Sumatran Short Tail - Right For Me?

[Craiga 01453]

I would highly suggest handling an adult or sub-adult blood/STP before purchasing one. I've got a Borneo STP and he's unlike any other species I've ever kept or handled.

Being so short and stout they are essentially 100% terrestrial. They're not built for climbing and that transfers to how they handle. Most snake will wrap around your arm/wrist/hand, etc...to improve their grip and stability. STPs do not. You have to support their entire body weight without them doing much to help their balance. So it may be wise to try to handle a decent sized blood/STP so you know more what to expect.

My Borneo boy is also the only snake I've ever kept that has given me any difficulty at all with feeding. I've been working with him for almost 2 years trying to get him on F/T prey. He actually just ate his first F/T rat the other night (fingers crossed!), But it's been a frustrating adventure.

They're definitely not a "beginner" species. That being said, I'm not trying to dissuade you. My boy is an awesome animal, but if I didn't have 13+ years experience with various species I may not have chosen him. He's been my only snake since I started out in this hobby almost 20 years ago that challenges me, but he's so worth it.
He is, absolutely, the epitome of a lap snake once he's out. He's content to just sit and chill with me while watching TV or whatever. I say "once he's out" because he can be a bit hissy at times. He'll hiss when I lift his hide and when I reach in to grab him, but outside a few isolated incidents hasn't struck at me. (He has a few times, but there was apparently a lot of that going on in the snake community, believed to be related to the heat wave and moon cycles at that time)
He's also my only snake that I don't 100% trust with just anybody. All my others I can comfortably hand off to friends and family with no worries. My 4 year old niece has handled my smaller snakes and pet the others, but not him. Him, I will not. I just don't feel 100% confident in him. He's also my only snake that I don't let close to my face. I trust him, I'm confident in my ability to handle him, but at the core he's still a primitive animal, so I respect that.
My other snakes can climb all over my face and it doesn't faze me.

All in all, he's a fantastic pet and I love him to death. He keeps my on my toes and reconnects me to the primitive creatures that I fell in love with many years ago.

Finally, I'm not one who subscribes to the "beginner" snakes rules of thumb. I say that if you've done proper research and due diligence it's really up to you how much you're willing to put in. Some are a bit trickier than others, but only you know what you're truly capable of and how hard you're willing to work. There are definitely easier species to care for, but if you want a blood/STP and have put in the time to research properly, I say go for it if it's the animal you want. It'll be yours to care for for 25+ years.

Good luck! Feel free to ask any follow up questions, I'm happy to help.

Edit to add: I have to agree with above. Don't bring a snake into somebody's house without their consent.
If you're still living at home you're likely young. You've got plenty of time. Something else to consider: when you do move out, will you be able to bring the snake? Dorms, apartments, etc...can be very difficult to find that allow snakes. Also most people need roommates, and many roommates won't be willing to live with a snake. Just something to think about...