Carpet Python or Boa?

[Gio]

This is a great question, and one I would love to help you with. I have both a locality boa constrictor and a coastal carpet python.

Really, my honest answer is to get one of each if you are able to at some point.

Look at and handle both, and if you can, look at adults and yearlings so you get a feel for what YOU personally find the most pleasing.

Both species are semi arboreal, and in my opinion should be housed in cages where they can get exercise. If you are not going to provide that space, you should be prepared to let them get out and moving. ALL carpet species have prehensile tails and exhibit semi arboreal qualities. There are several reports of large, adult coastal carpets found several meters up in the canopy in their native habitat. These are full grown adults!

Boa constrictors also climb and hunt in the trees although they are the more terrestrial of the two in my experience.

If fed conservatively, you will see a lot more activity out of a boa constrictor as they will hunt for food and make use of the caging provided compared to an overfed BC. I have experimented with my BC, and have noted that longer periods between meals seems to increase activity levels. I prefer this to having an always full, lazy content animal, and the difference in body shape and tone is apparent when feeding properly.

My carpet is still young, and she spends 50% of her time in a hide on the ground, but like clockwork she pops out at sunset and spends the other 50% out in view cruising the branches. She is active no matter how she is fed.

Carpets can eat pretty large prey items and don't suffer any of the regurgitation issues that certain species of BC's do, although most BCI species are fairly hardy.

Sexual dimorphism in carpet pythons is different from that of BC's. The males of certain species of carpet combat prior to mating, and of the species that do, the male is on average larger than the female. Both can get big especially coastals or Bredli attaining sizes close to BC's in length, but are lighter in body usually.

I'm getting off topic here, but as far as husbandry goes, BCI boas and almost any carpet species are pretty hardy and easy to keep.

Handling is fun and easy with both BC's and carpets. I find my BC to move in a more calculated, controlled manner, slower, more deliberate and predictable, I find my carpet moves much faster, and I can't predict where she'll go, or when she'll take off. Neither are shy or easily spooked and both are interesting to handle. You'll have to move your hands more with the carpet. I like to give each of them some type of climbing setup and let them hang out on it while I sit and watch.

I've been bitten by both when they were first acquired but they have settled and I'm not concerned about either one biting. I can read them both fairly well now.

I have had a few feeding issues with the carpet. She's refused food more than a few times, and is still not 100% predictable when it comes to food but she is becoming more steady, and I don't foresee issues once she grows more.

The BC never refuses food, ever.

Here is another suggestion I have for you. If you truly want to research and gain a lot of knowledge on the animals mentioned I highly recommend these two books.

THE COMPLETE BOA CONSTRICTOR by Vincent Russo.

THE COMPLETE CARPET PYTHON by Nick Mutton and Justin Julander.

Those books are as good as it gets for the snakes we are discussing here.

Ultimately the choice is yours, and though my son's royal python has been a good snake, I find BC's and carpets far less shy, more active, better eaters and more interesting animals. I think you'll find the same with either.

Both species have larger and smaller variants so you can find the size you like.



I like this thread and if you have some specific questions ask away.

I forgot pictures, and I also cleaned up some grammar in the previous post in the now quoted area.

Coastal carpet unknown cross. Purchased from a local breeder. Parents are 8 and almost 10 feet long.
This animal is just over 4 feet.


100% pure locality boa constrictor. Barranquilla, Colombia. Almost a perfect example of this locality. Produced by Gus Rentfro (Rio Bravo Reptiles) and purchased from Legacy Reptiles. This snake is closing in on 6 feet long and is rather thick for a male BC.



Comparison threads are eye opening IMO. I hope I helped you in some way.

Regards,