i want a snake that is great with kids and only gets a bout three feet in leanth
2006-06-15 06:04:26 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Reptiles
stay away from Ball Pythons. They are one of the worst snakes for kids. The reason they ball up is a defensive mechanism. They are a finicky snake.
I would choose the corn snake for first choice. You can buy babies reasonably cheap and they come in many colors. Check out WWW.cornutopia.com Jim and Kathy love are some of the most outstanding breeders and founders of the corn domestication trade. Also check out www.kingsnake.com for care sheets
2006-06-15 09:23:33 · answer #1 · answered by dogdude1969 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Proper handling is important - teaching the kids about snakes is good! A corn snake is inexpensive and pretty mild tempered - they're good first snakes and come in some really pretty colors. They are of course not poisonous. A king snake is a little bigger bluff and they get longer than 3' - but are also good snakes.
Ball pythons are popular but can be tricky as far as feeding (they can be picky).
But would highly recommend a corn snake for first choice - temperment, choice of colors two big factors.
Whatever kind you get...when the eyes start getting cloudy don't let the kids mess with them - they're getting ready to shed skin...when the eyes are cloudy - sort of a pale bluish color - they can't see as well and can be more likely to strike at what they think they smell (food) or perceived threats...give them a few days and when they shed they'll be back to normal. This isn't the snake being mean - it's just being a snake. Instinct and defending itself.
2006-06-15 13:11:55 · answer #2 · answered by Jan H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't get a Ball. They tend to get stressed with a lot of handling which can lead to other problems. They make great pets, but not for children who tend to be more "hands on".
My recommendation would be a Cornsnake. They stay pretty small, and can tolerate a lot of handling. They are diurnal so they will be active during the day, unlike a Ball which is nocturnal. They have pretty easy heating requirments, they can thrive with just a light. Just don't get a heat rock as they are notorious for burning snakes.
They are also great eaters, unlike Balls which can be picky if their environment isn't correct or if they get too stressed.
Milksnakes and Kingsnakes also make great beginner snakes, but a Corn is definitely the easiest.
2006-06-15 13:47:09 · answer #3 · answered by xyz_gd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ball python, by far.... get it medium sized and make sure that it's eaten....snakes do not eat unless they've shed for the first time. I have a ball python and i LOVE her, shes the greatest pet in the world. Very easy to care for! Also, you have to make sure that you hold it at least once a day...like all snakes, they need to be held so that they know you.... when you pick them up, since they dont have eye lids you dont want to scre them and have them attack you, so stroke their backs with a hanger or something long and far from your body before you handle them-just a second will be good to let them know you're there. :)
good luck!
and also, ball pythons get up to 4-6 feet longs, but they are not big by any means, so...there you go :)
2006-06-15 13:25:17 · answer #4 · answered by yourluvbug2003 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A Columbian Red tail Boa I have had mine for 10 years now and he's awesome!! They are very mellow and once they are fully grown they are of an impressive size. Mine is 10 ft long now and weighs about 80 lbs. Oops you want one for a kid:) Get a corn snake then.
2006-06-15 20:21:09 · answer #5 · answered by azraelcms 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A king snake is pretty mellow and cant squish a kid to death would be my recommendation as far as small snakes go.. I have had a bunch of different snakes and they are the calmest I would recommend getting it as a baby and holding it frequently so that it is used to be held and can taste who you are as well as the kids
2006-06-15 13:08:09 · answer #6 · answered by khawk81702 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cornsnake cornsnake cornsnake, elapha guttata or something or other... they are the premiere captive snake... eat well, handle well, most never bite and are too small to mistake warm hands or fingers for food, (unless you forgot to wash them after handling their food or something) OR rough green snakes and I don't remember their taxonomic... they're more difficult to find and not as interesting and they can be more bitey.. .but they're just so GREEN and pretty... and small also... so no gaping wounds or anything if they do accidentally bite. unless you must have a green snake... go for the corn snake... it's the starter snake... everybody loves guttata.
2006-06-16 02:54:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cornsnakes tend to be well tempered and gentle. I would suggest this over a ball or a boa due to the fact that they are constrictors and if there are children involved you do not want that. Corn are also smaller in size that the balls and boas
2006-06-16 06:46:17 · answer #8 · answered by lady_necromantia 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it will get much bigger than 3 feet but my daughter got a 6 ft albino burmese python when she was 6 and he never ever hurt her he was docile enough for me to show off to my class...also ball pythons.. I also had a ball python very docile. red tailed boas are good but you must be sure that after handling their food your hands be cleaned or they will bite you i have a scar on my hand from a red tail bite..
2006-06-15 22:03:06 · answer #9 · answered by highgamer6969 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You should get a ball python. I have one myself and they are really easy to take care of. They only grow to about 5 feet so they don't get that big. You only feed them once or twice a week too.
2006-06-17 18:36:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋