I'll let anyone hold them,as long as they play with and pet the feeder mice first! :crazy01: Anybody that knows how to handle them can hold mine.For little kids(that aren't mine) and people that aren't sure about them,I hold the snake and let them touch it.My 3 year old daughter holds all mine and wasn't afraid of a BIG retic.My 15 year old daughter won't even hold a hatchling corn.She likes her geckos,beardies and tarantula. :shrugs: