Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What kind of pythons are known to be the least aggressive? I am looking into getting a python. I don't want a ball python, im looking at mostly JCP's. I like the olive pythons, but do not know about their temperment.

So what are the top 5 docile pythons? I know it varies snake to snake, so just an average overall reputation.

thanks.
-----
0.0.2 RES's (The Boondock Saints)
0.0.1 Common Snapping Turtle (Aggro)
0.0.1 Eastern Red Bellie (Jake)
0.0.1 Map Turtle (Mappy)
0.2.0 Bearded Dragon (Yeungling,Killian)

It is a little more complicated than that but my overall top five based on care requirements and overall temperment.

1. Spotted Pythons
2. Childrens Pythons
3. Woma Pythons
4. Ball Pythons
5. Olive Pythons

All of those are small to medium sized pythons. The olive is the most docile large python, but I would never recommend a large snake to a beginner. And, of course, there are always exceptions to the rules. For example, I have a female woma that is an absolute terror. The pic below is of my male and typical of most womas.

-----

1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Cape York Spotted Python,1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.1 Hog Island Boas,1.0 Peruvian Red-Tail Boa, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 0.2 "Flame" Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie

>>1. Spotted Pythons
>>2. Childrens Pythons
>>3. Woma Pythons
>>4. Ball Pythons
>>5. Olive Pythons

You have to watch out for those crazy spotteds and childrens!! lol Seriously though, most juveniles I've personally encountered of either of these species were quite snappy. A friend of mine has a young adult spotted that is horrid! Of course these are mostly exceptions to the rule, but be prepared for whatever comes along. I'm obviously biased here, but olives would be something to consider. Average length for this species is 7 to 8' and they should be less massive than a coastal carpet of the same length. You'd want to go for a male if you wanted to stay small, but according to some information I've recently received from a very reputable source, even females shouldn't be as extremely massive as lots of people make them.

Balls are always a popular choice, though IMHO, this is often an error, especially for a newbie. They are notorious for going off of feed, and can be a major headache for an inexperienced keeper.

Womas would also be very nice. The only major drawbacks I could see for either womas or even olives would be their price. Most new keepers don't want to invest large amounts of money into their first acquisition, so they tend to go the cheap route. If you're willing to put out the money though, I'd say either of these species are hardy, rewarding animals to work with. Good luck with whatever you decide.
-Chance
-----
Chance Duncan
http://www.rivervalleysnakes.com

I have two spotteds that will bite every time given the chance. They are not agressive, just very enthusiastic feeders. I have been bitten by spotteds more than any other snake. They are still great snakes. They are very active and love to explore thier enclosures. Watching them feed is also very impressive.

I only had one, but will probably pass on getting another. Mine was fine when she was a baby, but when she was about 18 months old, she decided that she wanted to eat me. She would pull back into a strike position whenever she saw me anywhere near the cage and then would attack. She also didn't let go. I had to take off the rubber glove (I hate to get bitten) several times after waiting over 15 minutes and put the whole thing back into her cage. But she was a very enthusiastic feeder!
phflame

Go w a big colubrid then garaduate to pythons. There are some really nice BIG rat/king snakes out there

I agree....i have a spotted and though it is generally mellow it will and has bitten several times..sharp teeth too....does love its food though..got to be real careful with food in your hand...

I have a fantastic male spotted that has only bitten me once, and that's because I had a mouse in the room (yes, I was an idiot). other than that he has been an absolute joy and just as docile as any of my snakes. I also really enjoy that he doesn't just sit like a log when I take him out like ball pythons can. Spotteds are more like colubrids in how active they are.

Heh,
Where was this info on the nippyness last year when *I* needed it!?!? I got two of these guys and yeah, they're both pretty damn nippy, though one has gotten worse while the other has gotten better. Glad to know it's not just me! I was starting to think I was a bad mommy or something!

KC

I think they are great! I've got a big female borneo blood and she is great!

i would say these pythons are friendly
1 Diamond python
2 bredli python
3 black headed python
4 coastal carpet python
5 Irian Jaya carpet python

i only own the diamond python right now but i'll have an bredli soon. my diamond python hasn't striked or bitten me not even when hungry or shedding. she is very placid and the most friendest snake i have owned. i used to have a spotted python but she wasn't a good feeder so i gave her to my neigbour she only bit me once and striked at me like over 5 times.

carpets and bloods for beginners.

My Irian Jaya was actually the most aggressive snake I have ever owned. Most people are surprised to hear that, but from the first time I picked it up at the airport to the last time he nailed me in the eye the guy was always in attack mode. I believe most carpets are pretty restless, not necesarily aggressive. You can tame them to the point where they don't bite but most Jungles, Irian Jayas, and Coastals I know of won't sit still for anything. They are constantly on the move and often don't tolerate a lot of unnecesary handling. So while they may not always be biters, they are typically (again, not all) energetic and fast moving pythons.

I also wouldn't recommend a blood python, like one of the previous posters suggested. I don't doubt that they have a nice one and they are, indeed, gorgeous animals to look at, but they are typically not the calmest pythons on the market. I have seen tame ones. But again, that isn't the norm, especially with all the imported ones being offered so cheap.

-----

1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Cape York Spotted Python,1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.1 Hog Island Boas,1.0 Peruvian Red-Tail Boa, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 0.2 "Flame" Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie

i owned a spotted python she went off food for 5 months then ate 1 mouse then went off again. with my diamond python she hasn't gone off food and i doubt she would even think of doing it unless she was unheathy. my spotted python was heathy and everything i have never had a problem with my diamond python eatting but the spotted was a problem feeder and i handed her to my neigbour and he said if she don't eat soon she will turn out like his last spotted python has to be force fed weekly. i've heard alot of people having trouble getting there spotted pythons to eat. thats why i surguested the carpet pythons cause there very good feeders and they love there food.

How does anyone expect a python to feed normally if they are force -fed weekly? This says more about your friend's husbandry skills than it does about suitability of the species.
G

I agree mostly about the carpets but when it comes to bloods, in my experience (with captive-bred), most have calm dispositions and a few are aggressive. A lot of people I know and people I know of have them and I really am not aware of any being aggressive. Babies are always going to be defensive, but they generally mellow out within a couple months.

Joe
-----
2.2 Solomen Island ground boas
0.1 Solomen Island tree boa
1.0 green tree python
1.0 jungle carpet python
1.0 coastal carpet python
1.0 Boa constrictor imperator
0.1 Borneo short-tailed (blood) python
1.0 CB sunbeam snake

My IJ's have never bitten but also will never holds still..i dont think they like being held that much..

Another thing to mention is a lot of this hinges on picking an animal from good breeding stock. Disposition is something that is often bred for or is a bipoduct of generations of captive breeding. Most baby pythons, regardless of the species, are aggressive anyway. If you choose to buy from a breeder that has worked with specific species for multiple generations you are more likely to find animals with genes for a calmer disposition as it reaches maturity.

A second thing; don't be afraid of a feeding response. A snake keeper's greatest wish is to have a tame snake that absolutely devours its food without fail at every feeding. I would say if you don't want your snake to lunge at you every time it's cage is opened you should incorporate a seperate feeding container or utilize a hook to hand method of picking up your snake. I find that most of my snakes including my Olive and my water python are generally calmer when outside their cage after being handled with a hook.
-----

1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.0 Cape York Spotted Python,1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 1.1 Hog Island Boas,1.0 Peruvian Red-Tail Boa, 0.1 Belem Brazilian Red- Tail Boa, 0.0.1 North American Wood Turtle, 0.0.2 European Pond Turtles, 1.0 Leucistic Alligator Snapper, 0.0.1 FL Red Belly, 0.0.1 Concentric Diamondback Terrapin, 0.0.1 Marine Toad, 0.2 "Flame" Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie

i feed my carpets in a separate container..works good but they know when food is coming...so watch it..

As you can see by the replies, there is no straight answer. With most any species there are individuals that can be overly agressive or the calmest snake you ever saw. I am not a breeder, but I have had some experience with boas and pythons and temperament is a concern with me. I have found my Centralians to be the most trustworthy. I would rate the Irian Jaya a close second. I had a Burmese a long time ago that I would say was my most docile snake of all time, but that might not be the norm. All you hear is that columbian boas make the best pets, but that is all that I have ever been bitten by. What I don't like columbians is what I like about the carpets. In my experience the columbians were the only snakes that appeared calm and then turned around and bit me. My Irians and Centralians are more active when being held, but they don't seemed to react to movement around them (especially the Centralians - the Irians seem to be a little more head and tail sensitive). What I'm trying to say is that to me they are more predictable and I feel much more comfortable with a snake that I can read as opposed to one that is sitting there perfectly quiet, showing no signs of stress and then tagging me out of nowhere.

best regards
jeff