Graduating from Ball Pythons....

Alright, here's the deal. I've been bitten by the bug...You know, the one that makes you super addicted to snakes??? :P

I have 2 ball pythons and I love them to pieces. However, I am becoming more and more interested in graduating to a larger snake. I've been doing lots of research on different snakes, but with so many beauties out there it is soooo hard to choose...

Some of the things I am looking for in a snake is a good temperment, kind of like balls. I like their docility :gj: Handleable and manageable. I'm not exactly ready to take on Burmese or Anacondas ;) they are a little big for me @ 5'5" and 115lbs ;) I'd like to stay in the 10 foot or less range I think....

Any thoughts or opinions? I've been looking at Carpets, Bloods, Red Tails and Rainbows...

I am a fan of female jungle carpets. Once I am ready ill get one of those but just haven't had time to do my research. Some red tails can get pretty big so ask around. Bloods from what I have seen can be nippy but I don't own one. Rainbows I hear are a pleasure to own. Not too big and very calm when handled.

Oh ya, and baby carpets are bity and it hurts and takes some time and work to get rid of it.

they are all nippy, but once you have them, they calm down right away. it's just that initial going in a picking them up, they do not like, i vote carpet

I have a blood and two red tails. All three are cuddle monsters

You've chosen some nice ones yourself. Carpets are generally really nice and docile as adults but can be nippy as babies (same goes for RTBs and rainbow boas). Bloods can be bitey as babies too, but can also be rather unpredictable, though if you bring them up with regular handling they tame right up. You also mentioned that you wanted to stay under the 10' range, and I'm warning you now that a female Columbian RTB and a female Coastal Carpet can achieve ten feet at full size.

You're going to need to watch out because all of those guys have wicked feeding responses haha :rolleyes: so hook training is something I'd suggest, especially with the boas. The good thing about the red tails and carpets is that you can get smaller ones based on locality, so you can get even more size options within them. I'd suggest either a red tail boa or a carpet python, but that's just my taste. You can't lose with any of the ones you picked out.

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Originally Posted by SteelTownGuido

they are all nippy, but once you have them, they calm down right away. it's just that initial going in a picking them up, they do not like, i vote carpet

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I don't expect any snake to never be nippy. I've been tagged by one of my bps. I am seeking a species that isn't "known" for aggressive behavior.

I've looked at Carpets quite a bit. I'm quite fond of the Jaguars...

Thanks for your input!

Irian jaya carpet python..

They stay on lover side of size from Carpets (6 feet... If they mix with Jags little bit more) and those are not reality expansive animals..
Very nice display animals as well. I'm Actually thinking about one myself.
They could be nippy as young animal.. and very rare 1% of cases maybe.. you can hit one with will never tame.. but like I said with CB animals that's rare...

If Your financial Situation will let You spend around 1000$ I highly recommend Angolan Python. Think about it like little bit bigger and just a notch more slender ball python.

If You Search Forum Zina10 post Pictures and Video of hers here... Awesome Animal :gj::gj:

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Originally Posted by Shadows Valkyrie

I don't expect any snake to never be nippy. I've been tagged by one of my bps. I am seeking a species that isn't "known" for aggressive behavior.

I've looked at Carpets quite a bit. I'm quite fond of the Jaguars...

Thanks for your input!

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just to be clear, you want an aggressive snake, then i would recommend a green tree python or eyelash viper.

I know, I know they are hot and not for everyone, however between all the vipers, their venom in most cases will not cause death or anything major, I currently has a setup for a breading pair, but my wife still will not let me get them (yet)

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

You've chosen some nice ones yourself. Carpets are generally really nice and docile as adults but can be nippy as babies (same goes for RTBs and rainbow boas). Bloods can be bitey as babies too, but can also be rather unpredictable, though if you bring them up with regular handling they tame right up. You also mentioned that you wanted to stay under the 10' range, and I'm warning you now that a female Columbian RTB and a female Coastal Carpet can achieve ten feet at full size.

You're going to need to watch out because all of those guys have wicked feeding responses haha :rolleyes: so hook training is something I'd suggest, especially with the boas. The good thing about the red tails and carpets is that you can get smaller ones based on locality, so you can get even more size options within them. I'd suggest either a red tail boa or a carpet python, but that's just my taste. You can't lose with any of the ones you picked out.

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I have seen and handled adult female red tails. I am very fond of them. Something about the eyes draws me in ;) I don't necessarily mind if they are right at ten feet or even a lil' over. What I don't want to get into at this point is anything larger than adult female red tails for example.... The most important thing to me is how handleable they are. I fully understand that with any snake its all about how you train them. I'm not looking for something to be a cuddle bug right from the get go :P I just don't think that I, nor my family, is ready to take on some of the kinds of snakes that are more known for being tempermental.

I handle my snakes on a regular basis. I love taking them places too. Can't resist the urge to educate people about them and help abolish some of the fears surrounding snakes. I won't lie though...the shock value is priceless. I was told by a man recently that he'd be reading about me soon in the local paper. He was implying that Onyxia, who was chillin' on my shoulders, was going to kill and eat me. Mind you, Onyxia is a 4ft female ball that I recently took in. Riiight:rofl: I'm sure that my lil' "Nixie is really going to over power me and eat me....LOL

Thanks for your reply!

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Originally Posted by SteelTownGuido

just to be clear, you want an aggressive snake, then i would recommend a green tree python or eyelash viper.

I know, I know they are hot and not for everyone, however between all the vipers, their venom in most cases will not cause death or anything major, I currently has a setup for a breading pair, but my wife still will not let me get them (yet)

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No, no, no! I do NOT want an aggressive snake. LOL

Green trees are beautifu, yes, but definitely NOT the temperment I am seeking....

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Originally Posted by Alexandra V

You've chosen some nice ones yourself. Carpets are generally really nice and docile as adults but can be nippy as babies (same goes for RTBs and rainbow boas). Bloods can be bitey as babies too, but can also be rather unpredictable, though if you bring them up with regular handling they tame right up. You also mentioned that you wanted to stay under the 10' range, and I'm warning you now that a female Columbian RTB and a female Coastal Carpet can achieve ten feet at full size.

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A Colombian RTB @ 10 ft long??

Maybe the occasional mutated BCC lol but a regular ol Colombian. Nah. That's pushing it.

I have another one to add to my list of interested in! Thank you. And yes, you are right: Awesome animal! Reading up on them right now...

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Originally Posted by Aes_Sidhe

Irian jaya carpet python..

They stay on lover side of size from Carpets (6 feet... If they mix with Jags little bit more) and those are not reality expansive animals..
Very nice display animals as well. I'm Actually thinking about one myself.
They could be nippy as young animal.. and very rare 1% of cases maybe.. you can hit one with will never tame.. but like I said with CB animals that's rare...

If Your financial Situation will let You spend around 1000$ I highly recommend Angolan Python. Think about it like little bit bigger and just a notch more slender ball python.

If You Search Forum Zina10 post Pictures and Video of hers here... Awesome Animal :gj::gj:

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I have a blood and he is very calm and handleable never had any issues with him. Somebody earlier mentioned a wicked feeding response and they werent lying. Balls might kinda take the time to see their prey and smell it.....bloods just go for it with out a care in the world.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SteelTownGuido

just to be clear, you want an aggressive snake, then i would recommend a green tree python or eyelash viper.

I know, I know they are hot and not for everyone, however between all the vipers, their venom in most cases will not cause death or anything major, I currently has a setup for a breading pair, but my wife still will not let me get them (yet)

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green tree pythons arnt a viper or venomous :S no pythons are venomous

We have all that You mentioned (Bloods, Carpets, Redtails) Hmmmmmm... Any of those can be nippy. Our Bloods are the most docile of the group mentioned. But, they hide more than a BP :-) Do You want a snake that You can see/watch? Then either a Carpet or an RTB are good choices. IMO, The Carpets make nicer "display" snakes. They like to sit on top of their hides and on their branches, whereas the Boas get a bit heavy bodied for that.

I also vote for a carpet. If you want bigger, get a female coastal.

Being as you want something you can handle easily and you're not very big, I would not recommend a red tail. My male was only 7ft and around 20 pounds (never got an accurate weight on him). He felt like 50 pounds because they are ridiculously strong when they get that big. My wife couldn't handle him. He was too much for her.

That is one reason I love carpets. They get big, but won't manhandle you like a big red tail will. My wife is a lot smaller than you and she can handle even our biggest carpets without any problems.

That said, if you go for a carpet, invest in a hook. Although the majority of ours are puppy dog tame outside their tubs, getting them out can be a problem. Funny how that works.

I did the opposite, I always hated ball pythons and loved all other boas/pythons that had size to them. But with school and wanting to try breeding for the first time I started looking into morphs and designs and now I have been purchasing some balls to try this upcoming season.

Temperament comes down to the snake, I've had awesome redtails, burms, retics and my current possible het albino ball python tries to take my head off every time.

The other nice thing I like with the balls compared to the other snakes is size of prey and price, but getting them to take f/t has not happened yet. My bigger snakes were all awesome pigs and would any and everything.

So what a lot of it comes down to for me at least for me is space. Rack systems are nice lol.

I tried graduating from Balls to a Hogg Island Boa. All she wanted to do was eat my face...every time I got near her. I kept her for about a year hoping she would outgrow it but it just got to be too much...sometimes she would mellow out once I got her out, but for the most part it was just a lot of hissing and striking...

this was her >>> :snake2:
this was me >>> :O

My absolute favorite snake ever was a male Burmese. He was so awesome. So laid back and lazy. They usually are. Definitely big tho.

I personally would say to get a nice looking BCI. There are a lot of morphs, but not like there are with ball pythons. Check out the sunglows, snows, moon glows and hypos. Those are my personal favorites.

just to revoice my vote.

agood tempered well handled blood is a joy to own:snake:

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Originally Posted by Shadows Valkyrie

Some of the things I am looking for in a snake is a good temperment, kind of like balls. I like their docility :gj: Handleable and manageable. I'm not exactly ready to take on Burmese or Anacondas ;) they are a little big for me @ 5'5" and 115lbs ;) I'd like to stay in the 10 foot or less range I think....

Any thoughts or opinions? I've been looking at Carpets, Bloods, Red Tails and Rainbows...

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Dumerils Boa...