Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know alot of people who have burms also have other types of pythons or reptiles in general, I was wondering if anyone else prefers pythons to boas. I've had argentine and columbian red tails in the past and liked them, but I really enjoy my burms more. I guess it would be the size and overall more gental disposition of burms I like. My argentine and columbians regurgitated ALOT when they were younger, and most of them got really nippy when they got older. Of course they had perfect homes and prey items, so maybe it was just my luck... By no means do I want this to turn into another heated forum debate, I just wanted to know if anyone else likes pythons more than boas. I like rainbow and sand boas, but I am almost weary of emralds and red tails. Has anyone else had bad expeirences with boas and very few with pythons like me?

A big red flag rose up when you mentioned that your "argentine and columbians regurgitated ALOT when they were younger"....that is a serious sign of either a serious husbandry problem, or, you had a habit of purchasing imported, sick animals; either way, that's a problem in my opinion (I have a feeling that husbandry played a key factor in your boas having problems).

As far as which is better the answer is very easy....WHICHEVER ONE YOU ARE INTERESTED IN. It's really that simple. I always tell people that the best pet snake for them is the one that they are most interested in. If that means garter snakes, then garter snakes it is. If its rubber boas, they are cool little boids. If you like big constrictors, great, but just know what you are getting yourself into. Bottom line is that the best snake is the one that you will be most interested in giving a home for. I personally like a wide variety of herps and keep and work with many including quite a few venomous species. At home, I work with black headed pythons, rubber boas, tri colored hognose snakes, western hogs, and I keep a few pets like my 39 year old ball python and a gorgeous red phase western coachwhip....oh yeah, and a pair of mussuranas; I'm all over the board.

Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center

>>I know alot of people who have burms also have other types of pythons or reptiles in general, I was wondering if anyone else prefers pythons to boas. I've had argentine and columbian red tails in the past and liked them, but I really enjoy my burms more. I guess it would be the size and overall more gental disposition of burms I like. My argentine and columbians regurgitated ALOT when they were younger, and most of them got really nippy when they got older. Of course they had perfect homes and prey items, so maybe it was just my luck... By no means do I want this to turn into another heated forum debate, I just wanted to know if anyone else likes pythons more than boas. I like rainbow and sand boas, but I am almost weary of emralds and red tails. Has anyone else had bad expeirences with boas and very few with pythons like me?
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Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center at Elawa Farm
Lake Forest, IL

39 yrs. WOW! That is very cool. What is the record? What is a summarras(sorry I know I just butchered that). Maybe I did'nt articulate the question properly though. I just want to know if anyone else likes pythons more than boas and why.

...i have kept many pythons and boas from rescues (the only way to go for me...sometimes you find some beautiful animals like the 8' 3" 57 lb. female colombian boa i just got will have pics tommorow)...and i have also had a 22' retic that was over 300 lbs...because our scale went to 300...we put her on it and it broke that had the nastiest temper at first then turned out to be quite docile(kinda like nile monitors lol)...and a 16' 230 lb burm named Beanbag that was so docile that you could lean on her and lay your head on her as you watched tv...i love boas as much as i love pythons,they were all my dream snakes when i was growing up and then i actually got to keep just about all species i used to dream about. anyways i decided a few years ago that i didnt need to keep really large constrictors (over 15')any more and would raise and breed boas(after bean bag passed away)....and now i have this huge female boa who is incredibly strong and she reminds me of when i kept bigger burms and retics....i havent kept a python in awile save for the breeding trio of 1.1 sumatran bloods0.1 striped blood python that i rescued for 50 bucks!, that i sold for way more than i paid for them)...well we just bought a baby cb ball python (a present for my girl....shes such a trooper)so theres a python is in the house again....only a matter of time before i get a burm again. im just saying that pythons re just as nice as boas.IMO

My first snake was a boa. She was very nice, but then the last few years I can't trust her.

Rob you say husbuntry problems. Can you explain. I clean the cage weekly temps are good she eats great now and the water is cleaned once a week. The only thing I can think of is that the news paper gets a little moist in the rubbermaid so either more holes in it or change that more often. She may have just regurged her first meal this week, but I am not sure. I will have to watch it this week.

Hearing your story about the boa makes me think of mine. However each snake is different. I like my pythons though. I just dont like how my boa has to hang onto me and cut my circulation
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0.2 Rotts
1.0 Super Tiger
0.1 Green Burm
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Red Tail
0.1 Blood Python
1.0 Green Ananconda
1.0 Emerald Tree Boa

Well, I may just be a daft old girl, but I have both boas (venezuelan Boa constrictor) and burms (one normal male, very small, and one young albino male) and I must admit I prefer the burms. They are more sociable (they seem to like, or tolerate, people more). They seem to like being handled more. My female red tail Desiree, just wants to get away from me and hide somewhere... but my burms lie on my bed in full view, or on top of me!!! I love all snakes, but burmese pythons are definitely my faves!