Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need some advice from those of you with experience in the minefield of snake purchase options!

I'm planning to get another snake (I have a corn snake that's doing really well, plus an iguana, parrots, ferrets, cats, dogs and a duck) and have set my sites on one of the smaller boids, something that will grow to 5-6' or less. The ball python is on the top of my list, but I'm wondering if I should consider a small boa. A local pet store (privately owned) has what they claim is a dwarf red-tailed boa, also known as a Nicaraguan boa. I can't find anything about any boas from Nicaragua, so I'm wondering about this. The store owner says the snake's a female, has a good disposition and shouldn't get more than 4' or so. She's priced at $200.00 which is more than what I'd like to spend but could do it with some saving. The owner also says that ball pythons get bigger than what I've read, and that they are too problematic when it comes to feeding (like getting one to eat at all is a miracle, and you have to use live or freshly killed prey). Overall her opinion of the ball doesn't seem that great, but maybe it's because she doesn't have one for sale right now? Maybe I'm too much of a skeptic and she really just doesn't think they're a good choice?

Another local pet store (one of the pet store chains, but not one of the big "super" stores)has a young ball, for which they want $100. I haven't looked this snake over yet, just noticed him/her when I was in there buying supplies, so I haven't talked to the store about their feeding experiences with this snake. The store owner with the dwarf boa said never buy anything from this other store. Their snakes have mites, they buy from puppy mills, etc. Since I figure one store isn't going to speak highly of another, I take some of this info with a grain of salt.

I understand the issues involved with potential ball feeding problems, and for that reason, I'm wanting to buy either a c/b baby or an older snake that is used to f/t mice or rats. I've also looked into getting a snake from a reptile rescue facility or an individual, but so far haven't found anyone with a ball they need to place. I haven't asked about rescuing any boas since I'm trying to go with something smaller, and am a little overwhelmed with the different species choices. Plus the conflicting information I've gotten about just how big boas get has me confused.

Temperament-wise, I haven't found much information comparing the smaller boas to the ball python. Mainly I'm looking for something that "likes" to be handled--in quotes because I realize there's a limit to how much joy reptiles experience from human contact. The size limitation has more to do with how much room I can devote to caging and the fact that I don't want to have to feed anything larger than a rat, preferrably f/t.

Since this is the ball python site, I'm sure you all have an affinity for this species, but I'm wondering how a dwarf Nicaraguan boa (if there is such a thing) stacks up in comparison. I'm also confused about the best way to aquire my new snake. A pet store is probably easiest, especially since I can examine the indivdual. Getting one shipped seems a bit scary, and probably wouldn't be any cheaper. I don't care about fancy morphs at this point, and can't afford most of them anyway!

So, with all that rambling aside, here are my questions (some of them raised by the doubt the pet store person planted in my mind):

Don't most balls stay under 6'? She says they don't!
How common are feeding problems with indivduals who have been previously feed f/t?
How might you compare their temperament to that of a boa?
Is there such a thing as a dwarf or Nicaraguan boa? (I'll post this on the boa forum, too)
What is a good price range for a c/b ball from a pet store?
What about having one shipped?

I realize I've asked a lot here, but I'm looking for input from experienced people without an agenda. I could talk to these pet stores, but they may only tell me what they think is going to make them a sale.

Thanks so much for any help you can offer.

Just keep in mind that any Nicaraguan Boa you find in a pet store at 4' feet is going to be WC. And they still get larger than balls. Dont bother with a WC ball because its goingt o be nothing but a headach for you. You should be able to find a cbb baby for $75 or less. I wouldnt get an adult, start young and raise it up. Feeding problems are les than what they are made out to be. In my experince balls will usually go off food durring the winter months when they are a bit older, I have never had trouble with a baby, once they start eatting. As far as size, females balls get larger than males and they will SOMETIMES hit 6 foot but rarely over.

The guy at the pet store has no idea what he is talking about or hes just trying to make a sale. either way I wouldnt trust someone like that to sell me a "dwarf" anything. I would recomend a ball for you. Not because this is a ball forum, but because i personaly think it will be a better fit for what you are looking for.

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Just keep in mind that any Nicaraguan Boa you find in a pet store at 4' feet is going to be WC. And they still get larger than balls. Dont bother with a WC ball because its goingt o be nothing but a headach for you. You should be able to find a cbb baby for $75 or less. I wouldnt get an adult, start young and raise it up. Feeding problems are les than what they are made out to be. In my experince balls will usually go off food durring the winter months when they are a bit older, I have never had trouble with a baby, once they start eatting. As far as size, females balls get larger than males and they will SOMETIMES hit 6 foot but rarely over.

The guy at the pet store has no idea what he is talking about or hes just trying to make a sale. either way I wouldnt trust someone like that to sell me a "dwarf" anything. I would recomend a ball for you. Not because this is a ball forum, but because i personaly think it will be a better fit for what you are looking for.

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If you look in the classifieds here you can find people selling cb balls for $75 shipped sometimes. You can get a red tail for $85 shipped sometimes too. As far as temperment I haven't seen much of a difference. I guess a ball is more timid by nature but I have 5 of each and they behave alot alike. Snippy when young, curious and relaxed when older. I prefer boas myself. I love them all but boas are my favorite. Stick with a male of either, they'll be smaller. Ask the guy at the store if the boa is a male, if he says yes ask him to sex it for. It'll probably throw him for a loop. He sounds shady, I wouldn't do business with him. You can find alot of breeders with good reputations in the classifieds that will give you a much better price. People selling $25,000 morphs are not going to blow their reputation over a $60 dollar snake. You know it's captive born and healthy. Also, check out a few different care sheets. It might help in the decision.

All ball pythons are not "nonfeeders." Problem is, many people rely on their local pet store (like the chain stores) to get their first BP. It is usually a wild-caught or "captive hatched" specimen which has been imported from Africa under bad and overcrowded conditions. To make matters worse, such snakes often haven't been treated for parasites, and can come with a heavy internal load of them, as well as mites/ticks.
I would highly recommend buying a well-established, fat and regularly feeding BP from a captive breeder. Out of my three BPs, my most reliable eater came from a breeder (I could give you their name if you want to know.) Sure, I had to shell out a little money for shipping. But in all actuality, it was cheaper in the long run, than buying a $100 wild-caught BP frrom a pet store! The cbb snake I got, ran $65 and shipping was $30. She arrived the day after I placed my order, and she has never refused a meal since I got her last spring. Also, breeders will sex the snake for you, so you know that info too.
In my experience, redtail boas are great captives, but their size is a pretty big issue. A full-grown BCI (boa constrictor imperator) gets pretty big; even adult males can top 7'. And it's tough to handle a snake that size alone, especially if you're not familiar with the ways pythons and boas move and balance themselves.
As long as you get an already-eating BP from a reliable breeder, you should do fine with it. Size really does not matter; I've dealt with both adult and yearling "nonfeeder" BPs, and both old and young BPs who never miss a meal.
Here's a pic of my cbb sweetie from Alex Hue.. as you can see, normal BPs can be truly individualistic in their patterns, and are not "just" normals.

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2.1 Ball pythons
1.0 Boa Constrictor Imperator
0.1 albino Cranwell's horned frog
1.0 bearded dragon
1.0 Tiger salamander
1.1 breeding Clawed frogs
1.0 black kittycat
3.1 Oscar cichlids
0.1 Paint horse mare

I talked to the owner of yet another pet store (a pretty small one that mostly does fish and reptiles), and he has a good selection of young and older cb's to choose from, the prices were decent, and he spent a lot of time on the phone with me answering questions. Seems to be quite knowledgable about snakes in general, and you can often tell when someone really cares about what they're doing when you talk to them, so this guy seems cool so far. I'm going to visit this store, glad for the chance to handle and look at different individual snakes.

Thanks for the information, and you all have such nice pictures, too.

Greetings,

Like you, I cut my herping keeping teeth on Corn Snakes and then wanted to move up to larger boids. I read many caresheets and books on royals and boas but was really in love with the look and size of the royal (3-6 feet with an average of 3.5 to 4.5).

I waited many months before making a purchase though. I kept saying to myself, "Ball Pythons are great looking snakes, but I don't want to have to go through all those feeding hassles- live to F/K to F/T, then from mice to rats, then refusing food" etc.etc. However, at some point in August 2004 my python fever got the best of me and I started looking for a breeder. I knew I wanted CB in order to ensure I got a healthy animal. I decided on Bob Clark. Bob is responsible for cultivating many python morphs like the albino and is a certified herpetologist, not just a breeder. I ordered a normal male which cost me a whopping $80.00 with shipped to Alaska. Bob was a great guy to talk to and very responsive to my questions- even though he knew I wasn't going to order a $10-20K animal. Cuddos for that! I bought a male because they are known for not getting quite as large as females- it's a crap shoot but I didn't want a giant.

My snake arrived via UPS and was healthy and parasite free. I placed him in his pre-setup home and waited a full week to feed him. Bob and many other breeders feed live so I was concerned he might not take the frozen thawed mouse I had prepared for him. I warmed up the F/T mouse, brought it to him on a pair of tongs and he ate it (slowly and cautiously) and only after I laid it down for him. After that he nailed/constricted every one I brought him (every 5 to seven days). Next, I ordered some rat pups. I had read that switching from mice to rats could be a problem so I was apprehensive. Well... our little fella seems to like his F/T rats better than mice. He hits them hard and gobbles them down with feeling!

Nothing seems to phase this guy. He eats like lion but is as gentle as a lamb. He's not head shy and has never shown the slightest bit of aggression. I couldn't be happier with my decision. He's by far my fovorite snake.

Sure. He may start to go off feed once he reaches sexual maturity, but I understand that and know that it's the nature of these critters. I accept it and will deal with it when it happens.

Here's an old pic I took the day he arrived. I was inspecting him before placing him in his new home. Good luck with your decision. Read as much as you can.