Should I Get An Amazon Tree Boa OR a Jungle Carpet Python?

[StaayOutMyFace]

Ok So Ive Read Entirely Alot About Snakes And Ive Owned 2 Other Snakes (Ball Python And Mexican Black Kingsnake) And 1 Lizard (Leapord Gecko) So i would consider my self as an amateur expert or at an intermediate level at keeping reptiles. and its come down to these 2 snakes. and i want you guys opinions on what i should get. there both gorgeous snakes to me.

[DeesBalls]

I say jungle carpet, I hear amazon tree boa can be tough, also I hear carpets are awesome guys!! I'm sure marvelfreak will chime in, he's one of the many who adore carpets, amazons are amazing animals too, but from what I hear they require touchy husbandry attention. Don't take my work I'm just giving you my opinion... some one with more knowledge will help out, but my vote is carpet now, then later get a tree boa!!!!! Which ever one you get post pics!!

[percey39]

A jungle will be far easier to care for, will be more active, will feed better ( from the stories i have been told about tree boas ) With husbandry jungles are extremely easy to care for and require a hot spot of 32-34 degrees celcius and cool end of 23-25 degrees, humidity is at your discression as i kept jungles for a while and never gave them specific humidity. They were fine with out it, they shed, ate, pooed and moved around fine in these conditions. Tree boas have far more finiky humidity needs which would be easier to sort out and obtain in a tank before getting the snake as they are prone for RI's. In the end its your call but i would personally go for the jungle.

[Freebody]

ya, you cant go wrong with getting a carpet, they are awsome snakes, great eaters, easy to take care of, but if you want to get a amazon tree boa from what im told they are not as bad as their reputation put forth but still by all means not as forgiving if mistakes are made. at the end of the day just do what i would do....get both LOL

[marvelfreak]

ya, you cant go wrong with getting a carpet, they are awsome snakes, great eaters, easy to take care of, but if you want to get a amazon tree boa from what im told they are not as bad as their reputation put forth but still by all means not as forgiving if mistakes are made. at the end of the day just do what i would do....get both LOL
So true you would get both. lol

This three guys IMO nailed it on the head. To me a jungle would be the next step. Then down the road get a ATB. Only thing is once you get a carpet you'll be addicted to carpets. Carpets just about everyone has one or whats one. Once you handle one of these amazing animals you'll know why.:)

[Will0W783]

Do you want to get bitten multiple times a day (Amazon) or just a few times here and there and only while it's a baby (jungle carpet)...lol.
I am a total Morelia addict so I would have to suggest carpet. Easier to keep all around and much more docile generally.

[totheend]

I think that both are beautiful animals. I say get the one you love most! I don't think one is harder to care for than the other. Both feed extremely well. Amazons come in many awesome colours but jungles are just soo pretty :D I also think that Amazons are just as active if not more than Carpets. But Amazons (most not all) really love to bite you..........

[shaunyboy]

carpets all the way for me pal

you cant go wrong with a nice carpet

cheers shaun

[Ringo2011]

I'm with freebody..get both..but then again i don't have either : (

[Reptile_Reptile]

ok i'm posting this before even reading ops entire post but calling yourself an Amature expert at an intermediate level is extreemly funny to me i LOL'd so hard

[Jay]

lol reptile reptile ,
and to the op..give it doesnt matter because you will probably end up getting the one you dont get now

[Sapphyr]

From what I've heard many times, Amazons are nippy... EXTREMELY nippy, for the most part. They're generally not very friendly and are alot like my Malaysian Golden Gecko. More of a display animal more so a 'companion'.

Carpet Python is definitely my vote. Completely agree with Marvel, after holding a Carpet at an expo, I kind of want one, it was a real treat to hold one! For me, though, I won't be getting another 'sizable' snake until after I move out.

[TonyDCaver]

Carpets are real easy to care for =) Many of the strictly arboreal species are pretty nippy at a young age, but I have seen ATBs that are as tame as a BP. Which ever one satisfies your wants more! I enjoy carpets, they are pretty neato!

As far as humidity goes with the ATB, a good drench from the mister twice a day will do the trick! =)

[leper65]

Jungles should be a tad easier, mainly on the humidity. I mist my yearling ATB once a day or so. Once they are eating as newborns they eat real good, mine has never refused a meal. They are NOT picky eaters. I need to add a Jungle to the collection.

[jpichie]

I actually own both an IJ Python and a 6month old ATB. Both are great snakes.
I was kind of turned off from ATBs as I kept reading "all they do is bite". Well I could happily say, the only day my ATB bit me was the day I picked him/her out. And the reason being the Breeder and a friend of mine aggravated her to bite me, so I would know what it was like... she tagged me 3 times lol.
Since then, not a once, and I have had her for well over 3 months. She gets handled at least twice a week, and I started taking her out without a hook, which actually surprised the crap out of me. As for humidity, I mist my ATB about 1-2 times a day, and it is on coco husk for substrate. Never had any problems feeding either.

But like someone else wrote, just get one of each, you know you will eventually :D

[stephanbakir]

Also, if you plan to ever touch the snake I'd advise against a gtp. You can hold a carpet a few days a week, but not the gtps you will just stress them out.

[Lankyrob]

Also, if you plan to ever touch the snake I'd advise against a gtp. You can hold a carpet a few days a week, but not the gtps you will just stress them out.

Kinda agree with this - it isnt recommended to hold GTP's until they have had their colour change so about 1-2 years old. We bought our GTP in June/July 2010 and he changed in February - since then he has been held 3 times only - they are very much a show but dont touch snake in my opinion.

[stephanbakir]

Sucks that most gtp owners don't practise that. Saw a guy on youtube that took his gtp out daily for new videos from the week he got it on.

[Lankyrob]

Yeah - the two clutch mates of my guys were killed (wont say they died) by their "very experienced owners" one was poor husbandry and the other one wouldnt eat (the reptile shop owner took it back and it was just bones - even tho it wasnt eating the so called owner was still handling it and messing it about).

Even tho we were told quite vehemently on here that we were too inexperienced for a GTP at the end of the day as long as you are prepared to follow the rules they really are NOT difficult to keep healthy.

The only issue we have ever had with our guy is a tiny patch of stcuk shed on his head at the moment - he is soooo headshy its really hard to get off but each day as he is sprayed it falls off a little bit at a time.

[VioletS16]

I was facing the same decision, have a viv good for both but only one.

ATB's are gorgeous and great display snakes but they've got tendencies to be quite aggressive which is a drawback if you want a handling snake or even if you are in the room the snake is being kept in a lot. I keep all my snakes in my room (that's why I call it the serpentarium...2 big vivs and a big rack lol and 3 tanks too!) so I go in it a lot, I do not want a snake that's going to be biting the glass 24/7, for the snake's sake.

In the end, I decided I wanted a Baron's Racer, but that's not an option, so I'm going to say a JCP! Always loved those :D

[LilRyno]

I think ATBs are great, and personally am of the opinion that if you're willing to take a few (ok maybe more) bites, you can get your ATB pretty tame. I have one and he's the only one I've had, been about a year now. I'm typically pretty comfortable with snakes, caught some moccasins in the wild and many other snakes, but the ATB is the only one bought from a pet store.

The guy at the pet store was using a hook and was afraid of the snake. With good reason, he was really aggressive. About four to five foot when purchased. At home he would strike the glass, would strike at anything that moved, I put him in a vertical cage with a tree and when I tried to handle him, he would come to meet you (didn't shy away at all, and he was ready to party). I used to wear glasses to shield my eyes, it would take me at least a half an hour to get him out, and I was somewhat scared. First time he bit me, it left a bruise. Lots of force. Over time and handling him everyday it got easier. Sometimes he'd strike, but it would be much less forceful, almost like a warning shot. Sometimes he doesn't even open his mouth during a strike. For months now, I handle him freely and he knows me, and I even kiss him with abandon (the first two time I tried that resulted in some blood). But here is what I've learned.

They're very afraid of anything that is different. But they do learn after repittiion to not be afraid. Different surroundings, definitely erratic motion, and he does NOT like being put on the ground. Not a ground snake and I think he feels vulnerable if on the ground, which makes some sense for a tree snake. It's hard to tell when they're sleeping, so if you wake him up, he may sigh or be alarmed until he can figure out what's going on.

But they really can be "tamed" given these conditions. They're just very afraid. They have to get to know you, and get used to things, and you have to fight through the fear with them. They look fierce, and they have no expressions, and they want to check out what is going on around them (and they take a few tongue flicks to figure it out while they reserve the option to bite), and they think offense is the best defense but they can warm up to you and be pretty tame. You have to establish a pattern with them, something familiar. And despite the great luck I've had with mine, I know that the potential to get bit is always there if the approach alarms them.

They're great snakes. But they do require some work and some blood, at least in my experience.