Decisions, Decisions?

[HerpAm85]

Hi, im new to keeping snakes and i was after peoples thoughts on what to go for.
I already have a beautiful 4 month old Snow Corn, and i was thinking of goin for either a Rainbow Boa, or a Ball python, i am after some experienced advice on the pro's and con's of these 2 snakes? Although im new to keeping snakes, i have a massive interest in them, just not much experience, i have the room to keep either of these snakes as i am a joiner, i have recently made a 2 L x 1.5 H x 1.5 W meter Viv, which is a bit big for my young corn and would like to fill it with it either of these, Anyway, Rainbow Boa or Ball Python? thanks :confused: (i've heard Rainbow's can be a bit snappy???)

[marvelfreak]

Hello and welcome! Any baby snake can be nippy. Balls can be pickier eaters compared to rainbows. Rainbow needed more humidity, but that's easy to achieve. Rainbow do get bigger. I have owned both. I personally like rainbows much better. I will be getting one myself in the next month or two. IMO rainbows tend to be more active. With balls you have so many morph you can pick from. I hope this help. When you pick one love to see some pictures. P.S. carpet python are really cool to and easy to take care of. :)

[HerpAm85]

Thanks, yes the humidity levels not a problem at all, i really do like the rainbows more myself, the colours are amazing, yes, ive looked at all the morphs of the Ball pythons, some are stunning, but the Rainbows just blow me away! do they have large teeth though?? ive also noticed they have the vertical pupils, i think i read that only poisonous snakes have them, although i thought they are a constrictor? i wont rush into buying one, and as soon as i make a decision, ill post, also i'll try to get get some photos on of my baby Snow Corn, thanks for your help, im glad i joined this page, theres a lot of experience out there haha, cheers!

[HerpAm85]

sorry, i forgot, i had already looked into carpet pythons, i think anything over 6 feet is a big for me at the moment,might leave the bigger snakes for a few years haha, thanks again, matt

[marvelfreak]

Their teeth are like little needles. Maybe a inch or so long. They are constrictors. I have a diamond x jungle and bredli carpet that both have vertical pupils. (both pythons) Rainbow are just awsome looking snakes. Female rainbows can get up to 8 feet. If your wanting to stay under 6 foot get a male. Males are almost always smaller.

[HerpAm85]

Yeh, i think that's just put me off lol, at least until i gain a better a understanding of snakes, i don't fancy getting bitten just yet! I'll stick to my corns for now, I'll definately keep a rainbow in mind for the future though, thanks again for your time, matt

[Hillsberry]

Hey welcome. I got a Jungle Carpet Python a few months ago. You may say they get to big. But they are amazing snakes. I love my girl to death. She is amazing. Now out of these two. I have not had either but I have read on both. If I were you I would go with the Rainbow Boa. Just cause their sweet looking snakes. I like the ball pythons just I like the bigger snakes. And Ball Pythons really dont cut it for me. But either way they are awesome snakes. Just do your search and I think you should have no problem with either. Keep us posted on what you get. Welcome and see you around! :P

[Hillsberry]

P.S. I think with the right handling and feeding almost all snakes will tame down. Young snakes are always alittle more snappy. But you have to remember snakes are wild animals and you will most likely get bit. Its just nature. Hope this helps! :)

[HerpAm85]

hi, thanks for the help, yeh i think i will go with a rainbow, i do like them a lot more than the balls, they are stunning animals, though it wont be for a good few months yet, but i will definitely keep posting, and hopefully get some pics on of my Snow corn, and the Rainbow, once i get it! thanks again, Matt

[shaunyboy]

hello and welcome mate,what ever you decide theres plenty of helpfull people on here.they're a great bunch of folk.
cheers shaun

[Will0W783]

I would recommend a carpet python for easy of keeping and reward over all. A male jungle carpet python will stay around 5 feet and come in really nice yellow and black striped. Irian Jayas also stay quite small and are a lovely mix of copper, orange, red and browns.
If you keep any snake, eventually you WILL be bitten. It's just a fact of life. I was bitten by my male ball python when he was in shed once and I had recently handled a guinea pig and forgotten to wash my hands. If you can't handle the possibility of being tagged you probably shouldn't keep snakes IMO. Even a corn snake is capable of delivering a nice little punch- I got nailed multiple times by my female snow (she was a mean one). I have several carpet pythons, a rainbow boa and several ball pythons and the carpets are by far my favorite terrestrial snake overall. If you check in my gallery on here you can see some pictures of them. Also, if you get a young animal of any of the species, it wil be a few years before it is full-size so you will have plenty of time to adjust to a larger animal. Best of luck deciding. :)

[infernalis]

I'd like to see pictures of that Snow......

[HerpAm85]

Thanks for all the info, ill look at your pics willow, i do expect to get bitten, i have 2 cats and they they bite, but i can 'read' them, but yeh, what you say makes sense, thanks, i think im quite fixed on a Rainbow now, i'lll let you know what happens, it wont be for 3 or 4 months yet though! Ive just posted about 5 pics earlier in the gallery infernalis, please have a look and let me know what you think, the pics are posted under Hendrix. Thanks for all your input people, great site!

[Will0W783]

Rainbows are great snakes. Just make sure you do your research and have everything ready for it before you get it. It's a higher humidity snake so you'll need a fogger or plan to mist several times a day. But they are not that difficult to keep and are very rewarding- such beautiful animals!!

[HerpAm85]

Yeh, i will do my research, always do, ive read up on the humidity and requirements, thanks, will post some pics soon as its all sorted! cant wait ! thanks again

[Hillsberry]

Good luck! Can't wait to see pictures!! :)

[shaunyboy]

Thanks for all the info, ill look at your pics willow, i do expect to get bitten, i have 2 cats and they they bite, but i can 'read' them, but yeh, what you say makes sense, thanks, i think im quite fixed on a Rainbow now, i'lll let you know what happens, it wont be for 3 or 4 months yet though! Ive just posted about 5 pics earlier in the gallery infernalis, please have a look and let me know what you think, the pics are posted under Hendrix. Thanks for all your input people, great site!


your cats bite will be much more painfull than a snake bite mate.you will also learn to read your snake once you've had it for a while.i think until they get bit everyones a bit scared of how sore it will be.it happens that fast and their teeth are so needle like that it feels more like a thump,punch like,its only when you see the blood you realise its been a bite.sorry mate i'm trying my best here to let you know getting bits not a painfull thing, ihope i'm not having the opposite effect.so i'll end on a more posotive note.ball pythons have a good nature they dont usually bite.
cheers shaun

[emseeKAY]

i love rainbows, my brazilian is a breeze to take care of, theyre known to be a little snappy while young but usually grow out of it. for handling i find that most rainbows like to explore whereas ball pythons are a little more shy. i have no experience with carpets unfortunately lol i love the look of them. as long as you take proper care of your new friend theyll be quite rewarding no matter what you get lol. good luck!

[HerpAm85]

nah, its all good info shaun thanks, i could just imagine them making quite a mess of my hand if they got a bit nasty, but i suppose its the same as any animal with teeth really, yes, i think once ive been bitten, i'll be fine, as daft as it sounds lol. im sure itll be fine, give it plenty of handling and that, im sorting expecting get biten now, so im not that worried haha, my snow corn nearly had a go the other day, i made the mistake of handling his food with hands, not the tweezers, soon as his neck went back, i moved, but he didnt strike anyway! As soon as im set up, there will be pictures, thanks again people for all the help,
matt

[Will0W783]

Hahaha, yeah the anticipation and dreading of being bitten is far worse than actually being bitten. It hurts like heck for the first few seconds, then nothing. Snakebites are really not bad as far as animal bites go- just have to clean your wound really well with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide so you get all the bacteria out. I've never had a problem and I've been bitten probably 15-20 times. All non-venomous of course..lol. I don't mess with vens; I don't trust myself not to get tagged.

[mommanessy247]

i would personally go with a ball python cuz i owned one a while back & love them & i know nothing about rainbow boas.

[Chu'Wuti]

I'm so glad that at least one person promoted the ball python! I've had many different snakes over the past 30+ years, and the ball python is by far the "nicest" in terms of temperament. I am not a breeder (at least at this time) and so my snakes are for pure enjoyment.

I know that if people come over and want to touch a snake, I can take out either of the BPs I have and not worry about them biting anyone--neither ever bites people (though I won't promise that they never will). On the other hand, my Honduran Milk Snake, though gorgeous, is NOT a snake to get out to show people. He's a biter--multiple strikes--and though he IS getting better about biting, I don't trust him at all not to bite a stranger.

Same with the garters and other snakes I've had. I love them all, but the BP is the only one that has a "no-bite" record in my experience.

In addition, once you get the husbandry right, you probably won't have problems with picky eating, though I understand there are some individuals that are picky.

Good luck making a decision--there are so many beautiful snakes out there from which to choose!

[Will0W783]

Yes, ball pythons are generally docile snakes, but so are rainbow boas. My rainbow boa has never tried to bite or musk or hiss or anything. They are a lot more work though and are more active. They are not a sit-on-your-lap-while-you-watch-tv snake like a BP can be.