Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am really interested in getting a python/boa. I live in a college dorm most of the time, so i've been looking at something small or something that does not need a very large cage. I've been seriously considering a tree boa/python, mostly a type of amazon tree boa because of the low cost. I dont have any experience with keeping boas, but i have had an eastern kingsnake and a host of chameleons and geckos in the past, plus i spent the summer working with wild pine snakes, so i am familiar with snakes, especially ones that can be nasty and what not. I'm basically considering a spotted python (something that can handled and taken out of the cage) and Amazon tree boas(something that is more of a display animal). How well do atb's take to handiling and how easy is it, if at all to tame them if i got one as a baby. While i am fairly confident in my abilities, how difficult are atbs to take care off. Any information would be greatly appreciated...thanx.

I have both spotted and atb. The spotted is going to be easier to take care of. I have had my atb since it was a baby..its about a year now....he doesnt bite to often, but i dont take it out to much either, its mostly a look at me snake. They require daily misting to keep the humidity levels high enough, if you leave for a weekend to need to have somone mist it for you..unless you rig up some kind of automatic watering system.
If you are looking for somthing to hold alot i would go with the spotted python...they are very cool snakes. Either snake isnt what anyone will suggest as a "starter snake" they are all going to tell you to get a ball python....do some research and be prepaired....

Jason

I go out of my way to handly my ATB daily and she's lost her aggressiveness towards handling. It took a lot of work but now I'm rarely nipped at.