Hi there, I would suggest a snake that is utterly docile and very tolerant of any mishandling. I tend to think a juvinile rubber boa is an excellent first snake. Not terribly expensive, the thing will probably never bite/strike and easy to care for.

Your request for a herp that likes to be handled is really sort of a difficult request as it is caution to being handled or messed with that allows an animal to survive in the wild. So we keepers fool these wild animals into putting up with us by demonstrating to them over and over again that we can be trusted and that we mean them no harm.

Lizards and frogs aren't much for being held, nor are they big on sitting there and chilling out in your hand. A rubber boa will sit in your hand or coil around your finger or even your wrist. Keepers sometimes let them wrap around their wrist like its a bracelet. They don't have much in the way of constriction because of their little size so no danger to your 3yr old. As with all herps and children, constant supervision is a must.

They look just like this. Brownish/greyish in color. I chose this snake for your needs because the temperment is phenemenonal and the keeping requirements very minimal. No heat/humidity requirements. They can go 6 months w/o food so if you forget to feed them one week its of no concern. Thus I think it would be perfect for your son as it really could be held a lot and he could show it to others. One thing to note is that rubber boas are good at escaping terrariums by wiggling through small holes or not tight lids, so something secure is good.

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