which one....

[NightLad]

Whichever species you choose, you're going to run the risk of getting an animal that doesn't care to be handled. That's just part of having a snake. They're not like puppies that crave human attention and thrive on it.

In fairness, dogs are pack animals and snakes are not. When you get a dog, it understands that it is now a part of your 'pack.' It will recognize the hierarchy, and usually attempt to fill the role it believes itself to be in – protector, hunter (bringing home dead animals it finds and expecting a reward), nurturer (like watching over your kids), etc. A dog’s natural inclination is to do things as a pack, just as it would with a pack of dogs. This includes eating together, sleeping together, and going out together. They don’t understand the distinction most humans feel for them as ‘pets.’ When a dog whines at you during supper it isn’t trying to be annoying, it is confused about why it is being excluded from meal time – in the wild, exclusion during a meal is like a punishment. The same goes for leaving them alone when the family goes out, or kicking them out of bed when it’s time to sleep.

And thus ends my spiel about dog psychology! (I typed this as general information, not as a direct response to JLCs wonderful post.)

As I mentioned, snakes are not pack animals. They don’t crave the social interaction we are used to among humans, or that we see in other species that hold to a pack-mentality.

Personally, I like BPs because they are calm, docile snakes that don’t move too quickly and seem very agreeable to humans. (I’m speaking generally, of course, because they all have their own personalities.) Oh, and they are freekin' awesome! Actually, I met up with a friend who I’ve known online for a year but had yet to meet in person. He has a BP (to my pleasant surprise!) and I was able to handle him. A fantastic, charming animal all around. I’m even more sure of my desire to have one!

While I’d not advocate getting a reptile from a pet-store (there may be a few good stores out there, but I’d personally feel better going with a breeder), I might suggest visiting a pet store and asking to handle both snakes. Get a feel for the individual animals, meet them in person, and then let the experience help you decide. When you’ve made a decision, hunt down a good private breeder to work with. You can find lots of great information on this site.