Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm moving into intermediate snake-keeping and just wanted some opinions on which snake you like better, the Jungle Carpet or the Borneo Blood, and why?

Thanks!

Well what do you have experience with already. Carpets really arent much of an intermediate snake I honestly think they make great firt pet snakes. Bloods arent really that difficult either just make sure it stays about 75%-80% humidity but try not to let it get sloppy wet in their. But if you ask me they are kind of boring thats why I got out of them. If you want something that is a little bit more difficult that is pretty active go with Brazillian rainbow boas. They require slightly lower temps lower temps than others and higher humidity and they are easily one of the most beautiful snakes in the world semi arboreal and not too pricey to seal the deal.

I think either snake would be great, but I do agree in part with the other poster: I don't see carpets as a very big challenge, unless you're looking at a snappy 9' coastal or something. Actually, when someone asks me what is the best first pet python, I always recommend a carpet of any subspecies, but mostly Jungles and IJs becase of their size and affordability. I hate seeing people recommend balls as a good first python because of their tendency to go off feed with no warning and stay off for sometimes months. That, and I think they are just boring pet snakes, comparatively speaking of course. By the way, this is by no means an attack on ball pythons. I have a couple myself and they're okay, but IMHO, they aren't good first pet pythons.

Anyway, back to the situation at hand. Carpets are awesome snakes! Moderate length and perfect bodily thickness. I.e. they won't eat you out of house and home....or try to eat you! They are beautiful (again, IMHO), and good display snakes because of the arboreal nature of the young and semi-arboreal nature of the adults. They generally feed with...vigor...on most prey items, though a carpet that has been raised on mice only may have problems switching to rats. Their care can be as easy or as elaborate as you wish. A simple newspaper substrate, water bowl, and a hide or two in a sweater box works great, as does an arboreal cage with branches and fake or real plants (note: any real plans will likely be destroyed in fairly short order, so don't go overboard). They don't need any special husbandry requirements...moderate temps, moderate humidity, moderate feeding, etc. To me, they are just one of the perfect pet snakes. Babies can be snappy, as can some adults, but by and large they calm down amazingly well as they age. Adults won't need huge enclosure accomodations either.

As for bloods, I don't have as much experience with them as the carpets so this won't be quite so indepth. The other poster is correct, humidity is the key with this species. Too long in dry conditions and you'll learn how to treat an RI (respiratory infection). Disclaimer: the follow sentence does obviously not hold true in all cases, so please don't flame me Bloods are not known for their...flowery...temperaments. W.c. animals, which you definitely want to avoid, can be outright nightmares, launching themselves their full body lengths to try to nail you (gabs ain't got nothing on these guys!). Cbb animals are generally somewhat more amiable, but I've experienced some pretty nasty ones of them too. Bloods have evolved in the same niche as any other sit-and-wait predator, i.e., they sit perfectly still and nail you when they think they can. They strike hard, and they strike fast. A hit from a big adult may result in the need for a hospital visit. All that being said, some cbb bloods are perfect. I had a t albino male for a short time, a yearling around 3' in length, who was awesome. He was completely undefensive and wouldn't even react if I reached in over his head. He was absolutely the tamest blood I've ever encountered.

The best thing about bloods, IMHO, is that they can attain the girth of a 10, maybe even 15' burmese python, in a convenient, affordable 5 to 6' package. Big adults are impressive, to say the very least.

So really, it's going to just all boil down to what you are willing to risk in getting the animal (a potential biter with either species, more so with the bloods though), what space you have available, what lengths you want to go to in regards to husbandry (more humid requirements for bloods), etc. You're the only one who can make that call. Good luck though!!
-Chance
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Chance Duncan
http://www.rivervalleysnakes.com

Thanks guys for all the responses. I think I've decided on a carpet, probably a jungle. They sound a little more fun to care for...

Make sure you deal with a reputable breeder and make sure you know what your looking for. There are alot of people trying to pass off coastals and hybrids as pure jungles to people that dont notice the differences. I hope you enjoy him when you get him they are fun snake to keep and breed. I also agree with Chance with them being a better beginner than balls and with their prices dropping so much they will probably replace the ball someday.

And about the bloods they are very easy to tame down if you get them as babies. I never met one I could not tame most are very nippy and nervous as babies but as they get larger they seem to calm down. Wild caughts on the other hand are almost always terrors in my experience when all they want to do is flail bite and let loose all of their bodily functions and they do hit like a ton of bricks when they bite.