Which One For Me? (BP, RTB, JCP, WP, etc.)

I'm hoping to purchase my first snake in a few months, and am having a tough time deciding on which type to get. Currently considering Ball Pythons, Red Tail Boas, Jungle Carpet Pythons, and Woma Pythons. From what I've heard on this board and from my snake savvy friends, Ball Pythons, Red Tail boas, and Woma Pythons are the way to go.

Here's what I'm looking for
- Care: low maintenance, beginner friendly; not extremely likely to die on me if I make a mistake here and there.
- Temperament: relatively docile nature. I want a snake that I can handle very regularly without wondering if I'll be taking a bite to the face each time. Of course I understand that other factors play also play a large part, but I may need to stay away from the ones known to be temperamental.
- Housing/Environment: won't require a large set up. Unfortunately I cannot afford a 5' tall set up, although I wish I could. Ideally I'd like a snake that would be okay with a 35 to (possibly) 75 gallon tank/terrarium? Or the tub equivalent. I don't know how realistic this is because I've never looked into it, so if anyone has input on this I'd appreciate it.
- Size: on the other hand, I also prefer heftier snakes, and would like one that grows up to be anywhere from 5' to 10'.
- Feeding: I plan on feeding frozen and thawed rats, and really do not want to feed rabbits or anything larger than a good sized rat.
- Price: budget for snake and equipment is around $300 - $400.

Please remember that I am a complete novice to snakes and reptiles in general (and amphibians). There are a few things that I am expecting to compromise on, but that's a general idea of what I'm looking for.

Again, currently considering the following

- Ball Pythons.
Pros: easy to care for, great size, don't require a large habitat, generally docile, wide variety of colors and patterns.
Cons: I hear they can be finicky and picky eaters, so I'd be worried about a young one dying.

- Red Tail Boas
Pros: I'm very fond of the look, especially the more vividly colored/higher contrast ones. Again, a size that I like. I hear their temperament is usually nice, too, although apparently a friend of a friend was bit in the face by her RTB? I'm not too concerned though, s*** happens.
Cons: Not sure yet, I haven't done much research on them. Could they potentially be too large for me, given my limited options with tanks/terrarium sizes?

- Jungle Carpet Pythons
Pros: They are gorgeous. Exactly what I'm looking for aesthetically in a snake. The person who brought JCPs up initially spoke fondly of theirs, mentioning how calm and docile he was. And did I mention that they're stunning? I keep going back to them for just that.
Cons: I've heard them likened to chainsaws. And there is the habitat size issue again.

- Woma Pythons
Pros: Most people I ask seem to like them a great deal, and I've heard them recommended as beginner snakes. I've heard that they're not known to be snappy, but are still more active than ball pythons.
Cons: Again, haven't done much research on them. To be honest I strongly prefer the head and colors of the former three to the woma python.

MarkS also mentioned the Irian Jaya carpet python being a possibility. Any thoughts on them? Would they be a more beginner friendly alternative to the jungle carpet python?

Other recommendations would be welcome. Please be warned, I am placing a great amount of emphasis on looks/appearance and size. There are some snakes that would be perfect for me but unfortunately I'm just not sold on them aesthetically. With that said, I'm going to get this out of the way - please do not suggest a corn snake or children's python! Much appreciated!

Sorry for the long wall of text and thanks in advance!

I definitely recommend a Ball for your specifications, particularly the environment size restraint. They really don't need much space, and actually thrive in smaller environments.

They can be finicky eaters, but there are a few options-- get one that's a bit older, with some bulk to it already, and a proven "good eater". Downside: You don't necessarily get to watch it grow as much.

I will say though that many breeders won't let their hatchlings go anywhere until they've had at least 3 unassisted meals. This verifies the animal's health coming out of the gate and its ability to eat on its own. Some ball pythons will fast no matter what you do, and some will refuse to ever skip a meal. It's part of their nature.

In the end though, it really is up to you as far as what you like and what you feel is possible! You can get a great variety of BP morphs, many of them with wonderful docile temperaments, can deal with size restraints, and only get to be about 5 feet at full length. But if they just don't tickle your fancy, there are definitely other options.

I would say, take a deeper look into the care sheets on the snakes you haven't done as much research on!
I think that, if by now you are sold on a snake, that might be it.
I personally only have a corn snake and a ball python, and I don't know much about the other ones you have listed. Based on what I've read though, the only one of those snakes you've mentioned that would be a really good "starter snake" would be a ball python...
I have heard of carpet pythons being alright as well, but not as much of a "beginner", if that makes sense?
Hopefully someone else can give you better info/opinions on that though!

I think that you should definitely do a TONNE of research before getting any snake, and be prepared to invest in money right off the bat - after the initial start up cost they are pretty inexpensive (well, if you only have ONE or a couple, anyways)! Price-wise, the cheapest one you could get would be a young normal male ball python - I was recently at a show and someone had them for $10. I know they can go for less than $50 most times. You can of course get some really fancy ones as well, but the more sought after snake, the higher the price (which would take up your whole budget). Definitely take a look on Kijiji (or if you are in the US, Craig's List) for deals on cages/vives. I would personally never get a snake from there though. Definitely check out some reputable breeders :)

I personally also think you should go for one that you love :) but like I said, really really do you research and fully know what you are getting into. I wouldn't suggest a snake not for beginners if it is your first, but I can understand it at the same time!

Best of luck with whatever you decide!

Hmm it seems like you're kind of in a tight spot. There's definitely going to be a trade off with your space constraints and the hefty snake you're looking for. The bigger snakes' housing requirements will also eat into your budget quite a bit more than a smaller snake. Which one of these are you willing to compromise on the most: snake size, cage size or budget?

Jungle carpet pythons definitely take less care than Common BCI:
- less humidity issues
- requires less room
- Smaller urinations, defecations
- Smaller food

Now unless you get a snake that is going to stay bitey forever, most can be calmed down. Most I come across are just a little nippy and shy as babies but as they get used to being handled they calm down quite nicely.

Thanks everyone - really appreciate the helpful advice! I did suspect that I would have to go with a Ball python, and that's okay. I really like the variety of colors that I can get, and I think I'd like their temperament. Ball pythons are the initial reason why I started looking into snakes; I had planned to get a BP but then other snakes started catching my eye.

Will definitely be doing a great deal of research, my fault usually lies in the fact that I over research and over think on everything. I ask a lot of questions, but I plan on doing a great deal of research on my own, too. Only recently started feeling the craze :) And yes, I will keep an eye on Craigslist and Kijiji as well, although I am hoping to find my snake at the Portland Expo in January.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by MootWorm

Hmm it seems like you're kind of in a tight spot. There's definitely going to be a trade off with your space constraints and the hefty snake you're looking for. The bigger snakes' housing requirements will also eat into your budget quite a bit more than a smaller snake. Which one of these are you willing to compromise on the most: snake size, cage size or budget?

---

I really am! That's a good question - although wouldn't cage size and budget go hand in hand? My $300 - $400 budget does include the set up, and I know the larger terrariums cost quite a bit. If cage size and budget weren't linked, then I certainly wouldn't mind getting a larger cage. Physical space isn't an issue. But because cage size and budget will likely be connected, I will have to say snake size. I would still like one within the 4' - 5' range, though, and the girth of a ball python or boa (corn snakes look delicate to me).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Jungle carpet pythons definitely need less room than Common BCI.

---

Forgive my ignorance, please :) Which of the snakes on my list would count as a BCI? How much room would a Jungle Carpet python require, if you know?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mikoh4792

Jungle carpet pythons definitely take less care than Common BCI:
- less humidity issues
- requires less room
- Smaller urinations, defecations
- Smaller food

Now unless you get a snake that is going to stay bitey forever, most can be calmed down. Most I come across are just a little nippy and shy as babies but as they get used to being handled they calm down quite nicely.

---

That's great to know - it's probably pretty clear already that I heavily favor JCPs :P I am trying not to let that bias cloud my judgement, though, because everyone else has told me that they are not easy snakes to handle at all.

Here's my thoughts on babies vs. adults:

I definitely don't mind missing out on watching them develop. I'm not one for puppies or kittens or baby animals in general. However, I do want to ensure that the baby has been properly handled and socialized so that I would be able to handle the snake without (much) incident as an adult. Plus, babies should be much easier to calm down than a full grown adult. So that's one reason to go for a baby. And it does seem as if they're cheaper, too, which is a very compelling reason for me.

The mixed opinions on JCPs have been a little confusing for me in my attempts at research. Hopefully I can get these concerns cleared up on this board :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by loud

Forgive my ignorance, please :) Which of the snakes on my list would count as a BCI? How much room would a Jungle Carpet python require, if you know?

---

Well you want to get a red tail, and bci are smaller than red tail boas. So if a carpet require less room than bci, then they certainly require less room than Red tails.

Most people I've seen house their adults in 4x2 caging, and individuals under 7 feet in length(Size varies depending on what you get) seem to have plenty of room to climb and move around. These are very slender snakes, if you don't over feed them.

I have a palmerston girl, palmerstons are a smaller locale of jungles usually maxing out around 4-5 feet. I have another male of mixed locales but his parents were around the 6ft mark.

Generally yes, cage and tank size would go hand in hand. But I wasn't sure if you had a limit on the cage size. Say, for example you found a 6x3x3 cage for 50 bucks on CL, but simply didn't have the room. I know I've run out of places for cages in my house :) I see that you don't like the 'delicateness' of corns, but I was going to recommend a hognose. They are a bit on the small and slender side, but they're gorgeous IMO and have awesome personalities. Since they're smaller, you can spend more of your budget on a sweet morph. I think females get around 3 ft. A hog was my BFs first snake and he got hooked. 3 and counting so far lol

mikoh4792 - thanks for explaining! So a question for you and anyone else with jungle carpet python experience... would you absolutely recommend against a beginner getting one? A beginner, mind you, who does not know much about reptile care (but is willing to learn!) and wants a snake that is easy to handle.

My thought is that if I go to an expo and find a more docile JCP or perhaps a very young one, it would be worth a try? But if they are predisposed to being very snappy, then I'm not sure how confident I am in my ability to change that.

MootWorm - that makes sense, thanks! And actually, hognose snakes were originally at the top of my list until I realized how small they were. They are stunning, and I'm very fond of their noses LOL I find them impossibly cute, but just not sure about their size. There's no real reason for my stubborn preference for the moderately large snakes, but I guess me being a big dog person has also transferred over to snakes as well? I get an idea of what I want in my head and it just sort of sticks.

If the tank size for a red tail boa or a jungle/Irian Jaya carpet python is an issue, I will probably go with a ball python.

Out of your list i have had ball pythonS and a carpet python (albit not a jungle mine is a coastal so will be much much larger than a jungle) here are my experiences:

Ball pythons:
Pros:
-gets chunky pretty fast but stay small as adults (good if you like thick snakes)
-General Docile
-not agile (so you can scoop them up from behind if you are lucky to end up with a mean one)
-A gazillion different morphs, gotta be one in your price range
-the perfect snake for ppl that are terrify of snakes (i'm talking about the 98% of docile BP, I usually let my scare of snakes friend start out by holding the BP they can be a little rough with it without getting punish or freaked out by fast movements)

Cons:
-too small (imo)
-can get quite boring (as in not fiesty enough :P kind of forget its a snake sometimes)
-Finicky eaters in general (even my really good eater will occasionally be picky)

Carpet pythons:
Pro:
-Can get to an impression size
-Grows slow (it grows lengthwise first before gainingg girth so it feel and looks smaller)
-Just the basic one are already stunning, the morph are breathtaking
-AWESOME feeding response, always hungry always ready for a meal, size of prey does not seem to affect their tenacity
-Seems more alert than ball pythons

Cons:
-Awesome feeding response (this might be con for some ppl because the feeding response it so great sometimes some will literally shoot out of their enclosure and any heat score on feeding day, could be scary for some people as a 2m+ adult)
-Can be mean as babies (I had mine since it was 100gram or so and at 500+gram it has settle down alot but still huff a bluff with a occasional bite and will not tolerate in proper handling like my bps would. Could bite, defecate or run really fast if scared)
-super agile, no you can't scoop them up from behind without them noticing like BPs
-Can grow big depending on the locality.
-in my experience messier than BP, they seem to pee Alooooottt


For me if I had to give up all my snakes and only keep one i would keep my carpet, they just have so much personality (albit feisty) and mine have never refuse a meal, it even eats in full shed. Would I recommend them for beginners? to be honest when I first got my Carpet having only dealt with ball python was a litte put off by the fiestiness. But i soon fell in love with its personality and actually appreciate its feisty, feels like having a real snake. And they do tame down with age (or they get more confidence after putting on some weight)