Our 12 year old daughter has a small zoo in her room.

However, I do take charge and keep an eye on them all.

We constantly tell her to spend time with her critters, it's about teaching responsibility.

My son has a mouse in his room, and he's only 9. However he is only here on weekends, so I have a mouse in my son's room

He does a good job changing down the tank, placing toilet paper tubes in there, and making sure his little friend is happy as he can.

Neither have snakes.