i used to have a ball python (royal python) beautiful docile snake, very calm and enjoys being handled, i thought it had nice color, sort of a khaki green and beige brown patching... they start real small; fits in the palm of a kids hand, and they sometimes grow large, but over a long period of time, so it`s real gradual and they don`t get out of hand... we used to bring it to school and freak out everyone, the teachers were ok with it cause we assured them that it was a safe animal. well that`s my opinion, have fun searching a new pet!