Whats next!?!?

[Trigger]

I know its only been two days since ive aquired my baby ball but I just know im in it for the long run. Im waiting abit and gonna get a few more balls inbetween but im thinking id like abit bigger snake. One that can be handeled and held like a ball but abit beefier and overall bigger.Is a boa the way to go or any other suggestions?

[parabuzzle]

A BCI Red Tail Boa is probably your next longest and easy to take care of. If you want something beefy you can get a blood python but they are hard to take of. check out the caresheets and there is a thread in the blood python forum that is recent that has pictures of the full grown guys being held.

[frankykeno]

Columbian Boa's (boa constrictor imperator) are great snakes but take the time now to really do your research and make sure that down the road you are ready for the work that goes along with a much larger snake. They aren't the size of burms or retics granted but they can be a very large snake, quite heavy bodied and incredibly strong. Males don't reach much more than 6 or 8 feet but that's 6 or 8 big feet, very girthy, much heavier than a ball python ever attains. The females are even larger and heavier than the males.

They require larger or more prey, large housing and a lot of supervision when you take them out for a bit of exercise. They can and will get wrapped around furniture and believe me it's a lot of work to convince a 6 foot plus, strong as a bull male BCI to let go of your coffeetable. We are currently fostering a big male and at just over 6 feet he isn't showing signs of being quite finished growing yet.

There are also concerns about a mixed collection of boa's and pythons that you need to look into. Do some research on IBD (Inclusion Body Disease) in boa's and it's devastating effects on pythons. Quarantine is something that's always important when you add anything to your collection but especially so due to IBD.

I'm not trying to put you off. Personally we love both boa's and pythons but after having taken in this big BCI as an emergency foster situation, I just want to be very honest about how much work they are compared to smaller snakes so you don't take on more than you can handle. There are a lot of BCI's (and other bigger snakes) sitting in pet stores or reptile rescues because they got too much for their owners to manage or the owners didn't realize what they were taking on in the first place.

Another bit of advice, get your boa (or any snake for that matter) from a reputable breeder. You'll get a great young snake, well started, healthy, etc. which makes life way easier on you and your snake.

[Trigger]

No, you didnt put me off at all, more then anything im happy to see theirs others out there that really care about their animals and the well being of others. I will do anything and everything to make sure my future snakes are cared for so no worries there.I was just seeing what the next snakes would be. Im looking for a challenge.... but I still want something handelable... im thinking a red til boa is the largest you could go with haveing a friendly disposition ( i know it depends on the snake ) and still being able to handle it to some degree? im open for any and all suggestions... im also looking for some nice morphs as my next purchases, do boas come in albino morphs and whatnot? If not no worries ill love the snake all the same.Like I said im open to any and all suggestions.

[Shelby]

Boas come in many morphs (most much less expensive than BP morphs) albinos run around $600 or so.. they are one of the least expensive morphs.

I would not say that blood pythons are hard to take care of. They are much easier to feed than your average ball python, and they just need proper temperatures and humidity like any snake. A 6' 30lb blood is definitely handleable, however you have to be mindful of the weight, and not just sling it around your shoulders like you could a ball or red tail boa.

You might also want to look into jungle carpet pythons, dumerils boas, and hog island boas

[Ninjapython]

well instead of a colombian dumerils boa are a wonderful snake and about as cklose as it can get to the ball pythons tempernment ther grow an average of 7 feet

[Shelby]

Yep.. dumerils are fan-tabulous snakes! I have two.. and if you want to get a general idea of what a big girl is like.. here's Bellatrix!

[Trigger]

Do dumerils come in any interesting morphs?

[Shelby]

Not any widely available.. I love them just the way they are.

There is a hypo.. but only one breeder has them as far as I know..

[Trigger]

Hmm... I think i would rather go with a boa of sorts...just preferance. Nothing aginst the snake... its a beauty.Would a red tail boa be around 8 or so foot with a healthy girth ? I would like any and all the snakes in my range of interest and go through them all to see what i dont like and do then go from there.And no that dosent mean I expect you all to start listing them out,research will get me where i go i guess.