Best pythons or boas??

[AzJohn]

Look at woma pythons

[vivi]

Look at woma pythons

Good idea, thank you.

[Caitlin]

I have both a Children's and a Stimson's Python, as well as a pair of Tarahumara Boas. The Tarahumara are recent acquistions, and while I am really enjoying them and find them (so far) easy to care for and nice to handle, I'll leave any further comments to folks here who have more experience with them than I do.

For your 40 gallon enclosure and given your comments, I would enthusiastically recommend a Children's Python. These little guys don't have demanding temperature and humidity requirements - they do well with a general python setup of a warm spot in the 88-90 F range and a cool spot in the 78F range. Unlike a Ball Python, they aren't sensitive about, and are forgiving of, reasonable humidity/temp fluctuations. They have fantastic appetites, and they are wonderful to handle because they're a slow-moving python as opposed to some of the more flighty/squirmy snakes. I really enjoy my Children's personality. She's just under a year old, so is in a Sterilite tub that I can easily put on my desk - it's become a routine to remove the lid so that she can rest her little head on the edge of the enclosure and just watch me and the world around her. It's incredibly cute. She'll voluntarily climb out and onto my hand, and is perhaps the most serene snake I own. While more active at night, both she and the Stimson's are often out and about during the day, just basking on their cork rounds/branches or on top of their hides - it's nice to see them like that.

I could go on, but don't want to be boring. I'll just say that I can understand why the Antaresia are so much loved in Australia, and I'm a little shocked that they aren't more widely known and appreciated here. The advantage to their being pretty unknown here in the U.S. is that they are quite inexpensive - average cost for a Children's is $100. I've convinced two of my friends who wanted a great beginner snake to get a Children's Python, and both of them have just been delighted so far.

[vivi]

Honestly people, don't apologize, I asked a question and any info is awesome.

Antaresia are definitely underrated! I really appreciate all the input.

Oh, if anyone knows any antaresia breeders (Besides BHB, Backwater, and UG reptiles. I don't support them...) I'd love to hear, please PM me.

[Bogertophis]

Honestly people, don't apologize, I asked a question and any info is awesome.

Antaresia are definitely underrated! I really appreciate all the input.

Oh, if anyone knows any antaresia breeders (Besides BHB, Backwater, and UG reptiles. I don't support them...) I'd love to hear, please PM me.

Well, I certainly can't recommend the guy I got mine from... but just do some "homework"...search for breeders and ask them a few questions. I take my cue from the how a seller responds to a question or 2 (and I don't mean by bombarding them either). I assume that any seller that has no time for me BEFORE the sale will have even less afterI have the snake. Try to check their reputation as many ways as you can...& you can always post & ask here too, if anyone has had experience with them.

BTW, I'm delighted to see others having a similar great experience with Antaresia maculosa (Aussie spotted python); I've only known this one, but she is NOSY, & I love that in a pet snake. It's what I also love about rat snakes. Mine is most often on her driftwood-branches complex under her warming black light, day or night. I always feel like I have a pet snake, even though she's more likely waiting for edibles than me, lol. It's so cute & if I approach her home, she's coming right up to see what's happening & not afraid. A quick whiff of my scent & she knows I'm not food either.

BTW, I paid a "whopping" $40 for mine, but I would say that $100 is a more realistic price these days, though you might find a better deal just because ppl may not be spending much on pets now with the pandemic, & you may find a breeder eager to sell you one, possibly even a hold-back.

[WrongPython]

I believe Vin Russo actually has some Children's pythons available on occasion, and for a reasonable price from what I've heard. I've also seen some available on Morph Market pretty frequently, but I'm not familiar with the breeders or sure if the prices are fair. Good luck!

[vivi]

Well, I certainly can't recommend the guy I got mine from... but just do some "homework"...search for breeders and ask them a few questions.

Haha, I actually spend a lot of my free time researching snakes and this forum is definitely a good resource.

Based on the positive comments I keep hearing, I think a spotted or children's would be a good choice. Only time will tell though, I'll try not to keep you in suspense.

I would love to hear everyone's experiences with them and any tips or sources are much appreciated. My PMs are always open and so is this thread.

[Caitlin]

I got my Children's Python from Riley's Reptiles (also my Jungle Carpet Python). Riley knows his snakes and is a real pleasure to deal with - he may have just one female left from his 2019 babies. I'm not sure if she is already spoken for; I know she was the last of this clutch to get stabilized with feeding and he recently got her regularly eating mice, so she is either ready to go now or will be very soon. He isn't breeding Children's this year, so if the female is no longer available you'd need to find another breeder - look for folks with positive ratings on MorphMarket or Fauna Classifieds. Some of the Facebook groups dedicated to Antaresia may be helpful, though a lot of those members are our Aussie friends.

Also keep an eye open for Spotted or Stimson's. All of the Antaresia are wonderful. You won't find the Pygmy variety in the U.S. for anything under four figures, but Spotted, Stimson's, and Children's are all reasonably priced.

[Bogertophis]

I just spotted this...pardon the pun... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtCuobZlvVg

[Caitlin]

Yep, that was the year before he bred his pair of Children's. He went through all kinds of hell getting the babies established in a feeding routine - so much so that he has decided not to breed Children's again. It wasn't just having to feed them mouse tails, which isn't unusual in small hatchlings. It's that a couple of them just would. not. eat. until he did stuff like warm up pinky heads, wrap them in fresh gecko shed, and dance them around in a particular way while tease-feeding the babies. Eventually all of them got stabilized with eating but one, which passed away, and that really upset him. I'm just grateful I was able to get my girl from him, as I know how well he cares for his animals.

You'd never know how hard he had to work to get my little one eating - I think she'd actually eat in my hand, lol. She tackles her pinkies with huge enthusiasm every time.