Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 5 year old son wants a black and yellow snake.
I found a Cal-king snake in these colors at a petstore they said he was a good eater and very tame.
I resently bought a Red rat snake from there...wounderful snake but ONLY Likes me!
What I wanted to ask is do you think a King sanake a good snake for a 5 going on 6 year old boy?
He has a cat of 3 years of ounership outside and a bird both whom he takes very good care of and I would of course be right there with him for all the care feeding etc.
Many thanks, Red Rat

I personally don't think that any reptile makes a great pet for children that young, UNLESS you as the parent take full responsibility of the reptile, AND use it as a learning experience for the child to teach responsibility. Your kid may be different, but in my experience they usually(at his age) can't really tell when they are squeezing too hard, or not to the drop the snake, and all that jazz. It can be done, was with me at a young age, and can be very rewarding to watch your child grow up with an interest in snakes, but I would use extreme caution for the snakes welfare and health. But yes a cal king is just as good as any if you are to start them on a great snake. They tend to musk a lot while young, but that is different with each individual. Other than that it is a great beginner snake.

yea that would be a good snake but like he said they do tend to musk alot but thats something that can be fixed if you hold them a lot.

The only real drawback to Cal kings, is certain individuals sometimes have very strong feeding responses. (mistake hands for mice) But only some of them do that, (like my beloved little pet). Above recommendations about supervision etc are excellent points and I second them. I strongly suggest you have your son wash his hands thoroughly before handling (to unscent the corn snake, cat and bird) as well as after. And if possible, I suggest temperment screening for the snake, so basically only you handle it for a month so and if worst comes to worst and it chomps and constricts (gently unwind starting at the tail and use a spritz bottle of white vinegar to get him to let go), you get it and not your son.
But they are lovely little animals and I'm talking Murphy's law worst case scenario.
Good luck and enjoy.
-----
0.1 chickens (Condor)
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)
0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)
0.1 Normal phase California Kingsnake (Sophia)
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

Thank you tons, Funny you whould say Halflinger...that is my son all time favorite horse...as he says "The Yellow is inportant". As with the snake he only wants "Yellow & Black" snake. And I finaly found a yellow and black one at a pet store but it was a Cal. King and a $100.00 the lady worked with me as to doing payments and I put a depost down.
So I hope it works out I would love to have gottin him a Rat snake like mine but all the right colored ones were BIG time $.
Thank you for all the help.