Boa v Ball

diceman, that is a beautiful snake!
no matter what snake you chose, be sure you're ready to be in it for the long haul... balls can live up to 47 years in captivity and i'm sure BCI's stick around for awhile too. basically, be truly interested (read: obsessed) with the husbandry and general animalistic value of the herp rather than just wanting a snake (not making assumptions, but a lot of people make that mistake). if you get one for the right reasons, then either snake is suitable for a beginner in my opinion.

Boas can live 40+ aswell

I gotta go with the BP. I'm no expert, about 1 1/2 years with keeping herps, mostly field herping before now, but my BP has been great!


Pax
Cujo

If you want to maintain a smaller Boa, you could always go with a male instead of a female. You can also keep adult feedings at a medium rat every 2-3 weeks instead of weekly feedings going up in size to large/jumbo rats. At this schedule your male should stay within 5ft -5.5ft for many many years.

Boas rarely pose any trouble and feed year round on F/T at the drop of a hat.

I have both a boa and a few ball pythons. If I have to choose between which of the 2 would make a better beginner snake, it would be the ball, not a boa, not even if it was a male BCI. Also, if you go looking for a BCI in a pet shop, you may end up with a BCC or a cross, if you are dead set to have a boa, look online for a male BCI through a reputable breeder, not a petshop or anything like that...even a show would be a great place, just no petshops.

If you go with a ball for a first time snake, be prepared for the feeding issues (they are picky at times). They stay smaller and more manageable in the long run, and I would hate for you to purchase a boa and decide you dont want it after it gets pretty big within the first year.

But, if you asked me which of all snakes makes a good beginner, I will tell you neither of what you have chosen... choose a king snake, corn snake or milk snake.. all of which are very easily cared for esp. by a first time snake owner who is learning the ropes. Sometimes errors are made when choosing a first time snake b/c the purchaser wants an attractive/pretty snake, and boas and balls come to mind first off b/c they are both attractive and pretty and they also have great temperments. However, it is best to choose for ease of care..you can also find the "attractive/pretty" morph within the species I reccommended.

Are BCC's harder to care for than BCI's?

As far as care requirments go I dont think they are other then the fact BCC generally gets bigger then BCI

If ball pythons are the recomended snake for a first snake then I'm in crap because I got a Colombian Red tail!:O

BCI are more forgiving of husbandry mistakes than BCC.. so it does make the BCC a bit harder to care for in that way.. not to mention the larger size.

$nake$ - you have a corn snake too.. so the BCI wouldn't be your first snake would it?

But.. I agree with Jeanne. If you just asked me what snake I'd recommend as a first I would tell you a corn snake as first choice, then either a king/milk/rat snake as second choice.

I have a boa and two ball python's I recommend ball python's as a beginer's snake.I think the future size is the main reason ,once you have a 5ftfemale bp then you could make a better more experienced decision on a big boa. Reason being alot of snake owner's get rid of their snake's when they get to big for them.