Corn Snakes and Kids

[lilbug]

Looking for opinions. My 5 yr old son has been asking for a corn snake for 3 yrs now and i am now considering it. I have read lots and been told by many people that corn snakes are great snakes for kids but i have also been told by a few people they are not good snakes for kids .

So id like opinions from people who have or have had corn snakes.

Thanks!

 

[Kibu]

They can be a little aggressive at times, I personally wouldn't recommend one. I had a wc king snake 4 a while (until it was eaten alive by fire ants ) and he was the sweetest thing, and beautiful.

 

[thephotoprincess]

I've had a few corn snakes and they have always been good-natured and easy to keep. They are quite active though, I can see that it would be difficult for a youngster to handle them as they don't really stop moving and could easily escape from small hands.

Have you considered a ball python? They don't get much longer than a corn snake though they are heavier. I recently stopped keeping corn and rat snakes to get a few balls and could not be happier with them. They are very docile, slow moving and happy to hang around my neck or curl up in my shirt. I think they would be an excellent choice for a youngster (obviously with supervision as would be appropriate with any young child and animal)

 

[lilbug]

i have considered other snakes cause my experience is with pythons and boas. he is really stuck on the corn snake, Im not sure why. Our pet stores here kinda suck for variety so that also makes it hard to. I have caught him garter snakes to hold, they move a lot to he does pretty good but they do end up getting away from him. I to convince my husband, it has taken 2 yrs to get him to say yes to the corn snake, he doesn't like snakes. Im not sure how a python would sound to him.....

 

[skittles1234]

Dunno if this helps at all. I have a rosey boa who is the sweetest thing in the entire world. She Will never get over 3 feet and will remain slender for her entire life. They have smaller heads, so if bitten, it is not as bad as a ball python or a larger boa speices. My girl is pretty tame, espically 2-3 days after feeding and about a week after shedding. They don't require any humidity like python's or boa's do , just give them a water soruce and a place to hide with a heating pad!

 

[lilbug]

Dunno if this helps at all. I have a rosey boa who is the sweetest thing in the entire world. She Will never get over 3 feet and will remain slender for her entire life. They have smaller heads, so if bitten, it is not as bad as a ball python or a larger boa speices. My girl is pretty tame, espically 2-3 days after feeding and about a week after shedding. They don't require any humidity like python's or boa's do , just give them a water soruce and a place to hide with a heating pad!

Anything helps.... He really wants a snake and I have no problem getting him one, i just want to find the best one for him.
I asked if we could choose a different snake and he says sure mom if i can't have a corn snake i want a anaconda...

 

[justjumpit621]

I honestly wouldn't let a 5 year old choose for you, he probably wouldn't care what you got him as long as it was a snake. You could give him a baby ball python and say it is an anaconda He would believe you. As always my answer to you still is and ALWAYS will be...
Ball python

 

[lilbug]

I honestly wouldn't let a 5 year old choose for you, he probably wouldn't care what you got him as long as it was a snake. You could give him a baby ball python and say it is an anaconda He would believe you. As always my answer to you still is and ALWAYS will be...
Ball python

I showed him some pics on videos online and he's like the python so thats what we are gonna go with. thanks for the advice.

 

[justjumpit621]

I showed him some pics on videos online and he's like the python so thats what we are gonna go with. thanks for the advice.

Good choice!