Best Type of Pet Snake for Your Child

Although you might cringe at the idea of buying a pet snake for your child, many kids are enthralled by reptiles. They don't even want to look at puppies, and kittens couldn't be more boring. For some children, having pets like snakes is like a status symbol at school, while others are simply drawn to cold-blooded animals.

What you shouldn't allow your child to think (or think yourself) is that snakes are easier to manage than other types of pets. Just like dogs and cats, snakes require attention, a clean environment, food to eat and a place where they feel safe. If you don't think your child is capable of providing that for an animal, he or she might not be ready for a pet snake.

My parents purchased my very first pet snake when I was twelve years old, which was a perfect age at which to learn responsibility to another living creature. My first snake was a four-foot-long ball python named Lucy, but there are several snakes that can be appropriate for your child.

One of the most disturbing aspects of owning a snake is the fact that they eat live food: Animals which in other households might be considered pets. Thankfully, however, pet stores now sell frozen mice and rats, which can be thawed in hot water and fed to your snake. When you go to the pet store, find out if they have any snakes that have already been trained on frozen mice so your child doesn't have to feed live animals.

The ball python is a great choice as a pet snake for your child because it is docile and easy to handle. They enjoy resting in your lap or on your shoulder for hours at a time, and although they require about a week to adjust to new environments, they are also generally healthy.

The only negative aspect to a ball python is that they can get rather large (up to 48 inches), so they are only appropriate for older children. A five-year-old would probably be frightened by such a large serpent, so consider size when buying a pet snake for your child.