my bf wants a boa for his first large snake im trying to convince him a python is bet

[zoidberg81]

We have two king snakes my bf wants a boa i told him a ball python would be a much better starter large snake i've had boas they are great but they tend to be more stubborn and have more eating issues than other's in my experience what are your thoughts or can anyone suggest a good large snake to start with

[stephanbakir]

Based on what I know, the only difference separating pythons from boas is the fact that one has live birth and the other is eggs, what boa did he want?

[zoidberg81]

He wants a redtail boa i jus don't want him to get something he cant handle im happy to help him but jus want him to be able to handle it

[ineedsoap16]

Personally, i have both and as long as he's ready for the larger cage, and big food bill, my opinion is a boa is a better choice. Ball pythons are notoriously pain in the butt feeders and really aren't very active, on the other hand boas are usually good eaters and more active than a ball. If you really think he should start with a python, why not a carpet? Their husbandry is more forgiving. I've never seen one that wouln't eat and they are very curious active snakes. Just my .02.

[Jenn_06]

If you get him a baby BCI he will learn to handle it as it grows they don't grow that fast and are great snakes.

[TeaNinja]

my dumerils are easy as pie. they never go off feed (except the male during breeding season) and they are totally docile and awesome.

[zoidberg81]

Huh you know maybe it was just the boas i had they were rescues so yea... um ok so what about temperament cuz like i said hes not experienced with snakes but hes not dumb do no worries bout him doing dumb stuff cuz i love boas i jus remember them being little butts and i didn't know bal pythons were bad eaters i thought they wernt for some reason

[Jenn_06]

Around breeding season BP are a pain i have one right now that has not eaten since Dec. Most redtails are really nice but you can get some mean ones, i have one of those and i dont take her out that much.

[stephanbakir]

Red tailed boas are FANTASTIC! rarely do they bite, great eaters and dont get that big.

[zoidberg81]

Yea i shouldn't have judged the red tails on the rescues jus didn't want him in over his head but i think im gonna surprise him with a baby red tail

[TeaNinja]

every animal has its own personality. i've met dogs who are just attention craving love bugs, and i've met dogs who would rather bite your neck out then have you pet them.

i've also seen different snakes of the same breed acting COMPLETELY different.

[Jay]

Go with a Boa surprise him with a nice bcc. Like someone else mentioned, if he has experience with snakes already he will be fine he will learn to handle a bigger snake as it grows they thicken out over night. I personally dont like Ball Pythons, I don't know why I just do for some reason.

[forza_inter]

my dumerils are easy as pie. they never go off feed (except the male during breeding season) and they are totally docile and awesome.


i've only had my dumerils boa for a short time (my first snake, so im clearly still a noob) but shes been an angel so far....I've read dozens of stories about people owning dumerils boa for years and years, and not once did it even attempt to strike at anyone.

.....they also grow very slowly so that also works in favour of someone thats new to owning bigger snakes as well

[TeaNinja]

i've heard stories about mean dumerils that bite people. like i said, every snake has its own temperment and personality.


as for the slow growing........i can't WAIT for my girl to get huge so i can breed them lol. i'm not planning on rushing her so it'll prolly be a few years before i even think about it. she's still tiny.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

i've heard stories about mean dumerils that bite people. like i said, every snake has its own temperment and personality.


as for the slow growing........i can't WAIT for my girl to get huge so i can breed them lol. i'm not planning on rushing her so it'll prolly be a few years before i even think about it. she's still tiny.


Dont you have a bigger one? the male?

[presspirate]

I'd imagine the king snakes would be far more nippy than a boa. I have 2 red tails and they are dog tame and curious.

[TeaNinja]

Dont you have a bigger one? the male?

the male is huge and is more then ready to breed, the female is probably like 1/4 of his size, and females are supposed to be bigger then males.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

the male is huge and is more then ready to breed, the female is probably like 1/4 of his size, and females are supposed to be bigger then males.

How big is he metric wise? Ive always had an interest in Dumerils, i like there natural look. What made you get into them oppose to other species?

[TeaNinja]

it's funny, before i thought about getting a dumerils i knew next to nothing about that specific species of boa. i'd had a BRB when i was much younger, but i did everything wrong and damn near killed it so i ended up giving it away to someone who knew better.
once i got older i had a lot of friends who had reptiles and i started getting back into them and craigslisting around and researching different snakes and stuff. i emailed the first guy when i saw his craigslist add about rehoming the dumerils and i emailed him and asked him a few basic questions and told him i'd prolly be interested and could give a great home. i researched the dumerils a lot and played email tag with the guy for a few weeks then went and picked him up. after that i had to upgrade abunch of stuff for him. after i had him for a while i saw a CL add for a leopard gecko and i talked to some people on the forum who liked them so i got her. (tons of pic threads in the section) i ended up rehoming the gecko for a few reasons,(even though i REALLY liked her) then after some months i got the BP. then recently i got the email from the people with the female and picked her up.

he is 5 1/2 feet long and i have yet to measure the girl. i'd assume she's 2 or 3 feet, but her head and overall body size is WAY smaller then his. they are both super docile when being handled, but in the viv the girl has a KILLER feeder instinct, as she let my finger know 1 time lol.

here's an example lol, here's the girl.
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/postshedoracle001.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/oracle002-1.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/oracle009.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/oracle008.jpg

here's my boy.
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/snake111010.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/snake111006.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/snake111013.jpg
http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/nigma020.jpg

[marionsclan]

here's my boy.


http://i1006.photobucket.com/albums/af184/teaninja/snake111013.jpg


I love his face. He looks so ancient. He looks like he has rust between the scales because of his coloring. That's pretty cool.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

Yea that close up picture of his face is awesome, that natural look like that is what im talking about. Nice snake, looks very healthy. Looks like he could pack quite a bite to haha.

[TeaNinja]

he probably could lol, thank god he's so docile. i got bit by a red tail alittle bigger then he is a few years ago but it wasn't too bad.

[marvelfreak]

How big is he metric wise?
About 6 feet which i believe equals 2 meters.

[stephanbakir]

6 feet is just under 2 meters, 1 meter is like 3.2 feet or something.

[TeaNinja]

he's alittle under 6ft i believe.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

1 meter is like 3.2 feet or something.

Close, but just short hahah.

@Teaninja Do you plan to breed them? Also how long is the average adult?

[TeaNinja]

males get 5-6 feet, although there can be big exceptions. females get bigger, usually 6-7 feet, also exceptions with large ones. yea, i plan on breeding them once she's old enough. it's going to be years though.

[KD35WIN.AS.ONE]

yea, i plan on breeding them once she's old enough. it's going to be years though.

cool ive always wanted to breed two snakes, just for the experience.

[bo2as]

I would opt a boa. Like others have said pythons can be very difficult feeders. I aslo have both and My boas eat better fot sure. on the otherhand if the size worries you bp couls be a better chois cuz they do stay smaller. hard decision... lol all snake are awsome! do you reasearch and then look around. You will fall in love with the snake that fits u best :)