Owning a snake is like owning an exotic piece of living art. But for some reptile-lovers, simply having a beautiful pet snake to look at and admire isn’t enough. They want to hold, play, and interact with their pet snake, and an animal companion with some personality and spunk. If you’re this type of snake owner, you’re in the right place.
Here’s a list of the most active and curious snakes to consider. These species will guarantee you have a fun snake-owning experience that’s as engaging as it is unique.
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes are a broad species known as Colubrids. This family of snakes includes a number of other popular snake species including corn snakes, kingsnakes, and milk snakes. Rat snakes in particular are renowned as slender-bodied beauties that are docile and well-tempered.
They’re well-adjusted to humans and are quite tolerant of frequent handling. Even better, many rat snakes are diurnal, meaning that they are active during the day which gives you, their owner, ample opportunity to catch their snakes doing interesting things.
Garter Snakes
Another small and beginner-friendly reptile species, these easy-going snakes are known for being quite curious and like to be in the know about their surroundings. For this reason, you’ll rarely find them hiding (as many other snakes are prone to doing).
When they come across something that piques their interest, garter snakes are also known to be active and responsive, and quick to investigate any and all goings on. Like rat snakes, this species is diurnal as well, so they’re up when you’re up – giving you plenty of time to catch them in action.
Hognose Snakes
These cuties are good for more than just being a pretty face. Docile and non-aggressive, hognose snakes do well with physical handling from their humans. They can be somewhat timider than some of the other snakes on this list, but with regular handling and some time, your hognose will quickly become more comfortable in your presence.
Soon you’ll discover their curious nature, something that’s even easier to see thanks to their being diurnal. On any given day, you might find them expertly burrowing in their substrate (the reason for their adorable upturned noses) or simply patrolling their turf.
Ball Pythons
One of the most popular (if not the most popular) pet snake options, ball pythons are a darling amongst beginners and pro’s alike. They are naturally calm, docile, and friendly. They are one of the few species that are comfortable with daily handling, making them a perfect companion for owners where physical interaction is non-negotiable. Ball pythons are either nocturnal (most active at night) or crepuscular (most active during dawn and dusk).
If you’re a night owl, you stand the best chance of catching them in action, though they’re still plenty fun to watch even in their off-hours. Many of these snakes are also renowned for being beginner-friendly pet reptile options but are still plenty of fun even for reptile experts.
Also read: 10 Interesting Facts About Praying Mantis
