Blood or carpet python as pet?

[midgard]

Which one do you like and why? I am not getting one but someone I know might. They have 4 BPs and 1 red tailed boa.

[Reinz]

I have a BP, and a Boa. I'm going with a Carpet or Jungle Python next just because I think they are cool as all get out. Nothing against Bloods.

This might not be an accurate comparison, but in general; ask your friend if he wants another snake with a personality similar to a Ball, or one closer to - more active and quicker and inquisitive like a Boa?

[artgecko]

I have boas and BPs and went with a jag. carpet python... They are more active than boas and climb very well, but need to be "tamed down". I'm still working on that with mine. I've heard that bloods are the same way (need to be tamed) but that they are harder to handle.. You have to support their whole body and if you don't, they freak out and can hurt themselves. They don't climb, so don't hold on to you at all. Because of that, I went with the carpet first and I'm still looking at a blood, but it will probably be a while before I get one. If your friend does get a blood or STP, tell him to make sure he buys directly from a breeder... There are still WC and captive-hatched ones out there and they can have nasty temperaments.

[DennisM]

I'd go with carpet python, a more active snake. Bloods are nice too. Both will be nippy babies. I keep lots of carpets and many of the adults can be a little "unpredictable" in the sense that they will still take rare but occasional shots at me, but I can usually read this in advance and approach accordingly. I have less experience with bloods, only keeping a pair, but have found the adults aren't biters, but they do like to wrestle. Also, if you want to keep short tails as opposed to bloods, I have found them to be a bit calmer than bloods, especially sumantrans that are BP calm.

[Horrorphile]

I keep and love both species and for me it would come down to temperament and size. An adult female blood is going to need quite a bit more space than a female carpet python especially some of the smaller sub-species. Also my experience with carpets has been that they are super tame once out of their nippy hatchling phase. This is true for many bloods too but I have seen more instances of bloods being aggressive adults than carpets.

[cdoak1017]

Idk what he should get next but the ones I'm wanting are a red tail boa and a blood python

[DennisM]

Probably the real question isn't "blood or carpet?", but "which should I get first?". You know how us snake keepers are.

[GhostRonin1224]

I had the same dilemma not to long ago. I decided to go with a jungle jag carpet. I'm very happy with my choice. He's seems to be out more than the balls that I've had. He's a bit defensive(not aggressive). But from what I've learned about bloods is that there feisty balls on crack as far as size. If you really want the inside scoop get a hold of Steve Tillis Reptillis Herps. (Shameful plug) He breeds both and where I got mine.

[KMG]

Im going to be different and go with a Blood. Having a few may make me biased. A carpet is a cool snake but for me Im only drawn to the GTP and ETB as pets. I still need to get a ETB.

As for the Bloods they are great snake but I don't think it is fair to compare them to a BP. They are more like a pet rock...they never move. They most certainly need to be handled young to make them manageable as adults. Mine were very nippy when they were new and made me bleed a lot.

I can pick mine up just like my other snake and even if they are not fully supported they don't freak out. Its hard to support a 5.5ft 30lb snake 100% of the time when moving it where you need it. She is surprisingly strong and can shock you with their speed when they want to move. Overall they are great snakes if you can handle their size and strength but they are not much of a display snake. Well that may not be true. My big girl wears her cat litter hide as a hide so she is always kinda on display.

Like I always suggest for Bloods anybody thinking of getting one should really try to get their hands on a adult so they can see for themselves the actual size and strength of them. They are no joke and can make most snakes seem pretty puny.