Age For Snake Owners

Everyone starts at a different age keeping snakes some younger some older at what age do you think somebody should start taking care of snakes.

I personally just base it off of maturity and even more so responsibility. What are your thoughts?

I agree, maturity and responsibility. I kept my first snake and several lizards at 8 years old. I was definitely responsible enough, but I wasn't mature enough to do the right research. I just did what the guys at the pet store said, and the lizards lived for many years but there are many things I did wrong.

I'd say it also depends on how many snakes you're talking about. My 8 yr old daughter has her own snake. She does water changes, poop collecting, feeding, handling, etc all on her own. I'm the temp/humidity checker. That's just one snake though. She also feeds the dogs and the fish. I don't think one snake is too hard for even a responsible 6 year old. I think it really depends on the interest level of the kiddo, too.

I had my firsts snakes at the age of 7; my dad helped get me started and assisted with much of the work, but I did participate.
That being said, I think kids as young as 5 can find pleasure and education in keeping snakes provided their parents are there to help them.

I think it's a case by case basis, and depends on the interest and maturity of the child in question. I also think there should be adult oversight on any animal a child is responsible for. I agree with a previous reply that it also depends on the number of snakes in question. One or two is very different from half a dozen or more.

I had my first snake when I was still in elementary school. I don't remember my exact age, but I think I was around 7 years old (3rd grade-ish). It was a ball python. I listened to the guys at the pet store, read the books my parents bought me, and did everything (humidity and temperature monitoring, cage cleaning, watering, feeding, handling, etc) on my own. That snake did very well, thrived even (only issue he ever had was one case of mites). I wouldn't trust every child to be able to do that though.

I was 19 when I got my first pair of leos, then a few months later I was on to balls.

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I think parents should judge on a individual basis and not give in if their gut says, "NO!" I get tired of all the posts on Craig's List that say, " I got my kid a ____ and he's lost interest so it has to go." I swear there is at least a half dozen post every day on there like that. More parents should think about this subject before giving in to any animal. They are NOT disposable!

Both my kids have been around reptiles since the first day they came home from the hospital.

My oldest will be 6 in 2 weeks and my youngest just turned 3. They both share a het albino female hatchling they just got in July.

I of course am the main care taker of her but if I ever need any help with taking care of the reptiles I don't even have to holler for them because they are usually right behind me when I'm in the reptile room. If they're not they will be in 5 minutes when they notice im in there.

They love reptiles, and you can see how there eyes light up when I open a tub and they get to hold one of the snakes.

They deal with putting rats into tubs for me during feeding. They also help clean, sanitize, take temperatures and handling.

I believe there is no age limit in learning or the care giving of reptiles as long as there is another responsible adult/person around for helping.

It's really different for everyone. My oldest son got his first snake 3 years ago at age 9 and just recently for his second at age 12.
However my middle son is 11 and I would never dream of getting him one. He would set it all up in at tank and then forget about it.
Different personalities...so every kid/person/situation would be different.


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12 years, four months, and 19 days at the stroke of midnight. and no sooner.

To your guys surprise I am only 13 and I keep my snakes all by myself in my shed in back yard I have bought heaters and an air conditioning units to keep the temps right

My parents aren't fond of my snakes so I have to keep my snakes outside. I wouldn't keep my snakes if I couldn't take care off them.

When I was 8 I got my first ball python I was so excites but it was from petco and I was 8 I couldn't afford a vet (cause every ball python at petco needs a vet) and I had no clue that petco is a snake killer company. I ended up getting out of snakes because it broke my heart. So 5 years later I decided I wanted to get into it again but when I went to petco to get a ball python there was a snake breeder there that had bought all the ball pythons and he told me he was saving their lives so he let me in on the petco thing. He actually sold my dad a beautiful top class spider female ball python for only $80 that was my best christmas present that year after it living for a month I was completely addicted and I haven't stopped my addiction for 9 months.:banana:

Maturity and responsibility are huge. I think it's important for children to be exposed to reptiles, so as long as a parent is over seeing the care and well being than age shouldn't be an issue.

My daughter was 6 when she talked me into our first snake. She has always participated in the care (feeding, cleaning, handling) of the snakes, as well as the rats. I think a lot depends on the maturity level, as well as commitment of all parties involved.

Keep it civil guys. Arguing on the internet about maturity levels doesn't help prove maturity levels if you get what I'm saying.

Completely on their own? Maybe 14-16? Honestly it has little to do with age and more to do with the level of interest and responsibility of the child. I was going to say maturity, but I don't think that's accurate, because maturity in one area can be completely different in another. My BP is in my 6 year old daughter's room. She doesn't change the water, or monitor temps, but she does love to watch while I feed (f/t), and loves to hold her. She said that she would do the feed next time, so i guess we will see, but I wouldn't burden her with thawing and warming the rat. I honestly think that any pet is the parent's responsibility first, children shouldn't be the sole caregivers of any animal. In the 6th grade I managed to dehydrate my hamster to death, completely by accident, I feel guilty to this day.

I'm sorry. :(

On topic: I agree with Shera wholeheartedly. I think a snake at any age can teach a child invaluable lessons, but the responsibility cannot be placed on them entirely (in MOST cases) until they're a teen. I also agree about the maturity thing- I have always been very mature for my age. That has NEVER equated to being responsible. I'm one of the most irresponsible people I know, and I'll be the first to tell you.

See my nephew wants a snake, and I think he's like 8 or 9, could even be 10. I know this probably makes me a horrible uncle but I just don't keep up with ages, lol.

Anyways he did a lot of online reading to looking to care for snakes and he decided he wanted a corn snake. He hassled my mother about taking him to a pet store to get a hide and water dish which is awesome because he took the time to do a little research. Now I basically talked him out of a corn snake and put him onto ball pythons, mainly because my sister is about the most useless parent ever and a long list of things that I won't get into. I didn't want him to actually have a snake and keep it there and I had no intentions of keeping a corn snake at my house. Mainly because I don't want to keep a lot of different species of snakes. So I'm taking him to the reptile show next month and I'm going to let him get a ball python that he likes that he wants to buy and I'm going to take care of it and keep it at my house. He's going to basically cover the cost of food and what not(have to make him responsible on every aspect of keeping snakes). Then when he comes over or when he's staying at my moms house he can come over and take care of the snake and all. That way the snake is in good care and he's also getting experience with it slowly. Maybe in a few years when he's older it can stay at his house.

I was 15 I think when I got my first snake.
But I think I started learning a lot about them around 17.
And at 18 I think I learn a wonderful amount.
So I think it really depends on the person, but mid to late teens maybe.

i got my first snake when i was 18 now i have 4 kids and they have been around all the snakes, beardies, and other reptile i keep since they where born they all love them and always want to help with the animals especially the rats for some reason they love to clean the rat cages which i dont mind cause its less work for me lol

Can we stop feeding the trolls and drop the chest-thumping?

To the OP - I was given my first boa for my fourth birthday, and I was the sole caretaker at age nine. Parents should know their children well enough to judge their responsibility level, and should be ready to share part of the burden of care if they misjudge.

I'm glad I didn't get mine til I was 19
I was WAY underprepared previously...snake would have been miserable lol

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Originally Posted by SnowShredder

I agree, maturity and responsibility. I kept my first snake and several lizards at 8 years old. I was definitely responsible enough, but I wasn't mature enough to do the right research. I just did what the guys at the pet store said, and the lizards lived for many years but there are many things I did wrong.

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Same with me pretty much. My parents taught me how to start caring for animals from the time I was able to talk, and all other basic things. Of course I made mistakes, and there was a lot I didn't know but I cared for them to the best of my knowledge. All my pets lived for many years, and none ever died from anything that wasn't out of my control.

I didn't get my first 'store bought' snake until I was 19 (it was a corn snake) but I had been keeping wild caught herps since I was old enough to catch them myself (around 2nd grade, I think I was 8) I always had my room filled with jars and tanks and buckets of all types filled with tadpoles, frogs, painted turtles, garter snakes, red bellied snakes, tiger salamanders etc... Both of my parents were teachers who always encouraged me to learn about new things on my own and both had also grown up on farms around a lot of animals so they were pretty tolerant of my little collection. Looking back on it now, I realize I was pretty lucky to have such understanding parents.

I would love if my future son or daughter wanted a snake, but I wouldn't expect them to get all addicted like me. But sure, I would buy them their own ball python for start (if they get tired of it, I would happily take care of it:D) and then, if they show responsibility and enjoys taking care of it, they can pick other species aswell.

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Originally Posted by DPBallPythons

I would love if my future son or daughter wanted a snake, but I wouldn't expect them to get all addicted like me. But sure, I would buy them their own ball python for start (if they get tired of it, I would happily take care of it:D) and then, if they show responsibility and enjoys taking care of it, they can pick other species aswell.

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I think that's about what I would do too....help get them started with the interest, and then since I'm already into the snakes get them one to see just how into they are. If they take care of it, great. If not, it becomes mine and they have to fork up the money for their "second try"

Since we are not gonna punish the OP because of a few of YOU this thread is now being re-opened.

This is your last warning keep the thread on track.

For those who are interested in the irrelevant side bickering the thread has been moved to QT http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...r-snake-owners.

For those who wish to gain access to QT please contact one of our admins (name in RED) and remember that rules still apply in QT.

And simce I'm an expectant father, I will be raising my son around snakes and geckos. For me this is a chance to properly educate someone, and give my son a fun life. He of course won't be hands on or anything and won't have "his own"until he is well mature enough.


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I got my first snake when I was 7, but my parent didnt help except with buying frozen mice so I had no way to do any research...that being said my son started taking care of our corn at 4...I help him and observe at all times...he is now 5 and cares for our corn, ball, and our little beardie. He does water and subsrate chages as well as clean the tank...he helps with feeding, but I mainly take care of that.

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My son is 9, but he's autistic and responsibility hasn't come to him just yet, so I think he's too young. But my best friend's niece is 8 and she's the most responsible child I've ever met. If she wanted one of my babies once I start breeding, I wouldn't hesitate.