Hog Island Boa, Red Tailed Boa, or Ball Python?

Hey everyone,

I'm planning on getting a second snake, and I've narrowed my search down to these three. Which one would be the best?

What do you have now? Boas are great. I have balls and a boa. I like my boa the best as far as holding.

Hard to make suggestions without knowing what qualities you are looking for and what you already have. For me personally- I would like a Hog Island. I like boas and already have BPs.

I currently own a Okeetee Corn, and I've read up on all of these and they all look like fair candidates.

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Originally Posted by Saxguy101

I currently own a Okeetee Corn, and I've read up on all of these and they all look like fair candidates.

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All three are good snakes. I lean a bit more towards boas than pythons but thats personal preference. A good question might be how much money do you want to spend and are you interested more in color possibilities or locality?

I have all three (well...technically I don't have my Hog yet as she's pending shipment for when it gets warmer) but like mentioned it really depends on what kind of snake you want.

Keep in mind boas will get a lot larger than balls, and will require a large enclosure. I plan on 6 feet cages for my boas: do you have the space and money for at least a 4' enclosure?

Balls are really manageable (in terms of handling and space requirements) but they can be picky eaters: so they can be unnerving if they don't eat, especially if you're used to a garbage disposal of a corn. Boas tend to not be so finicky when it comes to eating: mine have never skipped a meal.

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

All three are good snakes. I lean a bit more towards boas than pythons but thats personal preference. A good question might be how much money do you want to spend and are you interested more in color possibilities or locality?

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Money isn't an issue, (I'm not rich but I can afford to feed a Red Tail if that's what you're getting at) and morphs are cool, but not a necessity.

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Originally Posted by Saxguy101

Money isn't an issue, (I'm not rich but I can afford to feed a Red Tail if that's what you're getting at) and morphs are cool, but not a necessity.

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I ment more in terms of cost of the actual snake. With that list you can spend any where from $25-$1000+ (My Boa was $150. My two BPs were $175 and $750). You listed a hog and an RTB. What about them stood out to you? What about the BP? Bps can be little snots when it comes to eating. I suggest that no matter what rout you go that you make sure you trust your breeder and make sure that you don't land yourself a picky eater. Its very frustrating (grrrr).

Our Hog is great. Big boa personality with the always manageable size. She is 5ft now and will be comfortable in a 40gallon breeder her whole life.

I would love a Red Tail at some point, but it is not feasible right now with a number of long distance moves in our future.

Click on the frog to go to our facebook page to see more pictures of our Hog, Maddie.

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

I ment more in terms of cost of the actual snake. With that list you can spend any where from $25-$1000+ (My Boa was $150. My two BPs were $175 and $750). You listed a hog and an RTB. What about them stood out to you? What about the BP? Bps can be little snots when it comes to eating. I suggest that no matter what rout you go that you make sure you trust your breeder and make sure that you don't land yourself a picky eater. Its very frustrating (grrrr).

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I'm not looking to go too expensive as far as the snake goes. My budget is about $200-$225, though I could push it if it was really just a killer snake. As for what stood out, I liked the two boas because boas in general are just really cool, and between those two it was whether I should get a longer RTB or the smaller Hog Island. The Ball I was interested in because I know they're a really popular animal and are reliable, though I'm leaning a bit more towards the two boas.

Take into consideration the size (+10ft), a full grown RTB will need a large enclosure, and can take 2 people to safely handle it.
I'm not saying they are not good snakes, just take into consideration their adult size and needs.

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Originally Posted by Maixx

Take into consideration the size (+10ft), a full grown RTB will need a large enclosure, and can take 2 people to safely handle it.
I'm not saying they are not good snakes, just take into consideration their adult size and needs.

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If I get a RTB it will definitely be a male, so that would make it a bit smaller.

I have all three and I love all three. My RTB is my favorite and the star of my collection, but my hog islands are my babies.

If I could only keep one snake out of my entire collection it would be my RTB but I voted for Hog Island because they are a much more manageable size while still giving you the personality of a boa.

To me hogs are the perfect medium between balls and RTBs. :)

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Originally Posted by Saxguy101

If I get a RTB it will definitely be a male, so that would make it a bit smaller.

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I had a male and female. The male was 11 feet. I'm talking BCC (true RTBs). I think you're thinking more towards the BCI? A little more size manageable. I honestly think Hogs are really awesome. A good size and still manageable. Beautiful! And not as many out there as the RTBs

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

I had a male and female. The male was 11 feet. I'm talking BCC (true RTBs). I think you're thinking more towards the BCI? A little more size manageable. I honestly think Hogs are really awesome. A good size and still manageable. Beautiful! And not as many out there as the RTBs

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PS. You want to make sure the laws in your city and county too. A lot of places only allow 7 feet.

On a side note- from your name- you play the saxophone?

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Originally Posted by Cendalla

I had a male and female. The male was 11 feet. I'm talking BCC (true RTBs). I think you're thinking more towards the BCI? A little more size manageable. I honestly think Hogs are really awesome. A good size and still manageable. Beautiful! And not as many out there as the RTBs

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I was thinking a common RTB, as from what I've read they stick to the 6-8' range. And yes, I do play the sax, tenor in particular. And I live out in the country area.

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Originally Posted by Saxguy101

I was thinking a common RTB, as from what I've read they stick to the 6-8' range. And yes, I do play the sax, tenor in particular. And I live out in the country area.

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In the long run I think smaller is easier. I don't know how old you are or what your situation is. To have a snake that is medium small you won't have to worry if you move latter on for school or work. We are military so we move all the time. My Dum is 6 foot 5 inches. I don't have to worry about someone reporting me for having an illegal animal. A male Hog should be no problem. Like I said my male RTB was 11 feet- A major problem even out of city limits. I should have pics of him in my profile.


My husband and I both went to college for music. He got his degree in contemporary (like there is any other kind of sax) saxophone performance. I got mine in theory and composition but played the alto and bari in the ensembles:) Is your focus jazz? Clasical (:rolleyes:) sax?

I plan on getting a boa soon. The one I will be getting is a Peruvian Long-tailed Boa ( b.c. Longicaudia)
Males are around 5-6 ft, females 6-7

http://www.google.com/search?tbm=isc...20&bih=488#i=4

I love my Hogs, beautiful and laid back with all the characteristics of your normal Boa.

I'm surprised nobody has asked you to consider the way the laws may be changing where you live. I've thought about a boa and backed away from the idea recently as more and more states adopt laws against big snakes. Even balls seem to be under threat in some states I think?

It's a good idea for me to wait to see the outcome of it all before I get an animal that I may have to get rid of if I want to move or even if I don't move.

I'm torn between ball python and boa. Ball pythons are slower and more calm. Now boas, they have a lot of personality. They are also much more active and curious about everything. But since a ball python was my first snake, i'll vote ball python. Also all the different morphs and possible combos with balls is great!

for $200-$225 there are alot of different bp morphs out there that you could get. I would say bp, but followed closely by a hog island. Ive watched a ton of vids on them and have fallen in love with them. Down the road when I get the room, I'll definetly be getting a pair of them! For now I'll stick to balls :)

If you have no size or room issue, I would go for RBT (I love the thick bodies).

Hog Islands are awesome! I love mine. They're beautiful with the great personality of a boa to match. By far one of my favorite snakes.

The only experience I have with boas are my kenyan sand boas and this bcc at a herp show, but they seem to be great for handleing(spelling?) and more curious and active than my ball python, but once you get the bps out of their cages they like to explore. As long as you get a captive bred ball python from a good breeder you shouldn't have any problems with feeding(at least I haven't, but I've only had Lily since October) I have to say, if I had the room, I would get a boa.

If the government bans ball pythons and boas I'm moving to Canada. Not kidding.

We started with a corn, and moved up to bps. I really love our bps. They are a bigger snake, with out being to big. They will just chill with you, and are really mellow. Of the 5 bps we have, only one is picky. He wants to breed, and thinks he needs to eat live rats. I have met some cool hogs, and rtbs, but balls are it for me. If you decide ball, just go into it knowing he may go on food strime, or turn his nose to food. Usually not harmful as much as frustrating. Especially if you are used to a corn. Like daybreaker said, they are complete garbage disposals, they will eat ANYTHING.