How do ball pythons compare to other pythons & boas?

[Bluebonnet Herp]

Just looking for your general experience with other booids and ball pythons. So far, I'm a novice to snakes and only have dealt with ball pythons, but looking into another snake, I'm wondering if I should pick a different species. How does their care, behavior, and activity level differ from the ball, and what major difference does it make. Just any other python and boa, be it boa constrictor, rosy boa, carpet python, reticulated python, blood python, short tailed python, etc. So far, I heard rosy boas behave like miniature ball pythons; sluggish, slow, and secretive.
Also, how does the activity level of ball pythons differ from my season to season? Do ball pythons usually lie around and do nothing during the colder months as opposed to more activity in the summer, or is it just me and my ball?

[RaskaNeil]

Love to help! I've found that my Ball doesnt care how often he is fed, if he's shedding, what season, time of day, or how often I handle him. He does what he wants as far as activity goes, He'll run all over his cage while in mid-shed and then hide for two months.

Rosy and Sand Boas are very secretive, sluggish, and pretty to boot. However, mine have all been a little aggressive, I've yet to even been hissed at by my Ball but my Sand used to bite me every other handling.

Carpet Pythons are beautiful creatures.

[Daybreaker]

For activity, my balls seem to be active sporadically. I don't drop temps in the winter months though, so the snake room stays at the same temps year round.

For species, what you're asking is very broad. Care and requirements are different species to species, but here's some generalities I can give with the species I keep vs the bps:

Boas (I have Argentines, Colombians, and a Hog Island): very easy to care for (like bps) that don't usually need the same security requirements that most bps need: do well in more open cages/tubs/vivs and very good eaters. Not nearly as picky as the balls are. Plan on 4 foot and up cages for females/the bigger boa species.

Colubrids (I have Cali Kings and corn snakes): very easy to care for as well, easier than balls IMO. Very hardy and great eaters as well. The kings can be hissy pissy but it depends on the individual, but my corns are really friendly and easy to handle (though they are a lot quicker than the balls when they want to be).

Blood pythons (I have a Sumatran Short tail black blood and a T pos albino): needs more care requirements than balls IMO: like cooler temps and higher humidity. Very heavily bodied snakes that are super strong so you need to understand what you may be getting into when adults. Large tubs/vivs are needed.

Retic (I have a mainland super tiger female, in my avatar): More care requirements as well and you MUST know what it will take to take on an adult retic before jumping in to get one (would take note of the dwarf retics, they'll stay much smaller usually). Should definitely do some homework before getting into any giant IMO, they sure aren't ball pythons.

I also have Angolan pythons, a coastal carpet python, and a bull snake. I adore each and they're fairly easy to keep also IMO.

[LLLReptile]

In my experience, balls are great to start with because they allow you to get familiar with handling and basic care before moving into something more advanced, faster moving, or slender bodied.

As far as other snake species go, it really depends on what you like. I personally am extremely fond of African House Snakes, a small little species from Africa that is ridiculously easy to care for, small, and super smart and adorable. I also keep pituophis, or gopher/pine/bullsnakes, and adore their attitudes. If you are not too confident with snakes yet, it may be better to steer towards the house snakes or more commonly kept North American colubrids such as cornsnakes or kingsnakes.

Rosies are kind of like ball pythons; the only thing I don't personally enjoy about them is that the ones I encounter are pretty prone to "side biting", where they will crawl over you and while you're holding them, just turn and chow down. The majority of them don't do this, but a fair few of the ones I've encountered do, enough to where I am not personally very fond of them!

Sand Boas mature small and are similar to rosies in temperament; they burrow beneath sand 99% of the time so you almost never see them. They do mature at 24" or less, though, so if small is what you want, they're great.

Carpet pythons are fun snakes, not much harder to care for than ball pythons, just more active. Give them more space, tinker with humidity a bit more, and prepare for a longer adult animal. Girth wise, they do not get much thicker than balls, just longer. They're smart and inquisitive, and babies can start out nippy, so be prepared for that.

If you can, check out as many snakes as you can at a reptile show. Or come visit us at our stores if you're local - the best way to find out about new species is to play with them!

-Jen

[shogun]

Lots has already been said. I would like to ad that out of all the boas and pythons I've kept and had experience with, a ball pythons temperament (if they have a good temperament to begin with) always seems to stay the same (unless they have a clutch). I have noticed over the years that most boas I have kept always seem to get aggressive upon entering their tanks. I don't handle my snakes very much, and that could be the reason. But my balls never seem to turn on me, so to speak.

[BPro927]

Ball Pythons > Other snakes!

[Bluebonnet Herp]

Alright guys, I appreciate the input! I couldn't get better replies elsewhere; literally!
One of my main points with balls is their secretive habits; their tendency to hide well over half the time has left me a bit bored with my scaly friend, but I love him nonetheless. But now that you all have told me this, how would these other boids compare as far as their in-cage activity goes? I'm a big fan of display animals and fancy, natural tanks. I find that I appreciate the animal more if it is readily viewable when peering in the tank. I understand that all snakes have their private time, but I'd like to look into a species that doesn't celebrate that 24/7.

[Daybreaker]

I say go with a boa if you want a snake you can put in a nice display cage. They don't get as easily stressed by being handled also. You could put a nice ledge/branch in there and I bet it would use it too. Central American/Nics and other dwarf boas are good if you don't want something too big or choose a male Colombian. Big female Colombians, Argentines, and BCCs will get on the larger side as adults, so I recommend at least a 6' cage for those.

[Bluebonnet Herp]

What about carpet pythons or bloods? How do these compare? I don't need something that will be cruising around all the time- although that would be appreciated- just something that will make an open appearance at least once a day or the like. Is it normal for a ball python to hide at night as well?

[Daybreaker]

^ Carpets make good display snakes as well and with my experience with my two bloods they're pretty shy and like their privacy so I wouldn't have them as a display snake. Carpets will make use of ledges/branches too and you can give them taller cages to put lots of decoration and the like in, most I see will chill out and look pretty. Most of my balls hide at night, I hardly ever see them roaming around unless I'm heating up f/t feeders.