Class pet help?

[Aeries]

The only problems I forsee with kings/corns is you won't see them much during school time hours. These guys both like to chill in their hides alllll day long and don't really show up until the evening.

I'd recommend garter snakes. Easy to maintain, comes in a ton of different colors/patterns etc, and they are by far the most active snake I've worked with. Even when they're 'hiding' they usually have their heads sticking out to watch you.

In my educational program experience, medium sized snakes are easier for kids to handle, so sub-adult/adult no matter which species you descide on would be beneficial.

Edit: I also wanted to note that in all my experience with this, that I've never met a kid that's afraid of snakes, it's always their parents.

[Lolo76]

Edit: I also wanted to note that in all my experience with this, that I've never met a kid that's afraid of snakes, it's always their parents.

LOL... that is so true! We had a reptile show at my old library for the kids, and most of the parents were sitting waaaaaay back - while the children couldn't get close enough.

[Darkice]

Rat snakes make great pets. They are active and dont normally bite. And super easy to take care of.

[blackcrystal22]

The only problems I forsee with kings/corns is you won't see them much during school time hours. These guys both like to chill in their hides alllll day long and don't really show up until the evening.

I'd recommend garter snakes. Easy to maintain, comes in a ton of different colors/patterns etc, and they are by far the most active snake I've worked with. Even when they're 'hiding' they usually have their heads sticking out to watch you.

In my educational program experience, medium sized snakes are easier for kids to handle, so sub-adult/adult no matter which species you descide on would be beneficial.

Edit: I also wanted to note that in all my experience with this, that I've never met a kid that's afraid of snakes, it's always their parents.

I find garter snakes more challenging than corns or kings. Not to mention they're a little more intimidating and difficult to handle. Active is not a good thing for beginner handlers.
Almost all species will be more active during the night hours, including garters. Corns and kings are just as happy without a hide or even with a pretty open hide that the kids can see into.
I have met kids who are afraid of snakes, as well as parents. It's good to be as little intimidating as possible.

[TheresaBearden]

I work in a special needs classroom in an Elementary school and last year my husband and I got the class a corn snake (one of our burms was out of the questions!!). We not only use the snake for educational purposes (we use him to learn basic things like color, length, position (the snake is "under" his aspen, the snake is "in" his hide, etc...), texture (snake is soft, cage is hard), but as an incentive as well, the snake is usually hid most of the day but if the students have performed well thru the week we take it out and let them touch it.

I am fortunate enough to have some of my students during the summer and our burms have always been great learning tools-I have gotten children to sign or verbalize such things as "I want to hold snake" or "Snake is yellow". I have had a child tell me "Fiona loves me" (Fiona is one of my larger females)-this was an autistic child who up until this point was terrified of any animal and would sit with me and just pet her for over an hour. I think it is amazing to watch kids with reptiles.

[GenePirate]

One more question... if I do end up paying for everything myself, will that count as a tax write-off? Hate to ask, but it's not like the public school system pays well - so I have to think about that. I know teachers/librarians can write off around $250 for annual "supplies," but not sure snakes would be considered a school supply.

If it's used to teach a lesson, it should be considered a classroom purchase. I just donated a gorgeous Pueblan milksnake to a teacher who will use him to help demonstrate mimicry (red next to black...). I don't see why the snake, the accessories, and the food wouldn't be considered as teaching supplies. If the district doesn't accept the receipt, then I'm sure you can write it off as education expenses. Good luck with this project!

[Elise.m]

I can ask my BF's mom, she's a special needs teacher in the San Joaquin county. One of the teachers she works with has a class snake, I think it's a corn snake. I'll ask her if she knows how the expenses work and what not. She's pretty close to that teacher, so if need be I can have her ask him.

[wilomn]

I work in a special needs classroom in an Elementary school and last year my husband and I got the class a corn snake (one of our burms was out of the questions!!). We not only use the snake for educational purposes (we use him to learn basic things like color, length, position (the snake is "under" his aspen, the snake is "in" his hide, etc...), texture (snake is soft, cage is hard), but as an incentive as well, the snake is usually hid most of the day but if the students have performed well thru the week we take it out and let them touch it.

I am fortunate enough to have some of my students during the summer and our burms have always been great learning tools-I have gotten children to sign or verbalize such things as "I want to hold snake" or "Snake is yellow". I have had a child tell me "Fiona loves me" (Fiona is one of my larger females)-this was an autistic child who up until this point was terrified of any animal and would sit with me and just pet her for over an hour. I think it is amazing to watch kids with reptiles.

I've noticed this as well. It's amazing, the connection made from non-verbal kid to animal.

[Lolo76]

Update: My boss gave me the go-ahead yesterday, and said we just need to get waivers signed... for what, I'm not sure. But yay! I may have found a snake, too - an adult female Amel corn snake, for only $25 on craigslist. I'm going to see the snake this weekend, and will let you know what happens. Thanks for all the great responses!

[Lupe]

I can't wait to hear what happens, I have been talking to one of the biology teachers and the superintendent about getting a reptile for the classroom since there is a teacher with a hamster and two with fish. I would love to help them get started with a snake or lizard.