Confirmed Best All Around.

[Gio]

I've seen a bit of chatter here about temperaments in the carpet group.

Are they nippy, feisty, hard to handle and so on. Obviously like a great many juvenile snakes, they are possibly all of the fore mentioned, however with time I can honestly say of the four different species I have here from four different continents, the coastal carpet I have here is the most relaxed, social and predictable snake during interactions and she is the best display snake all around.

The royal python is the only snake here that has never bitten me, but it is very obvious she does not really like to be handled. She will usually lie still, but will make an effort to go away from me. She is an excellent keep but interactive experiences are lacking. She can be active at night, and will use perches when she does get into frolic mode.

Probably my favorite snake, is the boa constrictor. He's approaching the "big snake", not giant snake, dimensions people think about when length, thickness and weight are in the equation. He's impressive and fun to handle, but he wants to get away from me and usually makes an effort to explore areas I don't want him to. The eyes of a boa constrictor are very interesting. They tend to leave me guessing. Again, the boa is amazing, but I am always waiting for a bad day with him. I don't feel he would give me too many signs before deciding to have a go at me. He's the most stealthy animal here. Very controlled motions with no wasted effort. This time of year he is a sensational display snake. Perching and being active almost every night is his gig.

The SD x Dwarf retic is a fun animal. So far he's not the best display snake. He probably takes 3rd place behind the carpet and the boa but he's young and in a cage that is getting smaller as he gets larger. He is very easy to read. He'll throw lots of signs out when he doesn't want to be handled. Of course I usually take him out in spite of that. Handling him is not typically relaxing. I have still not set him flat on the floor or ground. I think he'd make a mad dash and he's very quick. The retic has potential to move up in my personal "all around best" category but it may be a while. I like the fact I can read his eyes and he does come toward me in his cage. However his idea of coming toward me is likely food oriented.

This leads me to the carpet python. I can't get her to bite me if I try. She seems to want to come out, is never afraid, or in a hurry to get away. She is social if you can use that term for a snake and very easy to handle. Long and lean, not too heavy and again, she appears to have a "friendly" disposition. I can always reach in and put my hands on her and take her out. She is the most active snake throughout the day here. She's a terrible eater yet she's 7 feet or maybe more now.

I really can't pick a favorite here, I say the boa because he's my first. The royal is my son's and has been here longer, but the coastal was an expo purchase for not much money at all. She covers almost every area of the hobby I love. Handling is great, display is as good as it gets. Demeanor is perfect, and I've heard other carpet owners say the same about their snakes. I've watched videos of wild carpets being handled and one would think they were captive raised.

I don't know, maybe its me enjoying the coastal carpet this month and I'll have another fan favorite next month, but in all honesty these Assuie snakes really are a treat.