Hogg island boa vs irian jaya carpet

[Gio]

Good question, and one worth discussion.

Now what is it you are looking for in another snake?

I have a locality Colombian BC, and I have a coastal carpet python, and I have (we) a royal python.

No offense to the royal python lovers, but the royal is by far the least interesting to me. However that is just my opinion. I personal find semi arboreal snakes the most interesting. I like the combination of terrestrial and arboreal. You will find if you provide housing that allows climbing and perching, you will see several behaviors preformed by the snake that you would not see in a drawer or tub setup.

If you are not going to provide that type of caging, you will not see much different than most other pythons or boas.

Island BCs are said to be smaller and more arboreal than mainland BCs so you should get some nice activity from a Hog Island BCI. They can still hit the 7 foot mark and are generally heavier than most of the carpets. I don't really subscribe to either of the snakes you are looking into being nasty captives. I've been bitten a few times by both my BC, and my carpet during their early juvenile stage.

Still on the BC subject, they are very solid, heavy bodied and rather fun to handle. When I see my BC moving about, I find it really interesting and he perches, but also uses his ground hides.

The coastal is the busiest snake I have at this stage. The BC is 3 and becoming a fully mature adult male. He is closing in on 6 feet, and is relatively thick. I find he still perches, but has become a bit more sedentary and tends to use his ground hides. I attribute some of that to being fed well and becoming content. When I see that, I usually will hold back on the food, and make him work/hunt for food and suddenly, I have an active snake again. I've been experimenting with longer periods between meals and I have been finding a more active BC if I don't schedule meals regularly and keep variation in prey type and size.

On to the carpet python,

I really love the coastal. They are extremely arboreal, a trait of all morelia, but she will use the ground in the morning up until the afternoon and then like clockwork, she is up in the perches hunting and exploring. She is a 2 year old snake, and is longer than the 3 year old BC, but not nearly as thick.

In all honesty,,, it is the most "exciting" snake we have. That is hard for me to say because I love my boa constrictor. The carpet has not been as consistent of a feeder as the BC, but she is also taking the same sized prey and probably needs longer to become hungry again.

Having both is really a privilege and I can't say I'd trade either one. But I could trade the royal for a BC or a carpet or a SD retic.

Again, that's just my view and preference for display snakes.


Semi arboreal BC having a rabbit.





Having a climb during some relaxing and handling.

.

Beautiful body shape and colors.

They will climb.



Long, laterally compressed and muscular.




The carpet also has beautiful colors and pattern.



She is always in view.



This is the old cage. She needed more ceiling space.



Long and lean.

They seem to get a lot of length before filling out.


She is very busy as far as pythons and boas go.





I tend to throw out a lot of info in threads like these because I used to ask the same questions. I'm not sure if I've helped or made things more difficult. I have one of each and although not the exact types you are looking at they are close enough for a comparison.

Please ask more! I will be happy to try and answer specific questions if you have any.

Of course we will all say; Go handle both and see what you like best.

I will say if you are going to cage without a taller display, you may want to go the route of the BC as I think they will handle the terrestrial setup a tab better than the IJ. IJ carpets are smaller than coastals and usually even more slim. They will more than likely be very active in a tall cage.

Let me add the BC moves slow and more calculated and controlled. The carpet is quicker, less clingy and a bit more unpredictable during handling.

Good luck!!