Children's Python or House Snake?

[pet_snake_78]

Trying to determine which species to go with. I want to find something on the smaller side. I think it would be fun to watch eggs hatch so I wanted something easy to breed, too. I have a 48" cage that comes with a divider if I need to keep them separated. I am looking for a hardy species that can be handled from time to time.

I came up with what I believe are a couple of good choices. Children's pythons and African House Snakes. I was leaning toward the house snakes but I've read some of the species available are not as hardy and easy to get started feeding as hatchlings as others. I really do not care for the albino forms which seem to be the most commonly offered by breeders. I believe the hardy species is fuliginosus. The only CB ones I've seen an ad for were a very light colored batch that I didn't care for. Children's pythons seem to be available from a larger number of breeders. Other than this, does anyone know if one species or the other generally differs in terms of general hardiness and ability to be handled?

[Stewjoe]

I don't have any experience with house snakes but my Childrens Python had a fantastic temperament, great feeding response and was the ideal snake for someone looking for a smaller snake. The only downside would be they are not overly colourful but do have an iridescent sheen.

[formica]

there are a few diffrent species sold as 'african house snakes', this can be an issue when it comes to care. I'd go with the childrens python myself, or the slightly larger ball python

[StudentoReptile]

African house snakes - pretty much a small Children's python trapped inside a colubrid's body

Children's python - a house snake in a python's body
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LOL...care is similar, as both types get about the same size and have similar diets.

Children's pythons are almost guaranteed to be CBB. However, not really color/pattern mutations.

African House snakes are usually cheaper, and often WC, which leads to the usual issues (parasites, feeding issues, etc.). That said, if you can find a reputable dealer who is selling CBB house snakes, those are about as easy as a corn or a kingsnake.

[StudentoReptile]

African house snakes - pretty much a small Children's python trapped inside a colubrid's body

Children's python - a house snake in a python's body
---
LOL...care is similar, as both types get about the same size and have similar diets.

Children's pythons are almost guaranteed to be CBB. However, not really color/pattern mutations.

African House snakes are usually cheaper, and often WC, which leads to the usual issues (parasites, feeding issues, etc.). That said, if you can find a reputable dealer who is selling CBB house snakes, those are about as easy as a corn or a kingsnake.

[StudentoReptile]

There are a handful of different species:

Cape House snake (Boaedon capensis) - probably the most-oft species bred in captivity, mainly because it has more mutations to offer (albino, anerythristic, patternless, striped, green, etc)

Striped house snakes (B. lineatus) - debated on whether this is a subspecies of B. capensis

Dotted House snake (B. maculatus) - kinda tricky to distinguish from Capes, but more common in the trade than you think. Usually available as WC, but there are some CBB out there.

Common "brown" house snake (B. fuliginosus) - much of the time, any house snake is thrown under the previous taxon Lamprophis fuliginosus, and many dealers still do (obviously they don't keep UTD with taxon changes). There are a few localities, but like B. maculatus, they are mostly offered as WC. One variety is the "black olive" or "West African olive" house snakes, which are NOT to be confused with the true olive house (B. olivaceus - very rare)

[pet_snake_78]

I considered ball pythons but I read that they sometimes go off feed which is the main reason I had decided to bypass them. I have a 4x2 cage. I'm not sure I could house anything larger than a childrens in it? I think the childrens python is thicker than a brown house snake when full grown?

[charlesc84]

I considered ball pythons but I read that they sometimes go off feed which is the main reason I had decided to bypass them. I have a 4x2 cage. I'm not sure I could house anything larger than a childrens in it? I think the childrens python is thicker than a brown house snake when full grown?

Thats a big cage, you could house a Carpet Python or even a Boa I would say. Is it a snake cage or an aquarium?

[pet_snake_78]

Snake cage with a divider I can put in the middle to separate male and female which means each half would be 2'x2' or if a pair can be kept together one 4'x2' section. 1' tall.

[Terranaut]

If your only reason for not liking a ball is that they can go off food (aka-become free to keep) then maybe you should have a second look. Seriously having my snakes go off food for a bit doesn't bother me at all. In fact it saves me a lot of cash in the winter due to many snakes not eating. It is predictable and harmless to the snake in most cases.
Both of the snakes you mentioned don't do much for me but I have never had one.
I like some of the above suggestions but in the end it's your taste that matters. Just don't let a few months off feed bother you. It's really nothing.

[Mikoh4792]

If your only reason for not liking a ball is that they can go off food (aka-become free to keep) then maybe you should have a second look. Seriously having my snakes go off food for a bit doesn't bother me at all. In fact it saves me a lot of cash in the winter due to many snakes not eating. It is predictable and harmless to the snake in most cases.
Both of the snakes you mentioned don't do much for me but I have never had one.
I like some of the above suggestions but in the end it's your taste that matters. Just don't let a few months off feed bother you. It's really nothing.

Basically this. Unless it's due to a husbandry mistake, a snake can go off feed for a while and it won't hurt them. They will eventually eat on their own schedule.

[smy_749]

im partial to pythons. Get the childrens

[Mikoh4792]

Id get the childrens's python