Best Snake Breeds for Kids that are Safe and Easy to Care for?

If your child has been begging for a pet snake, you are not alone. Snakes are fascinating creatures that can actually make wonderful pets for kids when you choose the right species. The key is picking a snake that is gentle, easy to handle, and simple to care for.

After looking into dozens of species, here are the five best snake breeds for kids. Each of these snakes is non venomous, docile, and forgiving of the kind of beginner mistakes that come with a child learning to care for a pet.

1. Corn Snake

Corn snakes are often considered the number one beginner snake, and they are an excellent choice for kids. They are gentle, rarely bite, and come in a huge variety of beautiful colors and patterns called morphs. Kids love picking out their favorite color combination.

Corn snakes typically grow to be about 3 to 5 feet long, which is a manageable size for children to handle with supervision. They are active and curious without being too fast or unpredictable, making them enjoyable to watch and hold.

Care requirements are straightforward. Corn snakes need a secure enclosure with a warm side around 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a cool side around 75 degrees. They eat pre killed mice every 7 to 10 days and need fresh water and a clean enclosure. With proper care, corn snakes can live 15 to 20 years, so this is a long term commitment.

2. California Kingsnake

California kingsnakes are hardy, beautiful, and great for families. They have bold black and white (or brown and white) banding patterns that make them eye catching. These snakes are known for being curious and active, which makes them fun for kids to observe.

One interesting fact that kids love is that kingsnakes got their name because they eat other snakes in the wild, including venomous ones. They are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and copperheads. Of course, as pets they eat mice, not other snakes.

California kingsnakes grow to about 3 to 4 feet long and are easy to handle once they get used to regular interaction. They can be a little nippy as babies, but they calm down quickly with gentle, consistent handling. Their care requirements are very similar to corn snakes.

3. Rosy Boa

Rosy boas are one of the most gentle and slow moving snakes you can find, which makes them perfect for younger children who might be a little nervous about handling a snake. These snakes rarely bite and are incredibly docile.

Rosy boas stay on the smaller side, usually reaching about 2 to 3 feet in length. They are slow and deliberate in their movements, so there is no worry about them darting out of a child’s hands. Their calm nature makes them one of the most handleable snake species available.

These snakes come from dry desert environments, so their enclosure setup is a bit different from other beginner snakes. They prefer lower humidity and need a warm basking spot. They are also excellent escape artists, so a secure enclosure with a tight fitting lid is essential.

4. Gopher Snake

Gopher snakes are a fantastic option for kids who want a larger, more impressive looking snake. They can grow to be 4 to 6 feet long, which makes them look quite striking without being dangerous in any way.

These snakes are commonly found throughout North America and are known for their calm demeanor once they are accustomed to handling. In the wild, gopher snakes sometimes mimic rattlesnakes by flattening their heads and vibrating their tails, which is a harmless defense mechanism. Once they learn to trust their owner, this behavior goes away completely.

Gopher snakes are hearty eaters and generally very healthy, which means fewer trips to the vet. They do well in a standard snake enclosure with appropriate temperatures and eat mice or rats depending on their size.

5. Ball Python

Ball pythons are one of the most popular pet snakes in the world, and for good reason. They are famously docile and get their name from their habit of curling into a tight ball when they feel scared rather than biting.

Ball pythons grow to be about 3 to 5 feet long and are thick bodied, which makes them feel sturdy and secure when a child holds them. They move slowly and are very tolerant of handling. Like corn snakes, they come in hundreds of different morphs, so kids can pick a pattern they love.

The one thing to know about ball pythons is that they can be picky eaters. Some ball pythons go through phases where they refuse food for weeks at a time, which can be stressful for a new snake owner. This is usually normal behavior, especially during winter months, but it is something to be aware of.

Tips for Families Getting Their First Snake

Before bringing a snake home, have a conversation with your child about what snake ownership involves. Snakes need to eat whole prey items like mice, which some kids (and parents) find unsettling at first. Make sure everyone in the household is comfortable with this before committing.

Set up the enclosure completely before bringing the snake home. This means having the right temperatures, humidity, substrate, water dish, and hiding spots all ready to go. A stressed snake that is placed in an unprepared enclosure is more likely to be defensive.

Supervise handling sessions, especially in the beginning. Teach your child to wash their hands before and after handling the snake, to move slowly and calmly, and to support the snake’s body rather than squeezing it. With the right guidance, caring for a pet snake can teach kids responsibility, empathy, and a lifelong appreciation for animals.

Snakes to Avoid for Kids

While the five snakes above are great for kids, there are some species that families should stay away from. Large constrictors like Burmese pythons and reticulated pythons grow far too large for children to handle safely. Green tree pythons and emerald tree boas are beautiful but tend to be more defensive and are not great for handling.

Any venomous species is obviously off limits, and some species that are technically non venomous, like hognose snakes, can cause mild allergic reactions in some people. Stick with the tried and true beginner species listed above, and you will be setting your family up for a great experience.