Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am planning on buying my first snake, and these two in particular have caught my eye. Does anyone have an opinion on cost of care, special care, temper, etc? Please, this is not "Rainbow vs Ball" topic, i am just looking for some insight (ie: good and bad things about each).

Thank You!

cataphract,
. I am going to guess that you have seen Brazilian Rainbow Boas or photos of them and that is the subspecies of Rainbow Boa you are asking about. Ball Pythons eat less than Brazilian Rainbow Boas and therefore are cheaper to keep. Ball Pythons are also much more tolerant of variation in temperature and humidity than Brazilian Rainboa Boas. Ball Pythons are noted for being very docile snakes. Brazilian Rainbow Boas can be tamed to be as docile as a Ball Python but before they are tamed they are much more likely to bite than any Ball Python. Brazilian Rainbow Boas are infinitely more beautiful and interesting than Ball Pythons but Ball Pythons are the better "first" pet snake.
Jeff

>>I am planning on buying my first snake, and these two in particular have caught my eye. Does anyone have an opinion on cost of care, special care, temper, etc? Please, this is not "Rainbow vs Ball" topic, i am just looking for some insight (ie: good and bad things about each).
>>
>>Thank You!

from the BP forum..just kidding.

Mike
-----
0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

>>from the BP forum..just kidding.
>>
>> Mike
>>-----
>>0.1 Leos
>>1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
>>0.1 Banan California King
>>0.0.1 Childrens python
>>1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
>>1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
>>1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
>>"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

>>>>from the BP forum..just kidding.
>>>>
>>>> Mike
>>>>-----
>>>>0.1 Leos
>>>>1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
>>>>0.1 Banan California King
>>>>0.0.1 Childrens python
>>>>1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
>>>>1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
>>>>1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
>>>>"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

wich is why i placed it for you LOL.....
-----
0.1 Leos
1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
0.1 Banan California King
0.0.1 Childrens python
1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

>>wich is why i placed it for you LOL.....
>>-----
>>0.1 Leos
>>1.1 Corn snakes (1 Lav & 1 Ghost)
>>0.1 Banan California King
>>0.0.1 Childrens python
>>1.1 Brazilian Rainbow boa
>>1.0 Rat (as pet not food)
>>1.2 Ball pythons (1pastel 2 normals)
>>"whats with you and all those dang reptiles?"

I think you also need to consider the purpose of having a snake. If you want one to curl up or hang around you neck calmly while you watch a movie, a rainbow wouldn't be a good choice. Mine are always "on the go" while being held. None of them just sit there. They are not too likely to be cruising around their enclosure during the day. A rainbow will likely cost 2-3 times more as far as purchase cost, and will eat like every meal is it's last. Balls are notorius for going off food for months at times. If you choose a ball, only buy a captive breed animal that is plump and has no external parasites or stuck shed skin on it.

The housing situation differs greatly. Balls are relatively easy to keep and are a good choice for a new to snakes person. Rainbows require much more specific and consistant environment. So the way you intially set one up will be somewhat different. As an adult the Rainbow will be longer, but about the same girth-maybe a bit narrower.

Do lots of research first, talk to lots of people, and remember purchasing a snake requires a long commitment.

Linda
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"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance- that principle is contempt prior to investigation." Herbert Spencer

As the other posters stated, there are pros and cons to both in regards to a first snake. Balls are generally considered to be a good starter snake, but the fact they can stop feeding for no apparent reason can confuse new keepers and cause them a lot of un-needed stress.

BRBs (Brazilian Rainbow boas) are generally not considered good starter snakes, because their requirements are much more specialized. That being said, they can be kept by beginners if the neccesary homework is done and the species is thoroughly researched. Do all this BEFORE you get the snake, no matter what snake you are getting.

My honest suggestion for a first snake would be either a corn snake or a kingsnake of whatever species. They are pretty undemanding in their husbandry requirements, and you will learn the basics of keeping snakes, and that will help you when you move on to harder species. You don't want to spend a bunch of money on a snake and find out you got yourself in deeper than you expected. Hope all this helps, and good luck to you.

Abhi Prasad

n/p

Going against conventional wisdom here: my Ball was VERY difficult to get eating...and very frustrating. Now, he ONLY eats stunned live mice, or he won't eat. They're not as tolerant of fluctuations in humidity as some might think...just watch what happens when the humidity gets below about 50% and your BP needs to shed. Lots of fun. Someone told me a BP was a good beginner snake. I'd like to find that person now and give him a piece of my mind. Not that I don't love my BP. He's my favorite snake. He was just not even close to an "easy beginner" snake.

By contrast, my BRB eats everything and anything I put in front of her. Her husbandry requirements are stricter, but not so much that I would consider her a "difficult" snake to keep. (Certainly she's nothing like what my boyfriend deals with for his GTPs!) They're just not snakes you can "walk away from" for any period of time. Then again, I don't think BPs are either! As long as you do the research and are dilligent about husbandry, they're not "difficult".

As for personality, BRBs are more interesting snakes, but BPs are better "hanging out" snakes and much mellower.

Just my .02.