Carpet Python or Boa?

[sean12wilk]

I want to get my second snake/third reptile. I have a ball python and a crested gecko and I'm ready to step it up. I have done my research on both, but I'm torn. I love both and I know in the end they will require the same caging. So what do you guys think? Should I get a carpet python or a boa constrictor?

[devonascended]

My boas are some of my favorite snakes, they have great personalities. My carpet is a handful though, hes bitey. If you're looking to set up a great display, I would lean towards the carpet, because of their slender bodies and arboreal tendencies, you can make something that looks really cool. For handling I would go with a boa, but this is just my experience, each snake is different, and your carpet may not be hard to tame at all.

[sean12wilk]

Thanks for the advice. A good display doesn't really matter because I would be keeping it in a tub until it needs a 4x2 cage. I'm leaning towards boa right now because of their handleability and how readily they accept f/t.

[Pyrate81]

You can got either way. Both are great snakes. Both are great display or tub snakes and both like climbing. You'll see a vast personality difference between your bp and either of these snakes. It's a great a experience.

Carpets are usually bitey if they aren't tamed down. Sometimes they are docile out of the egg. They'll typically calm down in the first year. I've dealt with a very bitey one and within a month was able to nestle itself into a bun on a girls hair. That particular snake was only 18-24 inches long.

Boas I've heard can go through a stage when maturing where if they aren't handled can develope or keep an attitude problem. NOt sure how often this happens.


Depends on preference. I prefer both. :-D

[Fireproof]

I've loved and kept boas forever. They've been a longtime favorite. If snakes do have personality, you can certainly see it in some of the boas. Although they get big, they aren't unmanageable like the giants, they interact well, have a curious nature, and are fun to have. Apart from an argentina that was real snippy as a youth, all of mine have been very docile puppy dogs.

Here's a pic of my daughter with Ziggy (this was several years ago).

[Eazyyyb]

I was in the same position as you, OP, and I went with boas. I love my boas to death, and I want to start breeding in the next couple years. I love my BP, but everytime I get a boa out to handle, I know its gonna be exciting. CPs can be bitey, but so can boas obviously. I have a red tail that no one can handle but me, cause he's gotten me a couple times, but my others are tame as can be. I know my opinion is biased, but i will always recommend a boa!

[HVani]

I don't have a carpet python so I can't comment on those.

I adore my boa though. He is quickly becoming my favorite snakes. He's very easy going and confident. He gets really crabby during shed and has nailed me once. Otherwise he's such a sweet heart.

[bcr229]

I've never kept carpet pythons so I can't comment on them.

For boas, I've got several common and morph BCI's, three Tarahumaras (locality BCI), and two Dumeril's went into QT last weekend. The species you pick depends on what you're looking for.

The BCI's overall are great to handle, very laid back, none have shown any defensiveness, and only one has ever bit me and it was a feeding mistake on my part (tongs too short). As adults they'll all end up in a 48" long enclosure, eventually.

The Tarahumaras, like most locality/Central American boas, have a bit more "attitude" and defensiveness. They take a lot of handling to get settled. My three are all 18-24 months old and still hiss when I pick them up, though none have ever struck. Once in hand they are much more likely to just settle around my hand and wrist and stay put, where my larger BCI's are active. These guys top out at 4' for the males, 5' for the females, so they won't outgrow a 41 qt tub.

I haven't had the Dumeril's long enough to get to know them but my understanding is that they're a fairly lazy species, a few keepers refer to them as their "lap snakes". They hail from Madagascar and can have some awesome patterns to them.

All of my boas are solid feeders and would eat until they got fat and/or puked if I let them.

[Gio]

This is a great question, and one I would love to help you with. I have both a locality boa constrictor and a coastal carpet python.

Really, my honest answer is one of each if you are able to at some point.

Look at and handle both, and if you can, look at adults and yearlings so you get a feel for what YOU personally find the most pleasing.

Both species are semi arboreal, and in my opinion should be housed in a cage where they can get exercise. If you are not going to provide that space, you should be prepared to let them get out and moving. ALL carpet species have prehensile tails and exhibit semi arboreal qualities. There are several reports of large, adult coastal carpets found several meters up in the canopy in their native habitat.

Boa constrictors also climb and hunt in the trees although they the more terrestrial of the two in my experience.

If fed conservatively, you will see a lot more activity out of a boa constrictor as they will hunt for food and make use of the caging provided compared to an overfed BC. I have experimented with my BC, and have noted that longer periods between meals increases activity levels. I prefer this to having an always full, lazy content animal, and the difference in body shape and tone is apparent when feeding properly.

My carpet is still young, and she spends 50% of her time in a hide on the ground, but like clockwork she pops out at sunset and spends the other 50% out in view cruising the branches. She is active no matter how she is fed.

Carpets can eat pretty large prey items and don't suffer any of the regurgitation issues that certain species of BC, although most BCI species are fairly hardy.

Sexual dimorphism in carpet pythons is different from that of BC's. The males of certain species of carpet combat prior to mating, and of the species that do, the male is on average larger than the female.

I'm getting off topic here, but as far as keeping goes, BCI boas and almost any carpet species are pretty hardy and easy to keep.

Handling is fun and easy with both BC's and carpets. I find my BC to move in a more calculated, controlled manner, slower, more deliberate and predictable, I find my carpet to move much faster, and can't predict where she'll go, or when she'll take off. They are not shy or easily spooked and are interesting to handle. You'll have to move your hands more with the carpet. I like to give them some type of climbing setup and let them hang out on it while I sit and watch.

I've been bitten by both when they were first acquired but they have settled and I'm not concerned about either one biting. I can read them both fairly well.

I have had a few feeding issues with the carpet. She's refused food more than a few times, and is still not 100% predictable when it comes to food.

The BC never refuses food, ever.

Here is another suggestion I have for you. If you truly want to research and gain a lot of knowledge on the animals I highly recommend these two books.

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR by Vincent Russo.

THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON by Nick Mutton and Justin Julander.

Those books are as good as it gets for the snakes we are discussing here.

Ultimately the choice is yours, and though my son's royal python has been a good snake, I find BC's and carpets far less shy, more active, better eaters and more interesting animals. I think you'll find the same with either.

Both species have larger and smaller variants so you can find the size you like.



I like this thread and if you have some specific questions ask away.

[Gio]

This is a great question, and one I would love to help you with. I have both a locality boa constrictor and a coastal carpet python.

Really, my honest answer is to get one of each if you are able to at some point.

Look at and handle both, and if you can, look at adults and yearlings so you get a feel for what YOU personally find the most pleasing.

Both species are semi arboreal, and in my opinion should be housed in cages where they can get exercise. If you are not going to provide that space, you should be prepared to let them get out and moving. ALL carpet species have prehensile tails and exhibit semi arboreal qualities. There are several reports of large, adult coastal carpets found several meters up in the canopy in their native habitat. These are full grown adults!

Boa constrictors also climb and hunt in the trees although they are the more terrestrial of the two in my experience.

If fed conservatively, you will see a lot more activity out of a boa constrictor as they will hunt for food and make use of the caging provided compared to an overfed BC. I have experimented with my BC, and have noted that longer periods between meals seems to increase activity levels. I prefer this to having an always full, lazy content animal, and the difference in body shape and tone is apparent when feeding properly.

My carpet is still young, and she spends 50% of her time in a hide on the ground, but like clockwork she pops out at sunset and spends the other 50% out in view cruising the branches. She is active no matter how she is fed.

Carpets can eat pretty large prey items and don't suffer any of the regurgitation issues that certain species of BC's do, although most BCI species are fairly hardy.

Sexual dimorphism in carpet pythons is different from that of BC's. The males of certain species of carpet combat prior to mating, and of the species that do, the male is on average larger than the female. Both can get big especially coastals or Bredli attaining sizes close to BC's in length, but are lighter in body usually.

I'm getting off topic here, but as far as husbandry goes, BCI boas and almost any carpet species are pretty hardy and easy to keep.

Handling is fun and easy with both BC's and carpets. I find my BC to move in a more calculated, controlled manner, slower, more deliberate and predictable, I find my carpet moves much faster, and I can't predict where she'll go, or when she'll take off. Neither are shy or easily spooked and both are interesting to handle. You'll have to move your hands more with the carpet. I like to give each of them some type of climbing setup and let them hang out on it while I sit and watch.

I've been bitten by both when they were first acquired but they have settled and I'm not concerned about either one biting. I can read them both fairly well now.

I have had a few feeding issues with the carpet. She's refused food more than a few times, and is still not 100% predictable when it comes to food but she is becoming more steady, and I don't foresee issues once she grows more.

The BC never refuses food, ever.

Here is another suggestion I have for you. If you truly want to research and gain a lot of knowledge on the animals mentioned I highly recommend these two books.

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR by Vincent Russo.

THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON by Nick Mutton and Justin Julander.

Those books are as good as it gets for the snakes we are discussing here.

Ultimately the choice is yours, and though my son's royal python has been a good snake, I find BC's and carpets far less shy, more active, better eaters and more interesting animals. I think you'll find the same with either.

Both species have larger and smaller variants so you can find the size you like.



I like this thread and if you have some specific questions ask away.

I forgot pictures, and I also cleaned up some grammar in the previous post in the now quoted area.

Coastal carpet unknown cross. Purchased from a local breeder. Parents are 8 and almost 10 feet long.
This animal is just over 4 feet.


100% pure locality boa constrictor. Barranquilla, Colombia. Almost a perfect example of this locality. Produced by Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo Reptiles) and purchased from Legacy Reptiles. This snake is closing in on 6 feet long and is rather thick for a male BC.



Comparison threads are eye opening IMO. I hope I helped you in some way.

Regards,