Absolutely! A snake is a great pet, and a corn snake is one of the best starter snakes (it was mine :-). Cuddling isn't the only reason to have a pet. Snakes are beautiful, amazing, wonderful pets that can teach kids not only about responsibility, but that all creatures have their place in the world, no matter how different they are from us.

Snakes can make wonderful pets, and require less consistent maintenance than some other potential pets (including many other reptiles - turtles, for example, require a lot of work). I have kept large collections of reptiles for many years, and have a fair bit of professional husbandry under my belt, too, for what that's worth, and I heartily recommend a corn snake, milk snake, or rat snake for those interested in keeping reptiles.

However, you need to realize that this new pet will require some care that differs from what you're used to. The snake will need proper heating (overhead lamps, not a hot rock), and a supply of whole animal food (i.e. mice). Your sources are absolutely correct in indicating that pre-killed mice can be used (I buy them frozen and thaw them prior to feeding. Every snake in my collection eats thawed mice, only). Snakes are also very good at escaping enclosures that are not latched - invest in some cage clips for the front and/or top of the enclosure (depending on the type).

Best of luck.

No! No! No! A thousand times no.

Snakes are great pets for the right person, no different than a dog is the right pet for some people and the wrong pet for others.

Make sure your son carefully researches the care and feeding and learns proper husbandry from a responsible source. Many books have poor quality information and many vets have very little herp/reptile information. Anapsid.org and kingsnake.com are two websites (no affiliation) with quality information.

Keep in mind that a corn snake can live 20 years. Are you willing to step up and care for the snake while your son is at college and perhaps continue to care for the snake when he marries and moves out, without the snake?

Also, please buy from a responsible breeder and not a pet shop. A breeder will be more willing to mentor your son and more likely to have healthy, well-cared for stock.

Thanks for your advice. I'm not thrilled with caring for the snake after he moves out. He's got to take it with him! Liz

I concurr, I first started with a Calfornia King Snake (which are very hardy snakes and have a great tempermant). Not saying that corn snakes aren't the same, of which they are very calm with the proper handler.
As far as the feeding goes, you can buy frozen mice, and the snake may not adapt to eating thawed frozen mice ( I know that mine didn't). So, I juust fed him live mice.

My son had 2 corn snakes for many years. They're very neat pets. Feed them once a week, we bought frozen mice from the reptile show in Havre de Grace (www.pythons.com for more info). Pull out of the freezer, put in a ziplock back and place in warm water for 15 minutes and then put in the enclosure with the snake. Corn snakes are not very picky.

What about cleaning the cage? How often do you have to do that? --Liz

We knew a family that had a very large boa constrictor. Years and years after the sons had grown up and moved on, the snake stayed on. It even had its own room. For all I know, it's still there. It sounds like a rather sad existence from my point of view, but perhaps the snake has a different point of view.

I think it is a great idea to get a snake. I have a corn snake and a ball python. Both of my snakes are fed frozen/ thawed mice. I would recommend a corn snake. Corn snakes are not picky eaters at all, they are easy to care for, they have a docile temperament, nice patterns, and they don't get too big. Keep in mind that they can live up to 20 years so decide if you are prepared for a long term commitment.

snakes are wonderful and easy to care for. have him do reasurch and undstand what it means. it would teach him a lot and you can have him compleatly care for it so you don't have to feed it. over all it's just like any other pet and you get diffrent experances from types of pets.