None, no reptile is a "starter" pet in my opinion - unless under very specific circumstances. All of us here probably had that first pet that didn't live as long as it could have - especially if you all started young like me. For older kids with willing parents or responsible adults, ball pythons, garter snakes, corn snakes would probably be fair choices - especially when compared to the more needy species like Green Tree Boas and the giants. It all comes down to how much you are willing to learn and if you are able to properly care for it.

When I hear "what's a good beginner / first snake" its usually followed by "for my x year old kid". Reptiles in general just need too specific care; for example you don't have to keep a temp and humidity range for a mouse or gerbil. Also, in my experience people who get a "beginner" pet (especially for kids) often loose interest and the animals suffer. Now while not always the case, I think it takes someone dedicated to whatever species they choose for whatever it is to be a good first or learning pet.

----------------------------------------------------- My personal experiences ----------------------------------

My first "pets" were gerbils when I was 3 - the cats ate them. Then goldfish - which were supposedly beginner fish (how wrong that is too lol), then anoles. This was followed in quick succession by a garter snake when I was 7 as my first real on-my-own pet. She started my love for reptiles. However - looking back I'm surprised she made it to 5 years old. I fed goldfish and wild-caught minnows, we only had a red heat lamp,for a 55 gal fish tank with bricks on top to prevent escape, and a mix of newspaper / dirt /and care-fresh bedding for substrate. My mom got me a snakes-for-dummies book and helped me read it ans set up the tank, but that was the end of her involvement as far as care went (other than helping change bulbs / buy stuff and such).

When I was a little older I got 2 iguanas that were dumped in a tank in the local ER's parking lot. My dad built two huge wire cages, I was 12 so I was able to do some research - but again, I'm not surprised they did not do well. We had no heat/air conditioning at all in my room - heat was a wood stove downstairs - so winter time was really tough on them. We re-homed the male - the female lived for about 4 years. At that point I got into mammals (ferrets, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils) which didn't require as much research or specialized care.

I'm glad that I chose a ball for my first snake as an adult. He's been a great learning project, and I've learned a lot in the past few years - enough to want another one. But I know that as much as I would have 'loved' him had I gotten him in high school or earlier there's no way a ball would have thrived. My room was often in the high 40"s low 50's in the winter. I doubt even an AP cage could have handled that even if my parents would have allowed spending that much on a snake.