Is it dangerous to have a ball python around a kid?

[elusivereptiles]

I had an email from a potential customer the other day. And in the email the person asked me "Is it dangerous to have a ball python around a child?" My response to this was "It might be dangerous for the ball python." I speak from experience on this subject because I have a 3 year old. And my 3 year old has handled a few of our snakes, BUT ONLY UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION. I do not think that it is in anyones best interest to buy a snake for a child or to have the snake around the child excessively. None of our snakes are our son's snakes, and he understands that he is not aloud near the snakes unless me or my wife are around. I just think that it's mind blowing for someone to ask me that. I guess it was the way it was worded, or maybe the way it was projected to me. Who knows.

Anyway thought I would share some of my views on this subject.

[starmom]

I allow my grandchildren to handle our snakes ONLY with my hands also on the snake. My grandkids are 6, 4, and 3 years old. My 7 month old granddaughter has never asked to hold them but I show them to her!

[elusivereptiles]

Yeah similar senario with my son and my pet snake hiss... hiss is really relaxed all the time and has never shown any type of aggression, not even defensive strikes... and i'm still really cautious with him around my son.

[frankykeno]

We have four kids, 20, 16, 14 and 6. All but the 20 year old have their own "personal" snakes. Each is allowed to handle to their ability and with the supervision appropriate for their age group. Each is taught that if they don't show respect, care and close supervision of their snake...they won't be able to handle when they want. Each knows that handling is a gift in this house and it's to be done only to the level of that particular snake's ability to adjust to handling and working around the snake's shed or feeding cycles.

We also have strict rules about sanitizing their hands after any contact with the snakes, no allowing the snake near their mouths, no showing off to their buddies and no snake out if a parent is not home and within close proximity (with the 6 year old it is direct hands on with us at all times). Also even with the smaller snakes, no one is allowed to have a snake near or around their necks.

It's a lot of rules but the kids are used to them, understand why the rules exist and will quickly share those rules with visiting friends. The rules are there not only for the benefit of our children also for our snakes.

[kurgan]

The only risk is from poor hygiene:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/w...ds/7316684.stm

[nyraptor]

my kids love to handle the snakes 15 months and almost 6 heres the 6 y/o

[C0LUMB1NE]

The biggest problem that I see with a child handling a pet snake even under adult supervision is that it teaches the child not to have a natural fear of snakes
a child unafraid of snakes may attempt to handle a wild and potentially posionus one that it may encounter outside

[kurgan]

Poisonous snakes are few and far between in many parts of the world. I think an older child even a toddler could be taught to stay away from wild snakes just as you may have a family dog but advise her to stay away from strange ones (and strange people).

[C0LUMB1NE]

Poisonous snakes are few and far between in many parts of the world. I think an older child even a toddler could be taught to stay away from wild snakes just as you may have a family dog but advise her to stay away from strange ones (and strange people).

Could be taught
Should be taught
But many times aren't


There are many species of poisonous it the part of the world that I live in
Rattlesnakes
Copperheads
Cottonmouths
Etc...
Etc...

[kurgan]

In London the only venomous snakes walk on two legs but you don't have to go that far into the countryside to find an adder (if you are lucky, i've never managed to see a native snake in the UK - the only native reptile I've ever seen was a legless lizard - a smooth worm, but sadly one killed by my mum's cat). Not really comparable to a copper mouth though