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

When I first began keeping snakes, I thought balls were just awful looking with the tiny heads and fat bodies. Since then I have become crazy with ball pythons, they are my favorite!

But, if you want a python that is easy to care for (like the ball) and will not grow as huge as a boa, I would try the carpet pythons. I own a jungle carpet python and she is just great. They grow impressively long, but not as long or heavy as a boa constrictor. (IE they can't kill you.) And carpets come in a lot of shapes and sizes, depending on the type you want. I have a jungle, and she is flawless. Go over to the carpet forum, and have a look. Carpets are also more willing to feed than some balls. I really think that this is an overlooked group of animals for people who haven't kept many snakes.

thanks for the info, it sounds interesting and mite work. I will look into it.

David

You don't want to keep it longer? Well, an adult BP does not look goofy. I have kept both. Here's why I like BPs:

1) It's a snake.
2) Their size makes them mangageable.
3) They are attractive.
4) They are docile.
5) They are fairly easy to care for.

Boas get too large for me. Finding rabbits to feed can also become a problem - especially if the local pet store is against it. Going to be in a college dorm? I'm sure a boa would not be allowed.
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Jay A. Martin

I did not mean lifespand, I meant it being convinient.

David

Ball pythons are good in the size department, but many males (and heck, females) will go off their feed for the winter months, or sometimes once in awhile, for seemingly no reason at all.
Balls are pretty thick bodied snakes, but if you wanna see a really thick snake, look up blood pythons!
I included a pic of my male adult ball python. He went off feed last winter predictably and now is plowing through rats whenever fed.
A ball python will never exceed 5 feet. And if it does, I'll buy it from you!
Boas (Boa constrictor imperator species) are pretty nice snakes, and in my experience they have better feeding records than balls. But a boa has the potential to exceed 7 feet, esp. a female. And they are a bit unnerving for a beginner who has never had a smaller snake, in my opinion. I'd start with a ball; I did, and now I keep balls and boa.

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2.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 huge fat albino Cranwell's horned frog
etc..

Thanks for the info, I willt ake it into consideration.

David