Nothing alike in my book, I have four short tail pythons and two boas. The fatties are more of a lap snakes, hang out and don't move but don't enjoy being handled, more tolerate it. No idea if the boas enjoy handling but they love to move around and explore. Both are good eaters, both pee a lot but short tails hold up solid waste for months on end whereas boas go after a meal. Short tails are more apt to be pissy and bite you.