[Python disposition rating] Something to help the "little kids"...

[retic720]

As it is, if a newbie asks what pythons we'd recommend for them to keep based on disposition/"aggression" alone, we'd refer to them the ball python or an Antaresia python or even a Burm (IF they have the finances required...).

However, it is inevitable that they would be curious about the other python species because they "look" more appealing, suits their personality better, they're "up for the challenge", etc.

Based on experience, I have listed here a "disposition meter", from 1 - 5, 5 being the most docile, whereas pythons scoring a 1 would be "living chainsaws". I hope this will help the "newbies" in better selecting a python that is truly suitable for them.

Since I haven't kept/handled a LOT of python species, I would appreciate if other members would also contribute with their inputs

Anyhows, without further delay....

5
Ball pythons
Burmese pythons****

4

3
African Rock Python**

2
Green Tree Python***

1
Reticulated Python*


Need help on:

1) Python Curtus (Bloods/Short tailed pythons)
2) Morelia pythons (Carpets, Scrubs, etc.)
3) Liasis Pythons

NOTES:

1) These scores do NOT include species specific husbandry requirements (ie: Chondros need a branch to perch on, Burms aren't cheap to feed, etc.); I'm purely scoring them on their natural tendency to "bite first, ask later" attitudes.

2) *I've kept 4 retics in my life so far; only one of them would score a "6 out of 5" when it comes to docility, aka, can be picked up bare handed as long as you don't smell like food.

3) **I once obtained an Afrock male when he was 17 months old. "Feign bites", flighty impulses and head butts were very common during the first few months. Nevertheless, he was a VERY strong hisser but eventually, permitted me to pick him up barehanded. Later on, I handled an 8 month juvy (WC?) unassisted in a pet store who did hiss loudly but nevertheless, permitted me to handle him barehanded.

4) ***Never owned a GTP but when I asked to handle a GTP at a pet store, the store attendants were at first hesitant to assist me and their supervisor (reluctantly?) assisted me by wearing a pair of heavy leather gloves lifting him up from the branch. I never did see him strike but I could see the supervisor (who's no "noob" himself as he claimed) sweating profusely. Traumatic experience perhaps?

5) ****Never owned a burm but I believe I've handled enough Burms from different owners, stores and zoos to confirm their "docility".

[CoolioTiffany]

Need help on:

1) Python Curtus (Bloods/Short tailed pythons)
2) Morelia pythons (Carpets, Scrubs, etc.)
3) Liasis Pythons

1) From the research I have done, and the questions I've asked to those who have/had kept Bloods, Borneos, and Sumatrans, they seem like that can be docile depending on how much they are handled. In order from most docile to most aggressive:
1- Borneo Short Tail
2- Sumatran Short Tail
3- Blood python

Though, their personalities vary since all snakes are different, so that means you could have an aggressive Borneo but a sweet and docile Blood.

2) From my research done on the Carpet pythons, it really varies between the snakes. From what I have read, the JCPs can be the nippy ones out of all the other Carpets, but they do grow out of it over a period of time, but also working with them would help by handling them to help them get used to human contact. Though, it seems that the larger Carpets are more docile, such as Bredlis and Coastals.

I hear that GTPs and ETBs can be fiesty, and should not always be handled. I can see why because their teeth are just massive and really sharp, and you would most likely need stitches if you got bit. They are more of a display animal, but I bet there are some pretty docile GTPs and ETBs out there.

3) I am not to familiar with many Liasis pythons, but I do know that the Stimson's python falls under that category. I'm not sure if Spotted and Children's pythons fall under that category either, but I'll just tell you what I have researched on these snakes. I've heard the three make wonderful starter snakes, and do stay at a pretty decent size if someone was worried about the length. I've heard pretty good things about them, and I wouldn't mind tell a beginner-herper about those species.

Really, I think people mention those often-seen snakes (Ball pythons, Kenyan Sand boas, Rosy boas, Burmese pythons, etc.) is because you can pretty much find them anywhere and as babies they aren't even that much money plus their care & temperament is pretty good. I always mention the Ball python to a starter, just because I don't regret keeping them and they make a WONDERFUL starter snake for anyone who would be interested in keeping pythons. Ball pythons, for me, are the door way to finding out other species of pythons and working your way up to the ones who are more fiesty.

Here's how I would rate the snakes I listed:

Borneo Short Tail pythons- 4
Sumatran Short Tail pythons- 4
Blood pythons- 3
JCPs- 4
Bredlis- 5
Coastals- 5
Jags- 4 or 5
Green Tree pythons- 2
Emerald Tree boas- 2
Stimson's pythons- 5
Children's pythons- 5
Spotted pythons- 5

Also just looked up some more Liasis pythons, and here is my rating on them:
White Lipped pythons- 3
Woma pythons(Not sure if they are, but oh well)- 5
Black Headed pythons (Not sure if they are)- 4

[OhhWatALoser]

I think with more captive bred snakes being produced, it more depends on the snake individual, i mean you guys are putting GTPs in the bottom, but my GTP was by far the tamest snake i owned, i have a ball python that is very easily aggrivated also. and i have a ATB that is only 2 months old that bites now if i make a wrong move, but im sure in a couple months will be fine.

I find snakes bitting has more to do with how a snake was raised.

and Jags are not a different type of carpet, they are a morph that orginated in coastals and has been outcrossed to other locals. but pure jags are coastals.

[Skiploder]

1) From the research I have done, and the questions I've asked to those who have/had kept Bloods, Borneos, and Sumatrans, they seem like that can be docile depending on how much they are handled. In order from most docile to most aggressive:
1- Borneo Short Tail
2- Sumatran Short Tail
3- Blood python

Though, their personalities vary since all snakes are different, so that means you could have an aggressive Borneo but a sweet and docile Blood.

2) From my research done on the Carpet pythons, it really varies between the snakes. From what I have read, the JCPs can be the nippy ones out of all the other Carpets, but they do grow out of it over a period of time, but also working with them would help by handling them to help them get used to human contact. Though, it seems that the larger Carpets are more docile, such as Bredlis and Coastals.

I hear that GTPs and ETBs can be fiesty, and should not always be handled. I can see why because their teeth are just massive and really sharp, and you would most likely need stitches if you got bit. They are more of a display animal, but I bet there are some pretty docile GTPs and ETBs out there.

3) I am not to familiar with many Liasis pythons, but I do know that the Stimson's python falls under that category. I'm not sure if Spotted and Children's pythons fall under that category either, but I'll just tell you what I have researched on these snakes. I've heard the three make wonderful starter snakes, and do stay at a pretty decent size if someone was worried about the length. I've heard pretty good things about them, and I wouldn't mind tell a beginner-herper about those species.

Really, I think people mention those often-seen snakes (Ball pythons, Kenyan Sand boas, Rosy boas, Burmese pythons, etc.) is because you can pretty much find them anywhere and as babies they aren't even that much money plus their care & temperament is pretty good. I always mention the Ball python to a starter, just because I don't regret keeping them and they make a WONDERFUL starter snake for anyone who would be interested in keeping pythons. Ball pythons, for me, are the door way to finding out other species of pythons and working your way up to the ones who are more fiesty.

Here's how I would rate the snakes I listed:

Borneo Short Tail pythons- 4
Sumatran Short Tail pythons- 4
Blood pythons- 3
JCPs- 4
Bredlis- 5
Coastals- 5
Jags- 4 or 5
Green Tree pythons- 2
Emerald Tree boas- 2
Stimson's pythons- 5
Children's pythons- 5
Spotted pythons- 5

Also just looked up some more Liasis pythons, and here is my rating on them:
White Lipped pythons- 3
Woma pythons(Not sure if they are, but oh well)- 5
Black Headed pythons (Not sure if they are)- 4

Shouldn't we be rating animals that we've owned?

Seriously, what's the point of going through this exercise if all we're going to do is regurgitate something you read?

BTW:

- Stimsons, Childrens, Anthills and Spotteds are Antaresia.

- Womas and Blackheads are Aspidites.

- Whitelips are Leiopython.

Liasis are:

- Fuscus

- Olivaceous

- Barroni

- Macklotti

- Savuensis

[abuja]

I kinda disagree with the retic statement. I've never kept 'tics personally, but I handled several of Danny's (Denial) and his were the sweetest things, even the 6 ft. purple albino female. They never once struck and were completely calm the whole time. But I've never kept them, so I don't know for sure...?

[Aeries]

I don't really think a scale like this can really be done objectively....if anything it's just going to promote bad stereotypes such as 'I will never get bit if I by a ball-python' or 'I will never keep a blood python because they are devils.'

I think their's just too much variability in personality and the way keepers handle/treat their animals for there to be much validity to that kind of rank system. However for broad generalizations....

[likebull1]

Retics are by no meens a beginer snake. The biggest reason is peoples lack of husbandry skills, respect for the animal, and common sense. On the same hand i do not believe retics to be "viscious" either. They seem to get there bad name from people who have never owned one or bought one from a pet shop with no knowledge of the snake and feared it.

It is hard to rate any snake because the are always exceptions. I have owned boas and burms that were unbelievabley docile. I also owned corns and balls that were very defensive and would strike at any moving object.

[spitfireashlea]

i think the better way to rate this would to rate it on the amount of agressive behavior portraid or the higher chance of aggression.

There are some ball pythons out there that are "living chain saws", and I'm sure some retics that love to cuddle.

An example would be a Emerald tree boa, yea people have proven that they can be docile, but aren't they easily agitated? Wouldn't that shoot it up to the top of the list? Their fangs are also another problem.


Iono, just throwing it out there. I agree with the other post, this should be pure user experience, not what you have read.

[OhhWatALoser]

An example would be a Emerald tree boa, yea people have proven that they can be docile, but aren't they easily agitated? Wouldn't that shoot it up to the top of the list? Their fangs are also another problem.

theres not alot of captive bred ETB compared to other snakes. I've see more imported in real life than captive bred, i havn't owned them, but i've been around alot of them and i can honestly say ALL of the wild caught ETB i've been around were devils and ALL of the captive bred ETB i've been around have been just fine.

I still say it has more to do with how their raised.

I mean compare this to dogs. is a pit bull going to be more likly to bite you than a lab.... depends how it was raised, i've never met anything but sweetheart pit bulls, but they have the same sterotype as the ETBs and GTPs

[Lunar-kun]

i think the better way to rate this would to rate it on the amount of agressive behavior portraid or the higher chance of aggression.

There are some ball pythons out there that are "living chain saws", and I'm sure some retics that love to cuddle.

An example would be a Emerald tree boa, yea people have proven that they can be docile, but aren't they easily agitated? Wouldn't that shoot it up to the top of the list? Their fangs are also another problem.


Iono, just throwing it out there. I agree with the other post, this should be pure user experience, not what you have read.

My ETB never once struck at me while she was in my custody before I sold her. So around like 2 years. She was always good and I held her around 3 times a week. =D Maybe I was just lucky?