Quote Originally Posted by CoolioTiffany View Post
So I'm planning out on what to get at the expo which isn't for a while so I have a lot of time to plan on what to purchase and such. I'm stuck between a Blood and a JCP, but I'm leaning more toward a Blood. I'm looking for something else rather than a beginner snake (BPs, corns, sand boas, etc.) and that brought me to the Bloods and JCPs. Would a Blood be an all right next step for me? I'm trying to get into purchasing intermediate snakes, and I already own one (Dumeril's boa, though seems so easy to care for.. well for now). I heard they can be a little nippy when babies/juveniles, but I certainly wouldn't let that happen when it becomes older because I will be handling it like I handle all of my other snakes. I do have a problem controlling humidity sometimes, but that's because I keep using the heat lamps which I do not need. Though, I will definitely get heat pads. I love the way both the Bloods and the JCPs look, they are both so beautiful. I love the Blood's bulky size, but I love how beautiful the JCPs get. Though, the JCPs are more slender, and the Bloods seem to get heavy (how heavy would an adult get? 0_0). I'm still reading up on both species too. So, which snake would be a better-next-step for me?
I think they would both be appropriate "next-step" snakes for you, as long as you buy them as hatchlings.

As for choosing between the two... blood all the way!! I have a "thing" for thick snakes. Bloods are so much fun! Who can resist such a fat, ill-tempered beauty??

Imo, you have plenty of experience to handle and care for a blood; now it's just about what you are willing to handle and care for. Starting with a CB baby and handling regularly, you shouldn't have any problems with aggression as it gets older. However, you must understand that you may end up with a 20-30-pound snake and there is always the possibility of a bite, no matter how well you have tamed it.

If you are hesitant about size and / or temperament, getting a Borneo short tail (P. breitensteini) is an option; Borneos are very close relatives to red bloods and can be hard to differenciate. On average, they are slightly smaller and more docile than reds, but you should still be prepared for the worst.