New User Question - Ball as 1st Snake for Child

[Bogertophis]

Any snake you buy "for" a 7 year old is going to be YOUR snake first, or it won't survive. It will be years before your child is old enough to be responsible, much less able to understand the care requirements for a snake, but if you're totally involved, it will be a "win" for you both, as your son learns to respect, understand & care for whatever you decide to get.

Looks are deceiving, so it might be wiser to guide your son on this decision; he's not old enough to understand the difference, & if you make the choice, I suspect he'll be ecstatic no matter which kind or color comes home with you. ALL "baby" snakes are nippy...it varies more by the individual personality than by the species. You can find snappy ball pythons and snappy rat snakes. You can also find either one that just looks at you with curious googly-eyes without biting. Consider that BPs are less active, more likely to hide, & are more stressed by temperature fluctuations or other changes that may cause them to be problematic feeders. It's a LOT more fun, in my some-what prejudiced view to share ownership of a snake with a child that is more outgoing, nosy, easy to feed and even likes to climb branches provided...therefore, I'd cast my vote for a corn or rat snake* (*some kinds are much mellower than others) rather than a more complex-to-keep BP. But it's your call, as it will BE YOUR SNAKE for a very long time. (Pssst! Glass tanks have more visibility & are also perfect for corn & rat snakes...not so much for BPs.)

I would NOT recommend getting a hatchling corn snake, as it will be a LONG time before handling is a good idea, especially by a child (let's face it, kids can be clumsy & small snakes will be unable to defend themselves & can be easily injured...or LOST). Find at least a yearling corn or rat snake, or a healthy c/b one that's even a couple years old. That, IMO, would be the best way to start...corn snakes may move around more but tend to be very docile, unlikely to bite. There are exceptions, but they're obvious & easily avoided. Even the most curious child of 7 will be bored to death in no time if you follow the guidelines about no handling for the best survival of the snake while IT has a chance to grow up & learns to eat. I hope you reconsider getting a hatchling of ANY kind. All the best.