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07-Oct-07, 11:13 AM
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I have several young children from 2 to 9, Of which the oldest is really keen on getting a snake. I am comming around to the idea but my wife is dead set against it. If we do go ahead what would be the best snake for a beginer? |
07-Oct-07, 11:20 AM
|  | QUEEN B Subscriber | Join Date: May-07 Location: Brisbane Age/Gender: 23  | | | Hi namrom, welcome to APS 
This thread has some good info about choosing a first snake: FAQ: What is a good first python?
What is it about snakes that your wife does not like?
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07-Oct-07, 11:23 AM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Dec-03 Location: NSW south coast | | | | welcome
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south coast reptiles
private breeder of pogonas & egernias species
& some snake
[email]southcoastreptiles@bigpond.com[/email]
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07-Oct-07, 11:23 AM
| | Suspended | Join Date: Oct-07 Location: SE QLD Age/Gender: 25 | | | welcome.... I'm new too 
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07-Oct-07, 11:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Miss B  Hi namrom, welcome to APS
This thread has some good info about choosing a first snake: FAQ: What is a good first python?
What is it about snakes that your wife does not like? | She is just scared of them. |
07-Oct-07, 11:45 AM
| | Subscriber | Join Date: Jan-07 Location: Country SA | | | | Best tip is to get something a little older. At least around the 1 year mark so you can better judge temperament. As they are no longer in the hatchling strike at everything stage. |
07-Oct-07, 11:46 AM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-06 Location: Out Bush, NSW Gender: | | | Hi Namron, firstly welcome to the site.
Now as for which is the best for you depends on your enclosure size, $$$ and who will be handling it.
I have children and they all take an active roll in helping hold, clean the cages and feed the pythons.
We have a large Coastal, and I couldnt give them a better wrap ours is a very calm girl and has never bitten.
My 5 yr old carries her around and owns his own spotted python which don't grow as big as the coastals so if you want something that wont grow up to 8 foot prob should go for something in the childreni family.
Hope that helps a little
Best of luck and make sure you post pic's if you get one. http://www.aussiepythons.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=65194
__________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away" Stacey |
07-Oct-07, 11:55 AM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: Townsville Age/Gender: 21  | | | Hi Namron, welcome to APS, you'll get all the support and info you need here.
One of the best things you can do for your wife is what you are doing right now, get as much info as you can about snakes from people who are around them everyday. Most people are afraid of things they don't know much about (no offence intended  ), and as they gain knoweldge they lose their fear. Get her used to being around the animals (do you know any friends with reptiles? Go to a herp show perhaps?) and seeing just how calm and predictable the majority of species are. Snakes are not the unpredictable demons in a sausage-skin many people imagine them to be, and are usually remarkably easy to handle (if not...just dont buy that individual... ).
If you're looking for a relatively cheap, well natured snake of average size you can't go past a Coastal Carpet Python, but have a look around anyway.
Take it easy 
__________________ I figure I'm pretty good with the B.S. but I love listening to an expert. Keep talking. |
07-Oct-07, 12:04 PM
| | | | My fear would be it getting out and choking the kids that might be completely unfounded but that is why I was thinking something small |
07-Oct-07, 12:07 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-06 Location: Out Bush, NSW Gender: | | | unless you are looking at getting an Anaconda,  I can't see that happening.
And you can buy locks for the enclosures if they don't come with it.
The best thing you can do is give kids responsibility but always with supervision
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__________________ "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away" Stacey |
07-Oct-07, 12:08 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: Townsville Age/Gender: 21 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by namron My fear would be it getting out and choking the kids that might be completely unfounded but that is why I was thinking something small | It has happened overseas with burmese pythons....but they are HUGE.
I honestly don't think you would have trouble like that with carpets, but go for one of the childreni complex if you're worried about that. The spotted pythons get to about 1.2m max usually, and that takes a few years.
__________________ I figure I'm pretty good with the B.S. but I love listening to an expert. Keep talking. |
07-Oct-07, 12:33 PM
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Originally Posted by rednut It has happened overseas with burmese pythons....but they are HUGE.
I honestly don't think you would have trouble like that with carpets, but go for one of the childreni complex if you're worried about that. The spotted pythons get to about 1.2m max usually, and that takes a few years. | I saw a doco the other day saying 20 Americans die each year, killed by their pet burmese |
07-Oct-07, 12:47 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-07 Location: Cairns Age/Gender: 22 | | | | wow...20
thats impressive
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07-Oct-07, 12:59 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: Townsville Age/Gender: 21 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by namron I saw a doco the other day saying 20 Americans die each year, killed by their pet burmese | Yeah, so you would have also seen the size of the snakes in question, lol, we don't get anything that big, although I'd steer clear of Scrub pythons if you want your kids to handle them  .
Seriously though, most of the smaller python species make exceptional pets. Water pythons and Jungle pythons probably aren't for the beginner, simpy because they are typically a bit more snappy (better to be used to snakes so you are better able to 'read' the animal), but the rest areusually highly recommended.
Think about it this way, treat a snake as you would treat your dog:
-Don't pull its tail
-Dont leave a small child alone with a large snake (same goes for dogs, only difference being plenty of small kids have been killed by their pet dogs in Australia, look up stats for pet python related deaths in Aus resulting from anything smaller than 12 feet).
-Keep it well housed, fed and clean (many of the burmese related deaths result from snakes having a 'feeding response' to their owners presence, not a 'defense response')
Honestly, I've been bitten by at least 4 different dogs on around 7 occasions...and 3 snakes on 3 occasions. In my view, your kids are safer with a python in the house than a dog, even a small one, but that is something you will have to see for yourself. Again, get as much info as you can about them (from keepers, not newspapers ).
__________________ I figure I'm pretty good with the B.S. but I love listening to an expert. Keep talking. |
07-Oct-07, 01:01 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Aug-07 Location: qld Age/Gender: 31 | | | Hey Namron, I recently bought a snake for my sons 8 and 11, I was so impressed by the ease of caring for a snake I quickly purchased one for myself. We have a stimson's python, she is beautifully natured and tiny even if she bit i doubt they would feel it, and a spotted which is a bit more fiesty and has struck at me once but i think that was a result of having my cockatiel out at the same time so he though it was dinner he could smell and just struck at anything that moved which happened to be me (he missed). I would recommend any of the children's python group they are really lovely and your wife will catch on.
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