I want to get a pet snake, but I want a small one.?

[Moriah Caitlin]

Are there any spices of snakes that don't get very large? I've wanted a pet snake for a while now and have kept lizards in the past, so I know how to take care of reptiles and how to feed live food, but I've never had a snake before. I want one that is not poisonous. I have little experience with snakes and don't exactly know what breed to get. To give you an idea, I don't want a snake that's going to get more than 2 and a half feet long. What is a good snake for a beginner?

I also have some other questions that hopefully someone can answer:

Do pet stores often remove their snakes fangs?
Where can I go to get a live snake other than a big chain pet store (i.e. petco, petsmart. I don't like how they treat their animals)?
How big of a tank/terrarium do I need for a small snake?
Are snakes social? Do they like to be around other snakes, or does this depend on breed?
I've heard that male snakes tend to be smaller than female snakes, is this true?
How do you tell if a snake is male or female?
How much can you handle or pick up snakes (again does this depend on breed?)
How often do you have to feed a snake, and are frozen pink mice the only thing you can give them?
Live food or frozen food?