keep in mind that snakes live a long time. so buying a older adult is not a bad idea at all. and if you get a adult there is a big positive. they never need a bigger cage. and adults tend to be a little bit more relaxed to handling. as where babies are a little more skittish and tend to be picky eaters. snakes are a great pet. they eat once a week and poop once a week. and dont go through withdrawls from missing you if you dont have time to handle them for a couple months now and then.