ball python right for me?

[ajrocks777]

do ball pythons make that good of pets??? cuz i have kept rhacs for a couple years and wondering about getting a snake. first post yes!

[firecrested]

They would be a good first snake.  You wont get much activity out of them other than curling into a ball or hiding all the time.  Whenever someone asks me what a good snake is I always say Carpet pythons.  They dont need a huge cage, are very active & curious and they come in all kinds of colors and patterns

[smith710]

I think the best first snake to go with is a ball python.  I wouldn't say a carpet python, they move to much for someone just getting into them.  Ball pythons are way easier to hold and get used to.  Carpet pythons are more fun because they are alot more active, but because they are so active, it makes some beginners nervous.  Ball pythons are great starters.

[Liz]

a captive born and bred ball python. they are more likey to start feeding for you. They dont get too big.

[portal_reptiles]

i have heard that carpets are great 1st snakes...i think it was Anthony who said this...

[Liz]

i guess if you dont mind the chance of getting bit. i think they are a little more nervous... after you hold them they are great.

[monster]

i LOVE my ball phython. yes, she's slow going...and that's much of the charm.

[firecrested]

i guess if you dont mind the chance of getting bit. i think they are a little more nervous... after you hold them they are great.

You have a chance of being bitten by any snake.  I definately wouldnt say carpets are more nervous than balls, maybe more curious and want to smell everything.

[Geckogal]

I love boas and the ball pythons that I work with, but personally I think that a first snake should probably be either a rosy boa or a corn snake.

[smith710]

Corn snakes are way too difficult to hold, they are constantly trying to get away.  Yes, you have a chance of getting bit by any snake, but I would say a whole lot bigger chance by a carpet than a ball.  Balls are a nervous snake, but very easy to handle and don't get big at all.  Carpets move alot and aren't as easy to hold onto.

[firecrested]

Corn snakes are way too difficult to hold, they are constantly trying to get away.  Yes, you have a chance of getting bit by any snake, but I would say a whole lot bigger chance by a carpet than a ball.  Balls are a nervous snake, but very easy to handle and don't get big at all.  Carpets move alot and aren't as easy to hold onto.

Nah.  Every carpet I have had with the exception of maybe 2 were much better than balls and I've had a lot of carpets over the years.  it's not like carpets shoot out of your hands really fast, they just move around slowly and check everything out.  Some will get longer than balls but they are not a fat snake so their size isnt that bad.

You really cant say "what snake is best for you"  it's different for everyone and a lot easier now that there are care sheets on just about any snake you can find.  I had a boa & ball python for 4-5 months then went to an Emerald Tree boa, and they are definately not a good beginner snake.  Any snake will be fine if you find the right care sheets.  When I got my first snake (ball python) i had it for about a month and was very dissapointed with my decision.  It just sat there like a big turd  

[smith710]

They are alot quicker than you are making it sound, they move pretty good when holding them. I've seen quite a few of both snakes and had a totally different experience than you have.  I'm not shooting down carpets at all, I think they are awesome snakes.
I completely agree with what you said abotu what snake is best for you though, that is a very good point.  It all depends on what you can handle, how nervous you are around snakes, if you want something that you can hold very easy, do you want something that moves a bit, it all depends on your likes and dislikes. 

[firecrested]

  They move fast when compared to a ball python but any snake will move around.  Other than very small babies, none of my carpets have ever moved so fast that it's hard to hold them.  They will crawl around but no where near the point that it's hard to hold them.  Unless you have one that's just scared out of it's mind of humans and tries to get away as quickly as possible.

[smith710]

I have 2 at the moment, one is crazy quick, obviously scared and vicous. The other one is a good snake and still moves pretty good, I mean not extremely difficult to hold, but like I was saying, it all depends on how nervous you are of snakes and such.

[stevenidlett]

in my opinion...i would def go with the ball that was my first snake and havent had ne probs with it but like someone posted earlier, go with a cb for sure eating problems arent very fun, i have already had 2 ball pythons, 2 corn snakes, a cali king snake, a burmese python, and a red tail boa...and by far the easiest would be the ball they dont get rediculously big and they are insanely docile and opposed to ne kind of gecko or lizard just like ne other snake they require absolutely nothing except heat and water...and a mouse or two once a week...and my 2 arent boring at all they have there lil chill modes sometime but other than that they still like to search around as well...ne ways i have never had a carpet python but from my experience the ball is def the way to go...just my 2 cents tho