This website was actually first conceived as a book entitled 'Beginner Snakes'. This project began in January 2019, the main body of text developed relatively quickly with a manuscript of around 40,000 words plus other miscellaneous info and data that had been gathered along with around 1000 images. When the species guides are included this will swell to around 100,000 words.

Fast forward to January 2020 and a distaste for persuing publication of the text had begun to form. The main issue was the idea of charging for knowledge. So if the information could be made public access and the only trade off was a few links and adverts for our specialist reptile centre this seemed like a fair trade off. This hobby can have elitist tendancies and knowledge can be carefully guarded. This website aims to change that.

The information contained within is potentially useful to many keepers but it was created with the intent of helping those with the least experience, the novices navigate choices and pitfalls. It is written in a manner to help them understand, often what experienced keepers may take to be common sense principles.

Nothing is taken for granted and this is designed to be step by step and build from the ground up. Many breeders exercise their opinion based upon what they are breeding and can therefore be partisan in their advice. The information and opinion contained within this site is garnered from a career spanning 30 years in the hobby and 20 years in a professional capacity as a specialist pet shop owner. Because of the volumes of animals cared for over the years we have raised thousands of animals and as a result have a great idea of what constitutes an excellent pet snake species.

antaresia maculosa 3
antaresia maculosa 3
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Spotted Python (Antaresia maculosa)

copy20_pituophis catenifer annectans albino 1
copy20_pituophis catenifer annectans albino 1
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Albino San Diego Gopher Snake
(Pituophis catenifer annectans)


Species of snake are judged of five criteria we consider to be the foundation of making a great pet. These criteria are scored out of 100%. A score of 100% in a specific criteria is considered perfection. Very few of these are given out. No partisan scoring has taken place and fairness and a very broad church of species are the order of the day. A selection of 90+ species and subspecies have been chosen.

An average is taken across the 5 criteria, the closer an animal get to the magical score of 100% the more suitable it is as a species. Exceptions exist as in all walks of life. Snakes that score lower here will have examples within their numbers capable of scoring 100% as an individual. Remember it is only what our experience tells us. It is not written in stone. Always seek to learn about the individual.

The remainder of the site has been kept in line with how the book was going to be set out. The species and their scores come last. We have so much to go through first.

Enjoy.

olive house snake
olive house snake
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Olive House Snake (Boaedon olivaceus)

albino japanese rat snake
albino japanese rat snake
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Albino Japanese Rat Snake (Elaphe climacophora)