Can't Decide - Need Help - Boa or Sumatran Short Tail Python

[Aedryan Methyus]

Hi Squirtle,
How are you currently housing and heating your Ball Pythons? If you are keeping them in a rack system with tubs and using a single thermostat with heat tape, one consideration is, you could house and heat a Boa in the same rack with your Ball Pythons. The care and husbandry of Bloods and Short Tails is every bit as simple as Ball Pythons. The only difference is they like it much cooler on the hot side (80 - 83 degrees), so they wouldn't be able to share housing and heating with your Ball Pythons. They also like more humidity than Ball Pythons. That is only a simple matter of providing a large water dish in their enclosures and misting the enclosure down every day or two...

As far as the temperament of Bloods and Short Tails, all I can tell you from my experience is, I have a pair of Bloods, a pair of Borneos and a pair of Sumatrans and pretty much every one of them have acted schizo at some point. I have noted recently that my males definitely seem to have much more unbalanced temperaments and are much more moody than my females for some reason. Have any of you other Blood/Short Tail keepers noticed this, as well? All of mine are only 2015's and 2016's, so I don't have any experience with adults yet. But, most of the other more experienced keepers seem to say that they tame down significantly with age (especially after their first year) with regular handling. My big 2015 Matrix girl put on one hell of a show for about the first 4 - 6 weeks I had her every time I tried to handle her. But, strangely, she has never actually tried to bite even during that time period. Since then her temperament has been very balanced. I guess I would describe her as, "apprehensive". She basically remains completely motionless when handling her and no matter what, she always has to have her head turned around staring directly at my face at all times. It is sketchy and intimidating as hell to say the least, but other than that she is a pretty good girl. My 2015 Matrix boy has been good for the most part. There was really only one incident with him, where I was holding him and he suddenly threw himself out of my hands and across the room trying to bite my daughter... lol One other time he was huffy and hissy when I went to take him out. Other than those two incidents he has been a pretty sweet boy. Just a little jumpy when you're touching him... My 2016 Sumatrans both also put on quite a show for the first 4 - 6 weeks when I tried to handle them. They have both been very sweet ever since except recently the male started acting schizo again when I go to get him out. He just starts throwing his whole body around then sits there twitching. Once I get him out he is fine. The female is a total sweetheart and out of all my Bloods and Short Tails, she is definitely the one I trust most. My Marble Borneos have been sweet as can be since day one until recently the male stated acting completely schizo when I go to take him out. He also throws his whole body around then just sits there twitching and acting like he is completely miserable. He is also fine once I get him out. The female has still never been anything less than a total sweetheart so far...

neither a boa nor a blood/short tail will move around as much as your ball pythons.

That is true of Bloods and Short Tails for the most part, but i'm not sure why you say that about Boas, though... Any Boa I have ever owned or handled was much more active, attentive and inquisitive than any Ball Python...

Currently, I am working with 6 different species of constrictors and I love all of them to death! Each species (and each individual snake) have their own unique traits, characteristics and behaviors. But, if I ever had to choose only one species to work with I would still have to go with Boas. They're great eaters, simple to care for, even tempered and reach a larger, yet manageable size. I also feel that they have the most personality and are the most enjoyable to handle. If you decide to go with a Boa and you want one that will most likely stay on the smaller side, I would definitely recommend going with a BI instead of a BC and I would get a male. If you decide to go with a Blood or Short Tail, Sumatrans are the smallest of the three species and Bloods are the largest. Either way, you will ultimately have a 20 - 40 pound beast as an adult. It would be impossible to say, which of the three has the best temperament. It really depends on the individual snake...

I hope this helps. Feel free to ask any other specific questions you may have to help you in your decision...