quick question...

[lefty]

Thank you so much for your reply. I personally would lean towards a Ball Python (just from the little I know about them) but I didn't know if he/she would be too difficult for a beginner to handle and take care of? I know that they don't get huge, but do they mostly tend to have good personalities? For us the joy of having a pet is handling it and spending time with it and I really want the kids to be able to do that. Do you think 4 and 6 is too young? Thanks again, I'm enjoying looking around the forum!

my daughters are 14 and 9. they have been around my ball pythons since the days they were born.(the kids, not the snakes....) they began handling them at around the ages of 2 or so. so i would say that 4 and 6 is plenty old enough for a ball. of course, there should only be supervised handling and proper education. i'm a believer that the sooner they can be introduced and learn about them the more confidence they will have around the snakes and the more respect they will have for them as part of the family.

[DooLittle]

Here is a good place to start
http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1410665

My daughter worked me for a snake for years. She got her first one at age 6, btw, she spent her OWN money for it. We now have (which she handles all of) balls, and boas. A lot depends on how your children are with animals, as far as respectful and understanding, and being careful with them. Most balls have great tempermants. However, they are all individual, and can be crabby too. My daughter knows, that if for some reason one of the snakes bites her, she is NOT to drop or throw it. It won't hurt her. And she has no fear of them, helps clean them, and helps feed them. If you know your kids, and get to know your snakes personality, it can be a great experience for them. They are great pets.

Short answer, if proper care and education is taken, no, 4 & 6 isn't to young.

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[ChrisS]

Welcome you'll find a bunch of useful info here. Since you're leaning towards a bp just wanted to share this link.

http://www.worldofballpythons.com/morphs/

Have fun looking!!

[RoseyReps]

My daughters are 3(4 in January) & 6, and they adore our bps. The key with young handlers is supervision. Make sure they are seated (I use the couch, with one on either side of me) and start slow. Make sure your kids understand "soft hands" or being gentle, as well as giving them tips on how to pet the snake. (Don't reach for it's head, always pet in the middle or the end, pet with the scales not against them, etc) Supporting them can be clumsy with the youngest, which is why the couch / lap method works well. She doesn't have to worry about holding the snake, she gets to pet it and it sits on her lap. Make a point of turning it into a repetitive thing, wash hands, sit quietly / nicely on the couch, take turns, wash hands.

Do yourself and the kiddos a favor, and do not buy a snake from a pet store. Most of the ones in petsmart / petco etc are wild imports. You have a very high chance of getting a sick snake, or bad feeder (some haven't even eaten at all). You are much safer buying from a breeder, who can tell you when it hatched, how many times / what it's eating, how it's temperament is etc. If you go to a reptile expo in your area, that's a good place to be able to hold / check out animals in person. (a lot of breeders do online sales, so you can't see how the snake handles) Breeders are also a lot cheaper than pet stores, with normal hatchlings usually under $40.

Good luck and Welcome!

[Naomijoy]

You all have been a huge help...thank you so much.
I DO have a 10 gallon tank (no fish in it) that I could use for a temporary home until the snake outgrows it, so that wouldn't be an issue. I really do like the bp's but if a corn snake, king snake or gopher snake would be a better start for little kids I am ok with that too. And if dad nix's the snake (he keeps saying 'We'll see...") then I might be visiting the lizard forums. too.
Lot's of reading to do!

[TheSnakeGuy]

A 10 gallon is a great way to start. A Ball Python can live in one for several months. I've got a 10 and a 20 gal. If you're getting a baby snake then there will be a lot of extra room in even a 10 gal. When a BP has too much room it can lead to stress and not eating. You've got to clutter up the tank a lot with plants and at least 2 hides. Here's my 10 and 20 for example.

10 gal


20 gal


Hopes this helps

[liv]

Seems like all the bases have been covered so I just wanted to say congrats on being a really cool mom

[DooLittle]

You all have been a huge help...thank you so much.
I DO have a 10 gallon tank (no fish in it) that I could use for a temporary home until the snake outgrows it, so that wouldn't be an issue. I really do like the bp's but if a corn snake, king snake or gopher snake would be a better start for little kids I am ok with that too. And if dad nix's the snake (he keeps saying 'We'll see...") then I might be visiting the lizard forums. too.
Lot's of reading to do!

Convince dad that snakes are better!! Lizards are a pita. And balls are MUCH mellower than corns. Corns are too dang busy, imo.

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[kitedemon]

I would lean toward Ball pythons. Corn snakes are great and often fast, perhaps too fast for smaller kids my partners daughter helps with ours she was 8 when they first arrived and had no issues.

The comments so far are good so no need to repeat good advise already in hand. If you decide set up the tank with everything but snake first as sometimes it takes a bit of time to get the correct conditions for the snake figured out.

There are a lot of good books around. Some great books that are quite costly I like the Ball Python book from VPI but it is 75$ so I suspect you are not ready for that yet. Look at this Ebook
http://www.reptileknowledge.com/ballpythons/

It is actually an easy fun read covers what you will need with a fair and reasonably unbiased, and reasonably priced.

Welcome!

[kitedemon]

Oh our 'ground rules' these are the rules we put in place it may have insight for you.

Ask if about handling the snake
Wash your hands before with soap...
wait for us (parent) to remove the snake from the enclosure (never remove the snake alone!)
Sit down and we will give the snake to you (safer for the snake)
never drape the snake over the back of your neck across the shoulder is fine or in the lap. (this is not so much concern about the ball python but other snakes it forms a good habit)
Do not take the snake away from supervision (snakes can get into and under all kinds of thing if you are not paying attention)
No kissing the snake.
when the snake has had enough ask to have it returned even if you don't want to. (they can become stressed and we must be cognizant of the animals need over our wishes)
Let us know when you need to return the snake wait until supervised.
spot check the enclosure water/wastes/objects (every time we remove the snake we check to make sure the water is clean and full there is not poop pee and that nothing fell into the enclosure that should not be there)
Check to make sure the enclosure is secured
Check again to make sure it is secured (We check and I have the child check too again good practices)
Wash our hands (we do this together it is part of our ritual) with soap and wash then not just get them wet...