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aktb13
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
 Posted - 21/07/2010 : 12:21:46
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Please can we have your hinest opinions. We would like to get a snake and our daughter who is nearly 3 keeps asking for one, we have read up on a few and think that a King Snake would be the best one for us. Would you agree or do you have any suggestions? Thanks |
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aktb13
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2010 : 12:22:56
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quote:
Originally posted by aktb13
Please can we have your honest opinions. We would like to get a snake and our daughter who is nearly 3 keeps asking for one, we have read up on a few and think that a King Snake would be the best one for us. Would you agree or do you have any suggestions? Thanks
Sorry should read - Honest opinion! |
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Welly
Egg
United Kingdom
93 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2010 : 14:44:47
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| kings can be a lil nippy but less than others. They are good feeders. also fantastic escape artists. Very hardy snakes. A good choice. If you want something a little milder then there are loads of corn's about in a load of different colours. Did you say 3? |
0.1.0 Royal Python
0.0.1 Mexican Black King |
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aktb13
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2010 : 15:58:05
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| Thank you for your reply, yes our daughter is 3! She has a real good interest in animals and keeps asking for a snake. Which made me happy as it's something that I have wanted for a while. we don't want to rush into anything though, hence why we wanted info from people who have snakes. |
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lpbldg18
Egg
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - 21/07/2010 : 18:44:20
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| A mexican milksnake is a perfect starter snake! its such a shy snake, she has never bit me ever or anyone whos held her. Its a great great starter!!! |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 22/07/2010 : 10:01:05
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Not sure if I would recommend a king snake for a 3 year old. They are starter snakes, but they are a bit more feisty than your average starter. I think one bite might put your daughter off snakes and then you'd be stuck with a snake you no longer want to keep. They also live for up to 15-20 years so it'll be hard to gauge wether she'd still like the snake when she hits her teens.
Plus kings are very strong and quite large (up to 5ft) so I wouldn't think it's safe for a toddler to handle. They have a grip that could worry an adult if they are squeezing hard, so it's a lot more dangerous with young children.
And then there's the salmonella thing. Toddlers still like putting things in their mouths, which is a big no no with snakes as they can carry salmonella in there stomachs. You'll have to be in charge of cleaning up all the poo and the cage (as you'll need to use disinfectant/chemicals etc) and then be very rigourous with instilling hand washing with your child after every encounter with her pet.
In conclusion, if a king snake is a pet for you that would just sometimes be held by your toddler occassionally under supervision, then it could work, but as a child's pet then it's not really that suitable.
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aktb13
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
4 Posts |
Posted - 22/07/2010 : 15:36:48
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Thanks for all the info, The snake would only occasionaly be held by her until she is older, so maybe a King snake would not be ideal. Will have a talk with a few more people before we do anything, but really appreciate the help.
Kim |
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Kazerella
King Snake Admin
United Kingdom
1512 Posts |
Posted - 23/07/2010 : 09:27:53
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If that is the case, then a snake should be ok, but maybe a corn snake.
You really would be the one looking after it though and your daughter will still need to be supervised at all times during handling.  |
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Janos
Snake Mite
United Kingdom
19 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2010 : 01:08:58
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| I'd recommend a corn snake perhaps though, over a king snake, just because of the bitey-ness. |
0.1.0 - Anery Corn Snake
0.1.0 - Normal Leopard Gecko
1.0.0 - Normal Royal Python
0.0.1 - Sinaloan's Milksnake |
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Is a King snake the best choice for us?
