarily eat mice or rats. They are known for their ability to quickly move through loose sand, thanks to their small head and short tail.
Children’s Python Snake
Size | 2-3 feet |
Temperament | As baby they are Feisty, and as adult Docile |
Availability | Only Snake Dealers |
The Children’s Python can reach an adult size of 2-3 feet and have a slender body with smooth scales. They usually have brown, gray, or black base color with lighter spots or stripes. They can also come in different morphs, such as albino, which have a pale coloration with red or pink eyes.
They can thrive in various enclosure sizes as pets, but a 20-gallon terrarium is generally considered suitable. They also don’t require high humidity, and a heat lamp or under-tank heating pad can provide a basking spot. They are also relatively inexpensive to feed, as they primarily eat mice or rats.
Bimini Blind Snake
Size | 4-6 inches |
Temperament | Drab & Docile |
Availability | Snake Dealers |
The Bimini Blind Snake is called such because it has no visible eyes. This is because they live mostly underground and in caves where light is scarce. They are also known as thread snakes due to their small and slender size. These snakes have evolved not to need eyesight to navigate and survive in their underground environment. Instead, they have developed other ways to sense their surroundings, such as touch, smell, and vibrations. Their lack of eyes is an adaptation to the dark and underground environment where eyesight would be of little use.
It is thought that the Bimini Blind Snake’s ancestors lived in an underground environment where the absence of light would have made eyesight irrelevant. Over time, through natural selection, the genes responsible for eye development would have been phased out, resulting in the Bimini Blind Snake’s small, vestigial eyes and lack of pigmentation around the eye area.
FAQs
What’s the friendliest small pet snake?
Corn snakes and king snakes are generally considered to be some of the friendliest small pet snake breeds. They are docile, easy to handle, and have a calm disposition.
What’s a good beginner snake?
Corn and garter snakes are good beginner snakes as they are comfortable to care for and control. They are also readily available, inexpensive, and have a docile disposition.
What is the cheapest small pet snake?
Garter snakes are often considered to be the cheapest small pet snake. They are readily available, easy to care for, and docile. They are also inexpensive to purchase and maintain.
What do small pet snake not bite?
Corn, king, garter, and ball pythons are considered non-aggressive and less likely to bite. These species are considered docile, easy to handle, and famous as small pet snakes.
What type of snake stays small forever?
Some species of snake that stay relatively small are garter snakes, corn snakes, and royal pythons (also known as ball pythons). These snakes typically reach an adult size of 3 to 5 feet but can grow more prominent in some cases.
Let’s End The Article
In conclusion, Garter snakes, corn snakes, and royal pythons are good choices for small pet snakes. They are easy to care for, docile, and do not grow to be very large. Additionally, they are relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain.
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