Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been into mostly reptiles for 5 years I have a few beareded dragons and a few monitors. I have been wanting to get a python or a boa but I know nothing about snakes. What is the difference between pythons and boas except the way they are born? Also do they require uvb/uva lighting like reptiles? I know they range from 5-8 feet as adults and males are smaller correct? Is there a type that stays around the 3-4 foot range? If anyone has any information it would be thankfully excepted. Also a good site to find boa/pythons(once i find out the main differences) that are captive bread. Local pet stores have them but i am not a fan of off the wall pet stores that order in mass amounts of reptiles and have no clue how to take care of them, plus are not able to 100% guarantee they are CB.
Thanks

Look into a Children's or Spotted python. Spotted python's get about 4 ft and Children's about a foot less less. Both tend to have nice temperaments. Culture is fairly easy for either.

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It sounds like you need to do some more research to narrow down which species you are interested in.

Boas range from 1.5 feet as adults to over 20 feet.
Pythons range from about 2 feet as adults to over 25 feet.

Here's a quick list of some appropriate and available captive born species you might want to research. I left off really big species and species that aren't good choices as a first time captive.

PYTHONIDAE
Children's Python - Antaresia childreni
Spotted Python - Antaresia maculosa
Stimson's Python - Antaresia stimsoni
Woma - Aspidites ramsayi
Carpet Python - Morelia spilota
Borneo Blood/Short-tailed Python - Python breitensteini
Blood Python - Python curtus
Ball Python - Python regius

BOIDAE
Rubber Boa - Charina bottae
Indian/Brown Sandboa - Eryx johnii
Kenyan/East African Sandboa - Eryx colubrinus
Rough-scaled Sandboa - Eryx conicus
Rosyboa -Lichanura trivirgata
Dumeril's Boa - Acrantophis dumerili
Pacific Boas - genus Candoia
Boa Constrictors - Boa constrictor
Amazon Treeboas - Corallus hortulanus (pretty easy to keep but can't be handled unless you like donating blood)
Rainbow Boas - Epicrates cenchria
Colombian Rainbow Boa - Epicrates maurus

If you want a beefy but not huge species that is usually very tame (except when food is involved!), you might consider a Borneo Blood Python. They aren't expensive and if you care for them properly they are a lot of fun. They are very stout snakes, although they don't exceed 5-6 feet. They also have a lot of personality!

Here's a link to a photo of one showing you their size (random photo off web) - www.primareptilia.com/gallery/albums/fred/Fred_17.sized.jpg
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I was looking at spotted pythons or ball pythons, I think spotted are not as stout or get as long ( 4feet) and I read that balls are very tame and get around 5 feet, but they are stout.

Are spotted pythons pretty people friendly?

>>I was looking at spotted pythons or ball pythons, I think spotted are not as stout or get as long ( 4feet) and I read that balls are very tame and get around 5 feet, but they are stout.
>>
>>Are spotted pythons pretty people friendly?

Generally they are. Babies are a bit nippy, but most adults are very calm snakes.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas