beginner snakes

[Albert Clark]

but they're a bigger commitment and grow much faster just from my personal experience, I think their husbandry is much more difficult

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but I've heard kingsnakes are the farthest from docile...

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I'm honestly leaning towards a cornsnake at this point... I just feel like it would be easier for him to care for as a first snake

There is a kingsnake that stands out among all other kingsnakes in their temperament and that is the Arizona mountain king. Truly a very docile king that is really overlooked. They stay relatively small and are very brilliantly colored. Also, they are relatively cheap at all the expos and online. I don't know if you are familiar with them but once you see them and handle one you will remember them. Good luck. They will change your mind about kingsnakes not being docile, trust me.