opinions NEEDED! pretty please?

[lordkovacs]

I am quite experienced with corns, but I would like some advice on this please...

My little cousin (a very mature 7 year old) wants a corn in the worst way! He's read (with his mom) the corn snake manual, and has waited quite a while for one. His mom isn't afraid of snakes and can help him. Does anyone see a problem with this? I mean, I'm always avail. for them to ask questions, but then again, i'm not 7. Does anyone here have a child that's around 7 years old? Can you tell me how they are with their pets? Thanks so much all... your opinions help. BTW, if I told his mom that it's too hard, she would tell him no. But I really think he is responsible.
cheers,
MIKE

[Simon]

Well if you think that he's responsible and that his mom is willing to take care of the snake together I don't see why not.

I have had snakes (well I catch my snakes then..) when I was 6....I kept them myself and raised them up myself. I even caught a WC gravid garter (without knowing) and actually got the eggs to hatch. And I was only 6....plus my parents didn't even know...so no help from parents..

So I think that if his parents is willing to help and that you think he's a responsible kid, I don't really see a problem~

Just make sure to have someone there to watch him (well the snake so that it doesn't jump and escape) when he's handling it. Wash his hands after handling it and make sure to close the tank properly and everything should be fine~

Just my 2 cents..

[snakehunter]

i have no kids (im 17), but i think that if your are experienced enough to think that a child is responsible enough to own a herp i say the earlier the better, pets teach a plethera of lessons to children and adults, so i say go for it. just make sure that he knows that some times he wont be able to hold his snake, and that he has to be gentle.

[reverendsterlin]

I started when I was 6 so why not with adult help.

[Jeff_Favelle]

I even caught a WC gravid garter (without knowing) and actually got the eggs to hatch.

What's even more amazing is that you got eggs from a garter snake!!! LOL!

[Youkai]

LMAO Jeff you beat me to it....

Er, to respond to the thread starter....

I've had reptiles since I was very very young. The first ones I took care of on my own were leopard geckos. I got them when I was 6, and I still have them. My parents paid for everything, but I looked after them.
It COMPLETELY depends on the kid. If he's responsible enough and his parents will help, I'd say they should go for it.

[lordkovacs]

thanks all!

[SerpentLust]

I've had pets forever, I don't think age really matters, it's all a matter of maturity.

Jenn

[cpt_retic]

I sold a burmese to a friend of mine awhile ago ,then took a keen intrest in my albino burm (7'3) he offered me $350 SOLD! the only thing i'm worried about is he gave the small burm i sold him to his 5 year old kid. His dad is always around when he holds it but it still makes me nervouse . The snake is around 5 feet.
I guess a corn is fine is what i;m tring to say. Instead of a burm.
If the kid has supervision its probably not that bad?

[Beejay]

I have a bunch of kids (ages 2, 4, 6, 7) and they're all fine with handling. Don't expect regular help cleaning and feeding though! lol

Bj

[Simon]

LOL....
oops...I am too used with getting corn snake eggs that this actually came naturally....lol...
what I meant was that I got the babies from the WC animal....if I did get eggs from garters then I guess that I've either found something new or it's not a garter..lol
oh well....

[Invictus]

Because of the parental support in this instance, I think the kid should absolutely have a snake. I have a 10 year old daughter, and I'm trying to convince her mom to let me buy her a Kenyan sand boa. She absolutely loves one of our baby Kenyans. :) As mentioned, if the child is responsible, he should have the snake.

[marisa]

My roomates 7 year old son is taking one of my snow corn hatchlings. He has been helping me clean cages and feed them since he was around four and now has a pretty good idea of how things work. We are keeping the snake here (he lives with his mom) though until its around 6 months to a year old. That way we can watch him handle it, clean it and feed it and it will be a big larger when he takes it to his own house.

It depends on the kid for sure. Not only maturity but that someone has taken the time to teach them over the course of a couple weeks or months so it really sticks.

Marisa

[lordkovacs]

he has been handling my corn for for a couple months. he checks temperature and other tasks. i think he'll be fine...thanks again!

[spydermrs]

My 8 yo daughter has her own corn snake, she feeds her and cleans her cage, handles her gently. as long as you teach them how important it is to keep them clean and also wash their hands thoroughly after ( kids are always putting their hands in or near their mouths) cleaning them.
My daughter is good with all our snakes even the bull snake and boa.

[bob_thesnowman]

hey,honestly i think you'd be surprised,some kids take better care of there pets then some adults,depends on the kid though,trust your own intuition on that one ;)

[Tara Garratt]

We bought our first corn snake when our daughter (who was much younger than 7) was showing signs of developing a fear of snakes. We did not want this fear to continue to develop, so we bought “Samantha.” We told our daughter that Samantha would be her snake, if and when she could start helping to take care of her. Well, that was over a year ago. We now have a little girl who loves snakes and has two of them. Our daughter is not permitted to do the cleaning due to the risks inherent in handling the feces or the feeding, although she holds while I clean. When the snakes eat, she watches and has noticed things like Samantha always eats the darkest coloured prey items first. Initially I was worried she would be upset that Samantha eats rodents, but when I broached this with her she said “Mom, they are dead already.” Thus ended my worries regarding feeding. Getting her that snake was a good idea. Now she is bugging to get more. She wants another amel., and she really likes king snakes. When we explained that 2 corn snakes were enough for any little girl, she tried to convince us to get her little sister a snake too. We are undoubtedly in for a house of snakes. Good luck with your nephew’s snake!

Tara Garratt