Yooo

[Thongy]

Just getting interested in snakes lately, so I thought might as well join a snake forum and learn some new stuff. ;D Though, if someone could help me out, I'm in a struggle of picking between a baby cali king snake or a ball python. Not sure they both have there pros and cons. D=

Thanks
- Thongy

[Will0W783]

Both are good starter snakes. The ball python is a much more relaxed species, and tends to be less active and move more slowly. Kingsnakes are fast and move a lot, and they don't tend to sit still when held, but they aren't too aggressive. Pretty much a personal choice I would say. Just make sure that if you get the ball python you regulate humidity. It's more important with balls than kings as balls can have poor sheds and retain eyecaps if kept too dry.

[siz]

I've had both, kings are a little 'easier' i guess but I prefer my ball python by far. I had an albino Cali and he was pretty cool, he was my first snake, but I personally just prefer pythons to colubrids for so many reasons. But as Willow said it's personal preference.

[Will0W783]

Yeah, I'm a python person myself too. I prefer snakes with a more strongly demarcated head, and a lot of colubrids have heads that are no wider than the body. But I do enjoy my milks and king, they're just a lot spazzier. I also love the heat-sensing pits pythons tend to have. My ball was my first snake, and he's a great boy. I like having one that I can sit and watch tv with it on my lap and not have to constantly be keeping him from getting away...lol. Saleen will just hang around my shoulders like a scarf and I can go walking around my garden or chill on the porch.

[Will0W783]

Also, Colombian red-tailed boas are good starter snakes. They're as docile and calm as ball pythons, but they do get large: 10-12 feet often, and they aren't slender snakes.

[siz]

There are also other colubrids like corn snakes and milk snakes if thats what you are into. Ball pytons are sometimes not the very best starter snake because some can be finiky eaters. Mine eats like a garbage disposal, but I just thought this would be good info to nkow.

[Thongy]

Haha, thanks for the info guys. Idk theres something about cali kingsnakes...maybe its there pattern. Though I'm going to try and head over to LLL later this week and see if I can check them out and what not. I also have another question about heating, do you guys think using a human heat pad is any good, I'm thinking of getting this Buy Sunbeam Standard Heating Pad Online at drugstore.com.

[BP_okay]

I would go with and undertank heater made especially for your tank size. Then get a dimmer at your local hardware store in order to regulate the temps required for whatever snake you decide on. Use a temp probe to determine the temps. In terms of which snake to choose, I would tend to side with the majority. I have a boa and a corn. Boas/pythons are way more relaxed and just more fun to handle. Although if you're more into the look of your snake, they are so many morphs of corns, milks, and kings from which to choose. Good luck!

[Will0W783]

Ahh, just get them both! Then you'll be really happy. IMHO, you can't just have one snake. You might start off that way and think you can, but pretty soon something else will catch your eye, and then before you know it, you'll have another one, and another, and another....etc, etc. Snakes are like Lay's potato chips; you really can't have just one!

[Will0W783]

Check out my website at Carter's Critters - Home if you want to see what I have. I don't have my leucistic rat snake or my dwarf retic up there yet though. I sense a picture night coming up tonight!

[Thongy]

Originally Posted by BP_okay

I would go with and undertank heater made especially for your tank size. Then get a dimmer at your local hardware store in order to regulate the temps required for whatever snake you decide on. Use a temp probe to determine the temps. In terms of which snake to choose, I would tend to side with the majority. I have a boa and a corn. Boas/pythons are way more relaxed and just more fun to handle. Although if you're more into the look of your snake, they are so many morphs of corns, milks, and kings from which to choose. Good luck!

Yeah, I was thinking of making my own dimmer, since I have an extra extension cord lying around. Def, I love handling and idk...after I got my tegu, it just struck me, I'm missing out on a lot of reptiles that I can't believe I didn't pick up at the reptile super show...next year I'm going all out haha. Though possibly I'll get both, so hard to make up my mind.

Originally Posted by Will0W783

Ahh, just get them both! Then you'll be really happy. IMHO, you can't just have one snake. You might start off that way and think you can, but pretty soon something else will catch your eye, and then before you know it, you'll have another one, and another, and another....etc, etc. Snakes are like Lay's potato chips; you really can't have just one!

That is so true...I'm thinking of getting both, but LLL just rose up there prices on the ball's the other day . So, I'm thinking of making a group order, and buy from index.

You have such a nice collection, gahh loving the jungle carpet python. Wish my pacman was as big as Luigi.

Thanks for all the suggestion guys!!

[siz]

IMOno matter how many herps you have you are always missing some LOL! So addictive! Get 'em both. C'mon. C'moooon
Theere are lots of places where you can get cheaply priced BPs..good luck with whatever you choose!

[pyythonboa]

a ball or boa is cool u can chill with them and be relaxed i take my snakes to the store and their so calm i forget there around my neck that is until someone freaksout lmao.

[citysnakes]

thats one of many reasons why you should enjoy your animals in the privacy of your own home.

[pyythonboa]

yeah iguess but its good to let your snakes get some fresh air and cheap uv sunlight