Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I am interested in aquiring either a ball python or spotted python and have read about both speices and was wondering what your opinions are on both. which becomes more docile? which likes to stay still in your hands but not be afraid to move around? and finally which is more agressive as a baby or juvie? oh and if anyone could post a pic of there spotted pythons cage i would be happy. Thankyou.

Well, it really just boils down to taste. They are both very calm and move slowly and deliberately. If you want a python that is just going to sit in your hands the way a lap dog sits on your lap then a ball python is good. If you want something with a bit more personality then I would get a spotted. Both generally have good dispositions and seldom bite, even as babies. I have handled tons of babies of both species and neither have ever attempted to bite. They get about the same length but a ball is much more massive and heavy bodied which justifies a larger set up. Here are some pics of my baby Cape York Spotteds and their shoebox.

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1.1 Womas, 1.0 Australian Olive Python, 1.1 Cape York Spotted Pythons, 1.0 Australian Water Python, 1.0 Albino Green Burmese, 1.1 Loxocemus bicolor (New World "Pythons" ), 2.2 Peruvian Red-Tail Boas, 1.1 Hog Island Boas, 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, 1.2 Crested Geckos, 1.0 Yellow Ackie

cool, thankyou.

You seem like you have some experience. I've had a lot of spotteds, but I just got a ball. It seems really angry (i think it might be wild caught) and it keeps trying to bite me. It's mouth seems a lot bigger than my spotteds, even though it's about the same length. Does a ball python bite hurt more than a spotted, or are they actually pretty similar? Thanks in advanced, Jack.
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1.0 Spotted pythons, 0.0.1 Stimsons python, 1.0 Diamond python (yes, I am from Australia)