Quote Originally Posted by bcr229 View Post
Whether a ball python is the right snake is a different question. If your kids are going to want to interact with it a lot, that can stress some critters out enough that they stop eating. You may be better off with something like a king, corn, or milk snake initially, as they are much cheaper, easier to maintain, have a more consistent food response, and are more of a "display" snake and tolerant of handling than ball pythons are.
I'm not sure I agree with this completely... While ball pythons are more shy than a corn or a king, you can get one for 30$, they are extremely simple to maintain, and with the right care they should have an excellent feeding response. One of the most fun things about reptiles is making a beautiful display cage. My ball python likes to believe he's a tree python, so he's out and about quite a bit. A beautiful display animal IMO. I really disagree that they aren't as tolerant for handling. They are slow moving, manageable size, and very docile personality unlike say a king who are constantly on the move. I think it mostly depends on exactly which ball python you buy. Make sure you take the time to handle the snake before you buy it to make sure it's the right one for you. I held two very different snakes before choosing my boy. The first was a female, who instantly went straight for my hood and was extremely head shy. The next was a male(the one I own now) and he balled up at first, but soon he was exploring my shirt crevices and was extremely chill. He also likes cheek rubs I hope this helps.


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