Boa v Ball

Yeah corns and milks are deffinatly the best choice for a beginer but for most people (me being a good example) I like boas and pythons more..if you would be happier with something a little more heavy bodied and with the looks of a boa and python a nice BCI or ball is ok..you shouldent get a corn or milk just cause its a better beginer snake if you wont be happy with a snake that should ALTEAST live 20+ years...their very forgiving of mistakes and amazingly hard to kill so it should live that long

Corns would be best, but they're AWESOME escape artists. If you're looking for the "pretties" then your best financial bet would be a corn. Soooo many different morphs that are MUCH more affordable than those of the balls or boas. (Can U say $45 vs. $25,000????) More forgiving for care mistakes, i.e. humidity, temp, etc. Learn those, get the bugs out, then maybe get the ball or BCI.


We have one of each, and Pissy Snake is on FT now, after some rough starts, but I had Wrigley regurge once, too. Kishnah is up to two pinkies a feeding, about every 5-6 days, and he INHALES them like it's an eating race. He doesn't even coil the couple LIVE ones I had to feed him...he just snarfed 'em all up.

Start w/a corn, learn with it, then hit the sites for a reputable ball breeder. <I was lucky w/Wrigley. I bought him from a knowledgeable breeder that I know personally who lives nearby. W/Pissy and Baby, I had some issues, but they eventually worked out to where I have an awesome pet.>

Good luck in your decision!

Do you think the person should get a corn or other colubrid which should live 20+ years even if they arent fond of them rather then a ball or boa?

Our first and only snake is a Ball - we got her as a baby - she didn't eat the first couple of weeks (normal though for them) but she was brought up on f/t and once she started again she's been fine. She's only 10 months old still but we have had no problems with her. I was really worried before we got her because of the "they're really difficult feeders thing" that our reptile trust people here in the UK were saying.

I want a Suriname Redtail next - shall probably go for a male as they stay a bit smaller (but no guarantee of course!). We'll be getting a 6 ft tank for him. I think it would have been too large for me as a first snake.

Sue

My feeling about this is you need to define exactly what it is in a snake that draws you to it, whether that be size at maturity, color/morphs, whatever. Then look at issues as far as space for housing, ease or difficulty of care of that specific snake, supply of prey, available vet care, your knowledge of the species, your experience with any type of snake, etc. Once you are really clear on why you want a specific snake (not just a vague "I'd like one of those") and whether you feel you can care for it for it's entire lifetime and up to it's mature size...then you'll probably know what will work best for you.

For instance, my husband Mike might like looking at a cornsnake and admires the milksnake we have but with his very large hands he never feels very comfortable handling one so for him ball pythons are a much better choice. For me, as much as I like the male BCI we foster I'm not yet ready to deal with the larger females of that species, they quite honestly intimidate me a bit.

In the end, it's a years long committment to a creature that will depend fully on you so take the time now. Do that research, talk to a few breeders, find a good vet, set up your enclosure and then bring home the snake that will be just right for you.


~~Jo~~

Even at 6-7 feet, that is a large powerful snake. I would suggest the ball python as a first snake choice. Then the BCI :) My boa is getting close to 4 feet (about 8 more inches) and i notice that he is getting quite strong for a
3 2/3 foot snake.






:picknose: hehehehe i saw that and couldn't resist

i think a ball python would be a better first snake i have owned two boas and 4 ball pythons and i have noticed no bite yet from a ball been biten twice by my tamest boa( i thought). so tame isnt really a word to an animal with teeth so the tame thing should be tossed out the window. As for size, well big boas are really intimidating at first.but in my opinion there is nothing better than handling a 5-6 foot boa.but large ball pythons are great also, just somthign about those big boas.but either is seriously a good first snake.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Reptile_King

Even at 6-7 feet, that is a large powerful snake. I would suggest the ball python as a first snake choice. Then the BCI :) My boa is getting close to 4 feet (about 8 more inches) and i notice that he is getting quite strong for a
3 2/3 foot snake.

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That's just my views exactly - in fact as my Ball is still only 10 months old - I am going to wait until next year to get my first Boa - just to make sure I can cope with something so large and powerful (but apparently normally "friendly")

if you go to a boa forum and ask the same question, your gonna get boas are the best for a first snake. since this is a bp forum, more people are obviously gonna say bp. bci are better imo and as you get to know your snake, you will know its temperament and when and when not to handle, how to handle as it gets bigger etc. you dont see many boas with feeding problems given the right husbandry.

But also you dont see many balls go off feed without a reason (time of the year, etc) If they are probably cared for then they wont go off feeding, except for what i said at the beginning. Even then some people can get there ball pythons to feed during that season. Probably the hardest part from what ive heard is getting them started on f/t. Also you get to know your bp alot better, and from what im told by other people bps are alot tamer, my boa has never bit anyone, but hes came close. Also with BCI's you have to be careful if you get from it from a petstore because it could be a BCI/BCC cross.