What is the ruling on trading in harmless pet snakes?

It is permissible to buy and sell snakes if the purpose is lawful, such as using their skin or conducting experiments on them, based on Abu al-Layth's permissibility of selling them if they are beneficial in medicines. As for keeping them merely for entertainment, it is not permissible, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Five noxious animals are to be killed in the lawful area and in the Haram: the snake, the speckled crow, the mouse, the rabid dog, and the kite," and because the scholars said: "What is forbidden to use is forbidden to possess," and "What is obligatory to kill is forbidden to keep." There is no difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes.