I think kids having pets in general is a great idea. What's important is that the parents support the endevor and supervise until they are sure the kid is responsible. (As I'm sure you are). Taking care of pets, whether is herps or a dog, teaches young people how to be responsible and to respect other living things. I've met 12 year-olds maintaining salt-water reef tanks, so determined kids are definately capable of handling complex care regimes.
My pet peeve are parents who buy pets for kids who aren't ready for them, and then don't either care for the creature themselves, or make their kid do it. Same with parents that don't bother to make sure their kid is learning the right way to care for a pet.
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Porter

Reptiles
1.0 Crested Gecko (Tort)

Fish
2.0 Oscars
2.1 Polypterus
0.0.5 Angels
0.0.1 Dusky Jawfish (Golum)
and many more . . .

Mammals
1.1 Alley Cats
0.1 Rat
0.1 Chinchilla
1.0 Degu
1.0 Boyfriend (Mike)

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