Boa v Ball

I was thinking of getting a snake and it would be my first. Which snake would be better for my first snake, a red tail boa or a bp?

A BP is better. Red tails simply get too big to be recommended as a first snake. A 9' 25lb boa is not something to take lightly.

a ball python. ball pythons are awesome beginner snakes that stay small and are easy to care for. boas are more of a second snake because of there size.

I would say either would make a good first snake. Even though the boa does get bigger it still is a mangable size and is very easy to care for. The ball stays smaller and is also a good beginer snake but I have had a alot of problems with trouble some eaters with ball pythons.

Nick

Yes, some BPs have feeding problems (especially with F/T) but I really don't think a red tail boa is good first snake. Many people don't think a 9-10' snake is a manageable size! It can be quite intimidating for a first time keeper. They also are going to take up more room and eat more than a BP.

if i did end up getting a redtail and it got that big what size cage do you think i might need?

Im gonna have to disagree..I think a male BCI would make a great first snake..it wont get to big for 1 person to manage they are docile they arent prone to feeding problems

While this is a ball python forum most people here will say ball pythons are the ultimate beginer snakes but go to a general reptile forum and talk to some experts and youll find most agree a BCI is a better decision

do you happen to have any shots of your BCI

Ok well Ya I can see that a female boa would not be a good first snake cause they have the potential to reach 9-10 feet. But a male boa would be fine as a first snake reaching lengths of only about 7 feet. Yes a boa would eat more than a ball but there is not much of a difference both would be feeding on rats their whole life. As for the caging question a 9-10 ft boa could be housed in a 5ft X 2ft X 18in enclosure but a male can live in a 4ft X 2ft X 18in enclosure for his whole life.

Nick

How many rats would you need to feed a BCI and how often?

I feed mine two large rats every other week he is just over 6 1/2 feet.

Nick

Heres some pics of my male BCI taken about a week ago at about 5 months old

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...us/Zeus-24.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...us/Zeus-22.jpg

Heres a pic of him when he had been home for about a week and was 3 weeks old and the log in the pic is 8" long

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...eus/Zeus-3.jpg

Sorry for the small pic photobucket likes to screw some of pics up

were did u buy him/her?

I actually got him from a local guy..like a pet store but much better quality (the guy actually knows what hes talking about) for $105

Most pet stores carry them but rather then call them common boas its usually listed as "Exotic Colombian Red-tail Boa" and stick a $250 price tag on it..most shows you get talk to the people and they will be honost about it tell you exactly what it is who his/her parent is and a fair price.

The place i was looking at getting it at was only $85 and they let you hold it and it wasnt aggresive at all, very active and docile, so i might buy it there.

at about 1 and a half feet long wut should i feed it small rats or mice?

Mine started off one 1 small mouse once a week at that size

A female adult boa should have a 6' long cage. My big girls eat every other week.. jumbo rats, but they could take small rabbits.

This is my female suriname red tail. BCI red tails easily can get this big.

https://ball-pythons.net/gallery/fil...8/DSCN1356.JPG

Shes a beauty!!! Id kill for my male to get that big lol (keep your fingers cross for me)

Id love to get ahold of a guyana red tail...havent done research on dealers or prices yet though

How old/big is she?

I don't know her age.. I'd guess 4-6 years. I haven't measured her yet but she's in the range of 7-8'.. she can get bigger certainly.

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.

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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by BiGBaLLiN

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

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But how are these traits exclusive to boas?

I have a feeling most people on this site are relatively new to ball pythons (I've only got about 3 years under my belt) and that the age of the snakes in their collection is young too. My point is, Ball pythons fully grown are NOT small animals. Males will eventually thicken up considerably with age (just ask Ginevive to post some pics of her older male) and females fully grown are even more girthy and usually touch 4.5-5' in total length.

That being said, I think ball pythons are a great snake to sort of "open the door" to other larger constrictors. Ball pythons have their fair share of possible issues, with most being easily corrected by proper husbandry. If you can learn to raise a ball python to adulthood, those lessons will make raising other larger constrictors MUCH less stressful.

Now, I also think that red-tails are easy snakes to keep. The kicker with them is merely the size of the enclosure for a fully grown animal. RTBs also grow at a slower rate, relative to other boas and pythons. They are less sensitive to temperature and humidity than ball pythons are, and most by and large are pretty laid back in temperment. I'm not totally against someone new to constrictors getting a healthy, well started CBB RTB.

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Originally Posted by Smulkin

But how are these traits exclusive to boas?

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I think he means the size shouldent scare people cause sense you raise it from a baby you know its attitude and while its never predictable you can tell if it doesnt wanna be messed with..where a ball is so small if it doesnt wanna be messed with you little tag lol a boa that doesnt wanna be messed with will leave a little more

A male BCI doesnt get un-managably big assuming you dont powerfeed it like a horse...a male BCI can live his whole life in a 4'x2' enclosure so he doesnt take up alot of space

I almost understood that until the

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messed with you little tag lol

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do you mean a boa would be better because it doesnt have as small a bite?


(coffee got leeched this morning so I am running on a deficit, sorry!)

No im saying a 5-6 foot male boa (which sounds bigger then it actually is) is nothing to be scared of and isent to big to be managable...a 4x2 cage doesnt take up space and is easy to clean the boa isent to big to handle and they also have good temperement like the balls and are also very forgiving of husbandry mistakes and wont refruse food as easily

And if a 5-6 foot snake scares people they dont need a ball either as they have the potential to get that big (not likely but its there)


It seems the reason people say a boa isent a good first snake is because of the size when infact a male BCI adult isent even that big if youve seen one in person

i have a picture of me and a guys breeding pair of rtbs so how would i go about puting the picture up

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Originally Posted by Diceman

but go to a general reptile forum and talk to some experts

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LOL ... what "experts" hang out on general reptile forums?

Any tool with a fish tank and a keyboard can be an "expert" on the internet.

-adam

The people who keep more then a couple snakes..people like you who have alot of snakes breed them have years of experience not just the person who got a baby ball for their birthday

I dont know if this is the only reptile forum your on adam but this place is mainly just people who got a couple snakes as pets (yes including myself) now if you go to a forum thats not 95% about balls the opinions you get are much different cause the people voting dont just have 1 snake that happens to be a ball python...

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Originally Posted by doobysnack

i have a picture of me and a guys breeding pair of rtbs so how would i go about puting the picture up

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Add it as an attachment to your post, or put it in your gallery and link it!

From what i've heard a adult male bp's bite wil hurt more than a juvi BCI's. Also adult male BCI's are more than 5 feet most of the time. I would say more a 6-7 range. Although there are some that only get 5 feet, and then there are those that get 8 feet.