Hello all. Will be a first time owner Monday. Going to the local reptile store Monday to order my first snake. The store owner said to just tell him which morph I wanted and he'd let me know the price, so any suggestions on that would be awesome. Just having a hard time choosing between a red tailed boa or a ball python. The ball python is a bit more docile according to the reptile store owner but figured I'd see what you all thought would be a good first snake. I've been wanting one for so long now but haven't been able to get one because my family has been scared of them while I was growing up so I'm excited I'm finally able to get one for myself.

Just wanted a bit of information and see which you thought would be best for a beginner. My main question is food, the store owner said Ball Pythons preferred live meals, that's the only thing that freaks me out, live rats. Will they even bother with a dead rat or is it only live they go after? The store owner made it out like it was only live and nothing else, but everywhere else I've checked says it's safer to go the dead route to prevent any damage to the snake, how hard is it to get Ball Pythons or Red Tailed Boas to eat dead meals or do they not care and just go about it like any other meal?

So which would be better, or are neither of them particularity good for beginners? I'm after something that's docile, doesn't get that big, maybe 3-4ft max fully grown. And something that doesn't mind being held a lot, because what's the point of having a snake if you don't hold it and all. Like, have it on the desk while I'm at the computer and what not or just walking around with it in a pet store or something.

Also, any of you with dogs in the house, do they freak out around your snakes just looking at them or they don't care?

Thanks for the help.