Hi, I'm a mom of 2 boys (9 and 12) and am thinking of getting a snake for them. I haven't kept snakes personally since high school and college, although at that time, I was very interested in them, and had a decent collection. In the past I've had a sinaloan milk snake, great basin gopher snakes (2), common boas (2), burmese pythons (2), florida kingsnake, sand boa, and a ball python.

The ready availability of frozen mice and rats has made me reconsider keeping reptiles once again. That and my boys' avid interest in them every time we go to PetSmart to pick up food for the cats, fish, and guinea pigs.

I was planning on sticking with one of the more common and easy to care for species, and so was thinking of either a California kingsnake, or else a corn snake. The boys like the appearance of the California kings at the pet shop. I have never kept corns, but I imagine they are similar in some ways to the gopher snakes that I used to have. I really liked my Florida king, but I acquired him as an adult from another collector. I have no experience with hatchlings other than boas (ours bred with one we were keeping long-term for a friend in the navy).

How much can the young snakes be handled? How often are kings likely to musk if they get upset? Do they do it more when they are little? Are corn snakes content to hang around on you when you handle them, or are they go go go all the time? Is it okay to put 2 corns together in the same enclosure (just for future reference). I know that kings have to be housed individually. Both types of snakes are attractive and I think would work well for us. I've seen the recommendations for corn snakes over kings for beginners. Why is that the case?

Thanks!

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