Quote Originally Posted by Slim View Post
Welcome to BP.net!

It's hard to go wrong with a ball python when it comes to docile handling. What ever you choose, I urge you to have your caging up and running at proper temp and humidity for at least a week prior to bringing home anything new.
Very much agree!! The wisest thing you can do is have your setup ready a week before hand.

I'm not going to advise you either way on which species you should get because they are SO different - night and day really. And which one you get is going to depend soley on what you want to get out of your new snake.

Kings are nice - especially the mexican blacks. Colubrids tend to be quite active and energetic, especially when being held, but they're not generally aggressive animals. However, I really wouldn't call them docile. They are not shy, though, and would make a nicer display animal. They also won't stress out if you handle them frequently. And I've never known a king to refuse a meal. But they are very active, assertive animals.

BPs, on the other hand, are generally slow and calm and usually very gentle. But they are shy and if your BP is happy, he's going to hide all day every day. So they aren't the best display animals. And they can stress if handled a lot. They can be finicky eaters at times too. But they are very sweet snakes and the variety is endless!

Have you considered a dwarf species of boa?? Hog Island boas generally don't get more than 5-6 feet (about the size of a kingsnake). Boas will give you the best of both those worlds: docile lap snakes that do not stress easily, eating machines, great display animals, gentle personalities!

Just a thought - hope this is helpful!!