Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey all. I am planning on going to the NARBC this September in Orange County and I am going to purchase a snake. I am a very seasoned Reptile hobbyest but have never had the pleasure of owning a snake. I want to purchase a snake I can take w/ me to college and have for the next 2-6 years. at first i was going to get a normal ball python. They are so very cute when little and are easy to take care of. But the older they get the fatter there body is and the smaller the head. that look is not so appealing in the long run. Then I thought about getting a Redtail Boa, but they get like 10 ft and thats huge. So can anyone give there opinions about either one or certain types of either one? Or tell me another snake thats a give and take between both of the species I named. Thanks.

David

What are you planning on doing with it after 2-6 years? At that point the snake will still have 30 years left to live.
-----
Eryx - All the fun of a boa in a convenient pocket size!

My question exactly! And are you certain the dorm or apartment, etc you will live it will allow you to keep a snake?
-----
Check Out My Albums

1.0 Ball Python "Aragorn"
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa "Gimli"
1.0 Saharan Sand Boa "Frodo"
0.1 Rough-Scale Sand Boa "Arwen"
0.1 California Kingsnake "Gentoo"
1.0 Mexican Black Kingsnake "Indigo"
1.0 Snow Corn snake "Chile"

0.0.1 Crested Gecko
0.0.1 Irian Jaya BlueTongued Skink

0.1 Australian Cattle Dog/Pointer
"Kira"

I didn't mean lifespand, I guess I wrote it confusingly. My apologies. I meant it being convenient in those years.

David

I dind't mean lifespand, I meant like being easy to take to college, being convenient. (not to big, ect.)

David

IF YOU NOT BIG ON THE IDEA OF A BALL PYTHON THERE ARE CERTAIN TYPES OF BOAS THAT DON'T GROW TO THE SIZES YOU THINK. "DWARFS" IF YOU WILL. I'M NOT VERY FAMILIAR WITH THEM BUT THEY DO EXIST. THE HOG ISLAND MAY BE ONE IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY. I KNOW MALES OF THE COMMON RED TAILS ARE NOT THAT LARGE (THE FEAMALES ARE THE BIGGER OF THE SEXES) BUT STILL MAY BE TOO LARGE FOR YOU. A KING SNAKE OR SIMILAR COLUBRID MIGHT BE WORTH LOOKING INTO. YOU COULD PROBABLY GET AWAY WITH A 20L TANK FOR A LONG TIME IF YOU GOT THEM FAIRLY YOUNG AND THAT DOESN'T TAKE UP MUCH SPACE. PLUS THEY'RE PRETTY EASY TO CARE FOR.

Get a hogg Is Boa, they are just about the same ting as the BCI just much smaller, they only get about 4-5ft long and are just as tame as the larger BCI if you buy CB
Hope this helps

-Chad
A3 Reptiles

I’ll pass on the boa or ball python discussion. Thought you might be interested in the “should I take a herp to college with me” angle (link below). Unfortunately, since the thread is in the 2003 KS archive, it takes FOREVER to open.

http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=133676,133676&key=2003

-Joan

Link

David,
I've had both balls and redtails. I liked the BP but I LOVED the RT. I had a ball python during my younger teenage years and he was my pride and joy. However, he easily slipped in and out of respiratory infections and soon after I had rescued him from a friend, he died of pneumonia. When I was 18, I got a columbian red tail boa from Bob Clark. He's a cranky man, that's for sure...but he's got great snakes. She lasted me a while until I became enthralled with even larger snakes and I traded her off for two albino burms.
I would recommend a ball python for most people...but if you become easily bored with animals, I'd go with a redtail. Balls are fun for a while, but they remain small and with that, the excitement of watching them grow to their full length stops after 4 or so feet. I'd suggest a columbian red tail of at least 3 months of age. By that point, they're past the scary time where they could easily contract a RI or something of the like. At that point, you also know that they are eating and shedding properly. good luck.

Sami
-----
0.2 Burms
4.6 Rats~Rex, Winkin', Kanga, Noodle, Cy, Pyp, Symone, Vyolet, Onyx, Blinkin'
1.1 Dogs~Boots, Karrey

"She's got beauty, brains...and a set of pipes"