This is what I want!

[Pareeeee]

I got to hold a Ball Python and a Rosy Boa for the first time yesterday. I was surprised at the fact that I enjoyed handling the Rosy more than the BP.

I now know what I will eventually be getting. They are smaller and easier to feed, therefore will be much cheaper to keep than a BP (less refusal of food, smaller & cheaper food). I still prefer the looks of the BP, but I really enjoyed the personality of the Rosy boa more, plus the ease of keeping. I can't wait till this fits into my budget!

[alessia55]

That's great! I'd hate to burst your bubble but I currently have 2 ball pythons that rarely refuse a meal (maybe twice a year tops), and a rosy boa that's not eating at all right now. But they're both great snakes and make great pets. You'll be happy with whatever you get! :) They both have wonderful personalities.

[Pareeeee]

thanks for that, LOL...they're playing opposites, perhaps? Anyway, everything I've read so far, and been told by most Rosy Boa owners is that they are much easier than BP's.

[alessia55]

Yup! As far as care, rosy boas are easier. Like they don't need high humidity levels. Do you know how long you might be waiting before your wallet lets you get the snake and its needs?

[bbb13]

I owned 2 BP's at the same time and only once ever refused a meal and it was only because the mouse(live) got away from me and spooked Monty. It only happeded that one time in 7 years, maybe I was lucky. Good luck with what ever you go with.

[Pareeeee]

The thing is, not only are they easier to feed, but take much smaller prey. Smaller prey is much cheaper. Where I live anyway! lol...rats are SO expensive than mice around here... I will have to re-add the costs for this snake. I think it will be sooner than I thought, but still I sm going to take my time and study some more and do some more price adding. My husband even thought that the Rosy Boa was really cool, and he's not that interested in snakes.

[youngster]

In my experience ball pythons only don't eat when they are kept in inadequate conditions. Obviously there's an oddball rebel once in a while but if you keep your python with good husbandry chances are it will eat. Also have you considered corn snakes? My adults are eating mice. No rats for them. People usually go right for a boa or python and disregard colubrids but I urge you to take a look at some corn snakes if you haven't already.

[Jenn_06]

A lot of bp go off food around breeding season....my male bp goes off food almost every year for 4 to 7 months and right now all my bp will not eat :( but that's just how they are. If you get a bp it might go off food but not all do.

[lady_bug87]

ive had mine over a year and i have not had him EVER refuse a meal

[SkYyaMe1623]

In my experience ball pythons only don't eat when they are kept in inadequate conditions.
Not so much. Do you keep ball pythons?

Ball pythons can be finicky eaters for a lot of reasons, two big ones being shedding and mating season (winter). Ball pythons also have a rep for just being "picky" eaters (as in they sometimes prefer only mice or only rats, and can be very reluctant to accept f/t). I've even heard of ball pythons that will only except certain color prey.

If you're going with a ball python it's important to remember that it's perfectly normal for a ball python (being kept in adequate conditions!) to refuse a meal or two, or ten lol.

Basically, I'm trying to say that if a ball python going off feed (which is normal) would stress you out, go with the boa as it is not necessarily but more likely to eat for you every time.

All snakes are different though. I have a carpet python that is usually voracious but skipped a meal a couple weeks ago due to a shed.

As youngster already implied, corns are fantastic eaters, I've taken care of a couple and none of them EVER refused a meal for me lol

Also, if you're getting a ball because you think they're pretty do your research on morphs first! ;)

[Gungirl]

In my experience ball pythons only don't eat when they are kept in inadequate conditions.

I would like to know where you got this experience?

I have a ball and I know many others that keep them in GREAT conditions. We all have experienced our snakes going off feed during one point in time or another for either no reason at all or because of breeding season.

[SkYyaMe1623]

Not so much. Do you keep ball pythons?

Ball pythons can be finicky eaters for a lot of reasons, two big ones being shedding and mating season (winter). Ball pythons also have a rep for just being "picky" eaters (as in they sometimes prefer only mice or only rats, and can be very reluctant to accept f/t). I've even heard of ball pythons that will only except certain color prey.

If you're going with a ball python it's important to remember that it's perfectly normal for a ball python (being kept in adequate conditions!) to refuse a meal or two, or ten lol.

Basically, I'm trying to say that if a ball python going off feed (which is normal) would stress you out, go with the boa as it is not necessarily but more likely to eat for you every time.

All snakes are different though. I have a carpet python that is usually voracious but skipped a meal a couple weeks ago due to a shed.

As youngster already implied, corns are fantastic eaters, I've taken care of a couple and none of them EVER refused a meal for me lol

Also, if you're getting a ball because you think they're pretty do your research on morphs first! ;)

One more important thing! If the price difference between large vs small mice, or mice vs rats is the deciding factor on which snake you choose I would reconsider getting a snake in the first place...

(i meant to make this an edit (not another post lol) my bad, feel free to clean this up wayne)

[sassy_snake_lady]

I like Rosy boas. Hope to own some at some point :)

[Snakefood]

I vote corns!! So many beautiful morphs out there to choose from, NEVER have a problem with feeding, all my corns will eat almost anytime I offer food (a couple will refuse in blue, a couple will feed normally in blue) My adults (who are large enough) eat mice, rats, and rabbit pinkies, nobody refuses any of the meals and they all eat with gusto!!

[youngster]

I knew I shouldn't have said that. I was saying "in my experience" because that's what I've noticed. I'm not saying I have more experience than anyone else or anything. But when snakes don't eat for prolonged times (not when brumating) it's usually due to a sickness or poor husbandry or stress. Not just "for no reason". I'm sorry I said that badly but I was trying to say that while not every non eater is due to the owners lack of husbandry, if you keep the animal in perfect conditions it will most likely eat.

[Pareeeee]

Thanks everyone for all the replies. As I stated in another thread, I will not be getting a snake for a while anyway. When I do, it will be a Rosy Boa. I fell in love with Ball Python pictures and videos...I fell in love with the real snake when I held the Rosy. I liked how they are in between. Not constantly moving like a corn, but not sitting still like a BP. So I'm practically positive that a Rosy is what I want.

Everyone suggests corns but if I want a snake that gets that large I want it to be lazy and not moving all the time. lol, personal preference. Lots of people like active snakes. I'm not really one of them.

[youngster]

Good luck with your eventual rosy. But corns really aren't as crazy as people say they are. Even my baby is calm. But to each his own :)

[Shmoges]

Grats on your preference!! I think they should steal the spot light from BP's myself!!

[Shmoges]

Good luck with your eventual rosy. But corns really aren't as crazy as people say they are. Even my baby is calm. But to each his own :)

Yeah corns get a bad rap from childhood memories of ppl catchign garters I think. You want a squirely crazy snake get a rat snake lol our new lucys are jumpy as hell.

[bigsnakegirl785]

Yes, my BP has stopped eating for the winter. He hasn't eaten in a couple of weeks, but knowing him he'll be eating again soon. Some winters he stops eating and others he doesn't. I'll be trying to feed him again at the end of the week and see what happens. I usually have no problems other than pickiness and the normal winter fast.