Smaller boas(non bcc/bci) vs hognoses: which moves more?

I'm trying to pick my first snake, and I wonder if someone has experience of owning western hognoses and smaller boas, such a rosy boas. I would like a snake that moves around a lot.

I don't have any really small boas but do own a dumerils and bcc along with a western hog. The hog is very active but all of them will come out and start moving around if I'm in the room. The dumerils hides the most but he's also a baby.

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Originally Posted by GoingPostal

I don't have any really small boas but do own a dumerils and bcc along with a western hog. The hog is very active but all of them will come out and start moving around if I'm in the room. The dumerils hides the most but he's also a baby.

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Ok, thank you. That's helpful. I'm starting to think getting a random ball python and going by morph instead of personality could make me stuck with a boring snake for decades, so maybe I should rethink.


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I should have asked if general care is harder compared to a ball python. I know hognoses need low humidity, but if I mess up a little, will they die? I know rainbow boas could die within a few days from low humidity, and I wonder if hognoses are as "hardy" as ball pythons when it comes to temporarily messing up humidity or other base care areas.

I would say hognose are more tolerant of varying temps without getting ill, they can handle a wider temp swing and don't need it as hot. Hogs also don't need really high humidity.

As far as personality, each snake has it's pros and cons, I only have one ball and he's a pet rock for sure and fasts all winter long usually, along with only eating live so he's kind of a pain and not the most exciting for sure. On the plus side he has never bitten or even hissed, I can take him to educational demos and let kids hold him and even if he's not handled often, stays docile. Predictability has it's advantages.

My hoggy is super hissy and likes to strike but has only tried to bite once and it was provoked by me, the way she moves is adorable and she's so little you can't really be scared by her, everyone loves her cute little nose and how noisy she is and she has settled down quite a bit now that I've had her a few years. She's kind of a picky on and off eater.

My boas are very active, love to explore and are fun to handle as long as you don't mind being on the move. They are a little hard for me to read but I haven't had either long and while they are both awesome feeders, neither has struck at me or seemed like they will when I go in the tank.

My other snakes are short tails who are huffy brats, great lap snakes once they settle down and amazing to look at, but they don't tolerate much before getting bitey, especially as babies. I just love their color changes and overall appearance/size.

Thank you, that was helpful. One of the reasons I want a hognose is that they are pissy pancakes. And I don't need a huge tank in my one bedroom apartment. Ball pythons seem like a gamble and bci/bcc's unfortunaley are not beginner snakes according to people.

I agree with the description of a ball python - mine usually hangs out in her hide all day and sometimes comes out later at night, especially when it is close to feeding day. It is funny because most of the time I have to pick up her hide and get her out. When she is in roaming mode I just open the door and she will crawl out onto my arm. Once out she loves to explore - on the stairs, window sills, in my grandson's toys. The boa is more tentative when out, mostly hanging onto me but I'm introducing him to the various fun spots that the ball likes. He is getting better and somewhat more adventurous. He is a bit faster than the ball at moving but not a tough snake to handle. It's close to his feeding day and last evening he was out the entire time (even with the bright, hotter lamp on, (cool on the east coast now and a bit of a trick getting conditions right) roaming around, doing an elongated periscope - fun to watch!They are both lots of fun and I'm planning on getting another boa, hopefully a Brazilian Rainbow but might hold off til the spring when I will retire so I can ensure that I have time to get all of the husbandry conditions right and keep them right (a bit more work than my current snakes and sometimes I find I don't have enough time, since I'm still working, to maintain them properly).