Numerous small pet snakes you can keep will stay small forever. Such as ringneck snake, Barbados thread snake, bimini Blind snake, etc… A ball python can be considered a small snake for a pet but its size is 2 to 3 feet on AVG.
If you are interested in keeping a pet snake that will not grow big, this article is a source for you.
We have listed the 20 small pet snakes species that you can keep as pets.
Some of the species are venomous snakes, so, before deciding to get one. Make sure you know which species is venomous or not.
Contents
Advantage of keeping small Pet snakes
- Snakes need minimal exercise.
- They love spending time in their enclosure as long as there are water and food.
- Easy to care for.
- Snakes love to be handled.
- Snakes will make an excellent pet for families.
- They have a long lifespan, and they can live for around 15 years.
- Snakes have varying sizes from smaller to larger-sized species.
- Snakes are carnivorous, and most can survive on a rodent diet. You can also feed some species of worms or cricket.
- You can keep them in a small enclosure in the corner of your room as long as it is big enough to house a grown snake.
Explore Six Hundred Species from Around the World by Mark O’Shea. This book is a great resource about common and uncommon pet snakes you can keep.
Last update on 2022-12-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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Top non-venomous small pet snakes
The non-venomous pet snakes are ideal for beginners, who didn’t have much experience in keeping a snake.
In the list of 14 species below, we highly recommend you to get either a corn snake or a blind snake.
Why do we say that? You will know it when I walk you through the list.
Barbados Threadsnake
Barbados Threadsnake can be considered the tiniest snake that is known to man, and they are endemic to a few Caribbean islands.
It is usually about 4 inches in size and also incredibly light with just 0.6g weight.
Although they are not kept as a pet, it is among the breeds of snakes that stay small.
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Price: unknown
Bimini Blind snake
The Bimini blind snake is native to Africa, and they are usually mistaken for an earthworm.
The longest specimen of Bimini blind snake can grow to about 6 inches and weigh just 1g. Although they are called blind, they are not actually blind, but their eyes are so tiny.
Bimini Blind snake is one of the smallest snakes for pets that you can keep.
- Lifespan: unknown
- Price: $29.99
- Buy here
Ringneck snake
Ringneck snake as a pet can be considered to be among the tiniest snake breed as it can be mistaken for worms. They are dark or dark brown with a characteristic orange necklace that encircles their neck.
Many people assume they are baby snakes because of their size, which is around 15 inches long. They have a diameter not thicker than that of a pencil, and they can feed on small worms and invertebrates.
- Lifespan: 6 years
- Price: $29.99
- Buy here
Corn Snakes – The Most Popular Small Snakes To Keep As Pets
The corn snakes are the most famous and common pet snakes suitable for beginners and amateurs. Corn snakes are not venomous and short in length, which makes them a perfect choice for newbies when it comes to raising snakes as a pet.
They are hyperactive and love to move around. You can also handle them and watch as they move around your hand. Corn snakes can also bite when they are threatened or stressed out, but their bite is not as painful as other snake bites.
- Lifespan: 6 to 8 years
- Price: $79.99
- Buy here
Ball Python – A Super Tiny Python Species For You
Ball pythons are one of the breeds of python that stays short. It can grow to about 3-5 feet long. A large breed of pythons grows to be around 20-30 feet long.
The best thing about this snake is that it does not move much, and it is pretty easy to handle. Although they have a thick body, it is a great species to keep as pets for beginners.
- Lifespan: 15 to 30 years
- Price: $69.99
- Buy here
Rosy Boa
The rosy boas are popularly known for their calm composure and lovely patterns. They have an average length between 1.4-3.6 feet and can live for around 15-30 years.
They have a docile nature, which makes them a perfect pet for beginners. The best thing is that they have low maintenance requirements and don’t need a large enclosure.
- Lifespan: 15 to 30 years
- Price: $199.99
- Buy here
Western Hognose Snake
This breed of snake got its name from the appearance of its nose that looks like a hog. They have varying colors like brown, tan, and yellow with olive oval blotches.
They have an average length between 1.4-3.6 feet and have a lifespan that ranges from 15-20 years. You can handle them, and they do not need much attention. Although they are not that eye-catching like ball python, it is fun watching feeding them.
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
- Price: $249.99
- Buy here
Garter Snake
The garter snake is a famous species to keep. Even this snake species is not really small, the garter snake has an average length between 2-3 feet with a lifespan of around 5-10 years.
They have mesmerizing colorations and morphs, and you will surely fall in love with them. Garter snakes do not need special care, and they are very easy to care for. They have fascinating characters as they are active as well as docile and also very colorful.
- Lifespan: 5 to 10 years
- Price: $29.99
- Buy here
Milk Snake
Milk snakes belong to the same genus as kingsnakes, and it comes in a variety of colors. Milksnake can grow to about 3-4 feet, and it has around 24 subspecies and morphs.
The most common pattern on milk snakes is the alternating bands of red, black, and yellow or white, black, and red.
They are docile and non-venomous, and you will mistake them for coral snakes due to their pattern and coloration.
They do not need special bedding and can live for up to 15-22 years.
- Lifespan: 15 to 22 years
- Price: $79.99
- Buy here
Kingsnake
Kingsnakes are not that colorful as they are usually all black, a mix of brown and white, or black and white.
They grow to about 3.5 to 4.3 feet in length, with a lifespan between 15-33 years.
The most common kingsnake is the Mexican black kingsnake, which is dark in color. Kingsnakes are easy to care for and do not need special care.
- Lifespan: 15 to 33 years
- Price: $59.99
- Buy here
Kenyan Sand Boa
The Kenyan Sand Boa is usually 20 inches to 2 feet long, with the female species larger than the males. It is an excellent choice for a snake keeper looking for a snake that will stay small in both length and girth.
Kenyan sand boa is also colorful, and you can keep them in a tank that is as small as 10 gallons.
Although the baby Kenya sand boa requires live feeding, older snakes can be fed with frozen food.
They have a reasonable disposition, but some individuals have a flighty temperament.
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Price: $119.99
- Buy here
House Snake
House snakes are another fascinating snake species from Africa that you can keep as pets.
Although it does not have bold colors or patterns, it has a mild temperament and is easy to feed. The house snake is also a perfect snake for beginners that will like to try breeding snakes.
- Lifespan: 20 years
- Price: $179.99
- Buy here
Children’s Python
The children’s python is a small Australian snake species, and you can keep them as pets. Although young children’s pythons may be nippy, they are rather tame.
If you are planning to buy one as a pet, it is best to go for juvenile or adult specimens, because young species are very difficult to feed for beginners.
- Lifespan: 30 years
- Price: $179.99
- Buy here
Water Snakes
The water snakes are not as popular as other pet snake species because they need a complex habitat to live in, and they have foul temperaments. Water snakes are attractive, and grow to moderate size, and are easy to feed.
- Lifespan: 9 years
- Price: $19.99
- Buy here
Top venomous small pet snakes
Venomous snakes are very uncommon pet snakes because of their venom. Please consider not keeping it if you are a beginner.
Explore Six Hundred Species from around the World by Mark O’Shea. This book is a great resource about common and uncommon pet snakes you can keep.
Last update on 2022-12-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Green Snakes
Green snakes is one species of arboreal snake that stay small during its lifespan.
There are two species of green snakes that you can keep as a pet, namely the smooth green snake and the rough green snake. They are both suitable pets to keep for beginners, and they stay pretty small and can live on an insect-based diet.
Green snakes are not aggressive, but they can get stressed if they are handled too much.
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Price: $99.99
- Buy here
Coral Snakes
Coral snakes are small with vibrant colors. They are highly venomous snakes and are regarded to have the second-strongest venom of any snake.
They are considered to be less dangerous than rattlesnakes due to their less effective poison-delivery system.
It is slender and small and can be 18-20 inches long. It is hard to differentiate its head from the tail because they have bulbous heads that look like its tail.
- Lifespan: 7 years
- Price: $499.99
- Buy here
Death adder
You can easily distinguish death adders from other snakes with their broad triangular head, short, squat bodies, and tapering tail.
They have varying colors, but most species have a banded pattern in brown or grey shades. It has a different color than the rest of the body on its tail, which is used for attracting potential prey.
They are considered to have the longest fangs of any Australian snake, and they are highly venomous. They have a body length of 70-100 cm, and they are nocturnal snakes.
- Lifespan: 15 to 20 years
- Price: $199.99
- Buy here
Golden Lancehead
Golden lancehead is a highly venomous pit viper species with a light yellowish-brown color underside. It is endemic to Ilha da Queimada Grande in Brazil.
It also has a head shape that can be seen on the genus Bothrops.
In captivity, their body is often darker than yellow color, which may be because of poor circulation caused by ineffective thermoregulation.
- Lifespan: 8.5 years
- Price: unknown
Common Lancehead
The common lanceheads can grow to about 5-6 feet in length, with females usually larger than males and it has varying colors, which range from grey, olive-green, brown, yellow, or beige color.
The dorsal and lateral sides of the snake are covered with dark blotches and light-colored edges. In captivity, common lancehead can survive to about 8.5 years and can breed all year round.
- Lifespan: 8.5 years
- Price: unknown
European Vipers
The European adders have varying colors, which range from gray, reddish-brown, black, cream, white to pale yellow. Its head has a V shape, and its eyes are covered partially with scales, which gives it a lidded appearance.
European vipers can grow to around 60 cm in length, and it has hinged fangs used for injecting venom into prey. The female species usually have brighter colors than males.
- Lifespan: 15 years
- Price: unknown
List of Small Pet Snakes
| Name | Size | Food amount |
| Barbados Threadsnake | 4 to 5 inches | little insects |
| Bimini Blind snake | about 6 inches | small invertebrates |
| Western Hognose Snake | 6 to 12 inches | small items (mice ~ 20g) |
| Corn Snakes | 4 to 5.5 feet | Regular amount |
| Ball Python | 2 to 3 feet | Regular amount |
| Rosy Boa | 24 to 36 inches | Regular amount |
| Garter Snake | 16 to 36 inches | Regular amount |
| Milk Snake | 14 to 69 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Kingsnake | 36 – 48 inches | Regular amount |
| Ringneck snake | 10 to 15 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Kenyan Sand Boa | about 2 feet | Regular amount |
| House Snake | 16–24 in | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Children’s Python | About 3 ft | Regular amount |
| Water Snakes | 30-40 inches | Regular amount |
| Green Snakes | 14–20 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Coral Snakes | 18 to 20 inches | Regular amount |
| Death adder | 15 to 35 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Golden Lancehead | About 28 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| Common Lancehead | About 28 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
| European Vipers | 24 to 31 inches | small, medium amount > 20g |
Things To Know Before Getting Even A Small Venomous Pet Snake
Venomous snakes can be dangerous animals to keep as a pet.
Before you can keep a venomous snake as a pet, you will need to get a permit. The category of permits you can get is according to the level of danger that is attached to the species.
The three permit categories that you will need before you can keep venomous snakes are listed below.
Category 1:
For mildly dangerous venomous snakes.
Category 2:
For dangerous venomous snakes.
Category 3:
For highly dangerous venomous snakes.
After you apply for permits to keep venomous snakes, some of the things to put into consideration are listed below.
- Parks and Wildlife staff will inspect your property to see if it is suitable for a venomous snake
- You may have to get approvals from your local council, the Department of Lands, Planning and the Environment, or the Department of Health.
- Your source must be a legal source with a permit
- If you are planning to import or export a snake, you will have to get a separate permit
- It will take approximately five days for the processing of the Category 1 permit
- It will take approximately two weeks for the processing of Category 2 and 3 permits
For Australian Snake Keepers. Please check this link
What special venomous snake cage need?
- Keep venomous snakes in lockable and escape-proof enclosures all the time.
- Inside the enclosure, a venomous snake should be able to stretch out to its full body length and also have access to a shelter.
- Always protect snakes from pain, predators, injury, and disease.
- Ensure you keep all categories 2 and 3 snakes in a locked and escape-proof room. You should also control access to the room and escort any visitors to the room.
Find your best venomous snake cages
What do small pet snakes eat in general?
Snakes are carnivorous, and they will eat rats, mice, frogs, worms, crickets, and so on. Small pet snakes will eat about the same diameter as the head of your snake.
You can also feed your cute tiny snakes with pre-killed food instead of live food to keep them safe from bites and scratches.
You also need to provide a bowl of clean water for bathing and drinking for your snakes. Water will also help in maintaining the humidity of the tank to the appropriate levels.
What is the smallest species of snake?
Barbados Threadsnake is the smallest species of snake. The smallest arboreal snake is the bush viper class
Wrapping Up
Small pet snakes are fascinating and fun but strange animals to keep as a pet.
Although they require specific housing requirements, they sometimes eat strange foods and interact with you in a lesser way than conventional pets like cats or dogs.
It is a thrilling experience not to miss for animal enthusiasts.
Nice article! Can I know where to buy a bush viper?
Please check our arboreal snakes for beginner