Sorry for the delayed response everyone! Was out of town, but am back now. Been trying to do some research and reading in the meanwhile

A question about tubs! This might sound like a really absurd question, but I have a hard time telling the difference between the snake tubs and, well, regular old storage tubs. What is the difference? If you use a heating pad, is there a particular reason that a large plastic storage tub would not work for a snake? Intuitively, I am thinking "of course you can't put a snake in a storage tub", but logically, I don't understand why. Would love a explanation, if anyone gets the chance!

So my sister showed me a post the other day on Craigslist advertising a JCP and its set up for sale. The set up sounds good, although more than I'd be willing to spend when I can get most of that new for a similar price. Plus, I'm not a fan of the snake posted and would like something with more vibrant colors. What did make me curious, however, was the size of the snake. 2 years old and not even 2 feet long? Is that a JCP's normal rate of growth?

Artgecko - huge thanks for the link, and the reminder to look at the stickies!! I'm on a few forums so I'm too used to scrolling past the stickies without a second thought. Will definitely take a look now, and the DIY tub post is very helpful. Will be keeping that page bookmarked for sure!

I will also keep my eye for good deals on reliable thermostats. I'll browse through Craigslist over the next few months and see if I can find anything... and even if I can't, it sounds like a worthy investment. I'll be certain to add that on my "must buy" list.

Okay, and another huge thank you for the recommendation to look up vendors. I did find the page (http://www.nwreptileexpos.com/vendors-portland/) and will be sure to look each individual vendor up. That's really great advice, especially because I had been wondering how you differentiate the reputable and untrustworthy sellers. Thanks!!

DTK - thanks! I'll look into them, although from the sounds of it boas require the most room out of all the types I listed? Really the boas seem like the most ideal snake for me, if only it weren't for the amount of space they need.

xFenrir - okay, got it! Thanks for letting me know, and Artgecko did indeed link me to a great DIY tub thread So far all the abbreviations and classifications are all Greek to me, but I'm sure I'll learn along the way!

aaront126 - thanks, ball pythons are definitely at the top of my list right now. They are everything that I am looking for, I'm just too easily distracted by the looks of jungle carpet pythons LOL Thanks for the thoughts on boas as well, that is good to know. I would definitely want a hardier snake that won't suffer if I make a few mistakes here and there. Of course, I'll try my best not to, but sometimes it just happens.

I'm definitely aware of the lifespan of snakes, but no worries! Neglect won't be a problem. I'm a very avid animal lover and enthusiast, and make a full commitment to every pet I bring into my home. And if, for some unforeseen reason, it becomes too much for me, I know when and how to responsibly rehome an animal.

John1982 - please don't apologize, I really appreciate hearing your thoughts and opinions! I didn't expect anyone to read through that essay of an OP anyway LOL So I should probably be apologizing

I will keep your suggestion in mind, but to be honest the metaphor doesn't really work in my situation. I do not see myself ever purchasing another snake, and this is meant to be my only one. I'm currently still a student and most of my money and space is devoted to my dog, cat, and photography hobby. I know a snake isn't the most high maintenance pet ever, and that it's not a big jump going from one to two, but it is one more life to be responsible for. While I'd have zero qualms about reselling one gun to purchase a prettier one, you can't really apply it to snakes

I do understand where you are going, though, and that is a good point to think about. I'm definitely trying not to get a snake that is too much for me. Thanks for your advice, I'll be sure to take it to heart.

Alicia - wow! Thank you once again for such a detailed and helpful response. A great breakdown of the facts and your experience!

I really don't mind a nippy baby (I still have scars up and down my legs and arms from my dog, he was a hellion and a landshark). I will happily handle regularly to familiarize the snake with being held and being out and about. I just hope that it won't be a permanent part of its innate temperament.

I did not know that they aren't supposed to be heavy bodied! A lot of the pictures of jungle carpets I've seen show an awfully thick snake around the midsection, and I've always found it a little off looking. I'll be sure to keep this in mind.

Ah, and thanks for the input on price! I'm also in the PNW so that certainly helps! The expo I'm going to in January is the one in Portland Hope I can meet some JCPs there - it's definitely just the vivid/contrasty ones that I'm interested in. I did hear someone say that their color improves with each shed (which makes sense), but how would I know, looking at the babies, that they'll look (as you say) super sexy? LOL! That is an excellent way to describe them. There really is something incredible about the color and pattern of the yellow and black.

I'm really grateful for everyone's advice and input in this thread! I did not even realize that I could start off with a small tank for the first year. That would actually take a huge load off the expenses! How fast do they normally grow? I saw the ad on Craigslist with a 2 year old JCP that was about 1.5 - 1.8 feet (I think), which surprised me, but do carpet pythons just grow at a slower rate?

Could you elaborate just a little about switching from feeding mice to rats? Do they get a little bit picky when you switch food on them? And bah, I didn't even remember to account for poop. Ew Oh well, there are worse things to deal with in the world.

Neat idea to condition them to differentiate between feeding time and nonfeeding time. I will probably follow your example and try that as well! Really, they sound like fantastic snakes to own. I'm very naturally drawn to animals with more personality (and sometimes just a touch of crazy), but want to make a responsible decision because I'm very much a beginner. I was at a pet store the other day (roommate was picking up a couple of pet rats), and saw a corn snake and a ball python in adjacent tanks. The corn snake was climbing all over the props and the edges of a ceiling, while the ball python didn't move the entire hour we were there. I didn't expect anything else, of course, but that did make me realize that I liked a more active snake. I'm still very fond of BPs, though!