choosing family snake, need opinions!!!!

[mainbutter]

Pick a species you like the best, fits what you want in handling and size, and then pick from available morphs

Seems like you've narrowed things down to either a ball python or RTB. Both are common enough in the pet trade, and both make great pets and can be handled (supervised handling) by children if the snake is known to be friendly.

Personally, I've decided I much prefer snakes that get a bit bigger. They are just more impressive, more fun to handle, and more rewarding to keep. I'd vote RTB because they can have great dispositions while being beautiful and get big enough to interest me.

Ball pythons are GREAT too, but they are less active and lazier than other snakes out there, which makes them less fun to handle IMO, though they are very comforting to handle and have sit in your lap while watching TV. In addition, they often have GREAT temperments, even as hatchlings (though there are exceptions as always).

I'd suggest you also look at some of the slightly less common snake species that you won't find at any petsmart/petco. Carpet pythons, Woma Pythons, heck any of the australian pythons are very interesting. Many aussie species are great handlers and are active with perfect temperments. On top of that they are B-E-A-Utiful!

You might also want to look at super dwarf reticulated pythons.. also very high on my wish list.