Pet Snakes

Swell's reptile expert recommends the best snake to buy for a beginner, is either the Royal Python or one of the colubrids (which include corn snake, milk snake and king snake).

Corn snake

The corn snake (Elaphe guttata) is a North American species found in the southeast and central USA.

Their docile nature, reluctance to bite, attractive pattern and simple care makes them popular pets.

In the wild they usually live around 8 years but in captivity can reach in excess of 20 years.

The corn snake has brownish-orange skin with orange/red saddles, the saddles having black borders, and usually a black and white underbelly.

Milk snake

The milk snake (Lampropeltis triagulum) are native to southeast Canada, right down to Ecuador and Venezuela.

Like corn snakes, they are easy to care for as pets.

They have smooth and shiny scales and their typical colour is bands of red-black-yellow or white-black-red.

King snake

King snakes (Lampropeltis) are a large family of reptiles that also includes the milk snake. One of the most popular king snakes is the Mexican black kingsnake.

The enamel of their scales reflects a blueish shimmer, a trait made prominent on their ventral scales (likely due to their size, shape, and smoothness), and has been likened to that of the inside of an oyster shell.

While this characteristic is found in many colubrids, it is exceptionally apparent on this particular species due to the rich, dark colour of its scales. Lampropeltis means "shiny shield."

The Mexican black kingsnake is considered a popular pet (especially for novice collectors) because it is quite easy to care for, generally well natured, and has no reservations feeding on either live or "pre-killed" rodents.

These three species of snakes are easy to care for the beginner we recommend a starter kit specially designed for these breeds.

Swell's basic starter kit an be used for hatchling and juvenile snakes, such as corn snakes, milk snakes and king snakes. Only the best branded products are included in the kit, which has been assembled by our resident expert.

The kit includes a vivarium, lights, water dish, thermometer and other essentials and comes with a corn snake care book. Please let us know if you are intending to keep a different species of snake, as we may be able to provide a more suitable alternative care book.