Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok so I've been wanting a snake for some time now and I'm having trouble choosing between a IRIAN JAYA CARPET PYTHON,a HOGG ISLAND BOA and a RAINBOW BOA. I know owning a snake you're going to get bit at least once but which one is least likly to bite and the best for the beginner out of all of those? Thanks

Adam

I would recommend the hog island boa....try and get a female. That way you can raise her up and if you decide to try breeding you can always find a nice male hog to breed to her. Of cours you can always get a nice Salmon boa as well! Hope this helps.

Andy Federico
AJF Reptiles

I agree, go with the Hog Is. Boa...
Can't beat it for a first time snake out of the 3 choices you gave us here.

The carpet python may be nippy (many arboreal snakes are). Also, they usually do not like being handled and will be moving constantly. The Rainbow boa is not a beginner snake. Rainbows require higher humidity. A Hog (not Hogg) Island boa is the way to go. They can be a little nippy and hissy when small, but usually mellow out with regular handling. You may get bitten. Remember to always let the snake know you are picking him/her up. Do not reach for the face. That's a bite. Do not have any odor on your hands (i.e. rodents, cat, dog, etc). That's a bite. Keep the snake away from your face. Sometimes they will pick up the intense heat coming from your nose and mouth and nail you. Hope this helps and get the Hog.

Phil Goss

Though, I too call them Hogg Islands (along with the Cayos Cochinos), probably because I saw them labled that way on a map. But, I imagine other maps may lable them Hog Islands. They are one of my favorite boas. So, I may just be biased.
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Go with a boa. I had Irian Jaya carpets and the pair I had was so nasty I gave them away. I bought them as babies. I did have Jungle carpets and they were very docile and beautiful. All the Hogs I've had are very tame and handleable. Mark

If you ever want to part with that one, and it is a female, let me know.
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I have a couple and they are both tame. I need to take better pics, but here's the yearling male from PM herps.