Again. this comes down to what you want in your new snake.

Blood or short tailed pythons are not a big departure from royals. They just aren't when it comes to natural behaviors.

Size is not a huge consideration between the two. While the blood/shorts are very thickset, actually one of the most thickset pythons there is when length is considered, that does not make them more dense or heavy compared to an equally long boa constrictor.

Boas are one of the most dense snakes out there. It explains why anacondas which are in the boa family but not boa constrictors, are the heaviest snakes on the planet.

Though they may be extremely dense and strong, pound for pound and inch for inch, they are quite agile and VERY different from completely terrestrial snakes.

Again, no knock on bloods/shorties (I want one someday) they just don't naturally perform the same behaviors boas do.

I see this almost nightly or every morning.


Its hard to explain the excitement. Snakes are not active pets compared to most but seeing activity like this, at least for me is rather exhilarating.


He's actually a fairly busy reptile in the evening, night or early morning.


Would I enjoy a blood or STP? You bet! They are beautiful and interesting to me more so than royals.

But if you are looking for something that behaves differently and looks unique compared to your current selection of royals, you should consider a boa constrictor.



That said, if you are not able to or willing to set up the snake (boa constrictor) to display natural, wild behaviors like climbing and perching, it may not show much more variation in behavior than what you have with your current animals.

I'd like to see you get something you want, but I also would like to see you allow whatever species you end up with to be presented with options to display some natural behaviors.

If caring for and maintaining a blood/shortie is easier go for it.

If you are willing to provide a little cage height for a boa constrictor, you will be rewarded. Keep in mind, the smaller island variants are typically more arboreal, and require less all around space on the floor. I think a 4' x 2' x 2' cage for a Central American BC would be a remarkable display.
If you like activity, this is typical boa constrictor out of cage behavior.

I highly doubt you'll see a blood or shortie doing this.