Parents think snakes are evil (I want a bp?)

[DVirginiana]

First off, this is a snake forum, so no one is going to tell you something completely off the wall about a BP having venom or killing babies.

Secondly, you mentioned garters; if this would be a more acceptable pet I would really recommend getting an adult garter. I breed them; they eat pinkie mice and should actually not be fed live fish due to parasite concerns. Also, I don't know where you got the information that they are snappy, but they are actually far less nippy than a young ball python if you handle them regularly.
More importantly though, their husbandry requirements are far easier to meet than a BP's and they are a much better beginner snake. Or even something like a corn or kingsnake.

BP's require very specific temps and humidity, and are often not very tolerant of handling. From what you're saying it sounds like you'd be doing most of the care for this snake, so I'd really not recommend a BP. You are just 13, and from what it sounds like, you have no experience keeping reptiles at all. For someone your age keeping a BP healthy and happy without any parental help could be pretty difficult. Plus, there is a lot of equipment you need for BPs (heat mats, thermostats, heat bulbs or CHEs, ect) that can get kind of pricey (like hundreds of dollars). Research is good, but it's not a substitute for actual experience.

My recommendation would be for you to go with a garter, king, or cornsnake for your first snake. Then once you get the care down for that animal in a few years if you're still interested you may want to try a BP. Another issue with BPs is that they live a very long time (up to 40 years); if you get a BP your parents will eventually be the ones taking care of it when you leave for college.