Ball Python vs. Red Tail Boa

Hera as an adult uses her hides, but when I had to take them out for about a week, it didn't seem to bother her. Petey is just now using his hide for the first time since we got him 2-3 months ago and Wrigley uses his about 50/50. Pinky and Apollo burrow in the bedding and don't use the hides at all right now.


R

I have two BPs and one RTB, and love them all to bits. But I would agree that Kinky, the RTB, is a bit more outgoing. She would rather be exploring and checking things out, while the BPs are content to laze away most of their time in their hides. All of them have their own temperaments and attitudes, though----including the little snakes I have---so it really varies snake to snake.


If you're trying to decide which one to get, think about cost involved, too. Whereas a BP is only going to get 3-4' in length and probably eat small-medium rats it's entire life, an RTB is going to get twice as big, maybe bigger, and could require anything from large/jumbo rats to small rabbits. The bigger the food source, the more expensive it is. Also, while a male RTB could probably spend it's entire life in very large plastic tub/rack, a big female is going to need a nice sized cage when she's an adult, which tacks on more cost (a BP can live in a tub it's entire life).

Just some stuff to think about. Money is important to me because I'm in college and work two jobs and still barely make enough to feed myself (or sometimes I go hungry while the animals eat, lol).

My adult boas do not have hides either.. and they never miss a meal.

Red tails come in many forms.. hog islands, colombians, surinames.. etc etc. Colombians being the most common are also the most laid back and calm. More apt to move about when you are handling them, they are much less shy.