ball python right for me?

[krazymuttzpuck]

My first snake...was a  rough green snake.. now we have corn snake.

[warnersister_2000]

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.

i don't think they're difficult to hold at all, especially if you get an older one.  plus the baby ball pythons i've seen are way more cage nippy than baby corns.  plus i'm partial to slender snakes, and balls are just fat and yes, they look like turds to me too 

[honuman]

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!

They are pretty good. Especially now that you don't have to go and get an import and have all that feeding worry etc.
I used to have lots of snakes when I was younger and just got a few again.  I started with Kenyan Sandboas (posted some stuff about that in the off topic section).  They are kinda cute and easy if ya want to start off small. 

Steve

[smith710]

A sand boa wouldn't make a bad starter snake. They are very rarely nippy as well, the only problem with them is, they constantly hide, so not much viewing pleasure.

[Anthony Caponetto]

I think either a carpet or a ball would be a good first snake.

As far as handling goes, Carpets not that bad at all and I don't think Eric (firecrested) is painting an unrealistic picture.  Carpets aren't nearly as fast moving as a colubrid (including cornsnakes and other ratsnakes).  They move around more than a ball, but they don't try to shoot out of your hand and get away like colubrids do...instead, they tend to anchor themselves onto your hands/arms and then explore their surroundings.   As far as biting goes, most carpets don't bite after they're a few months old...and if they do, they're so tiny that the bites don't even hurt.   By the time they're a year old, hardly any of them will bite.

With ball pythons, they're by nature a lot less active and less likely to bite, but they're also not nearly as fun to keep.  Another point is this...how much time are you really going to spend holding a snake?  Sure, you'll hold it quite a bit at first, but after a while, it's going to stay in its cage most of the time.  If you go for a ball, it will spend most of its time hiding.  With a carpet, it's more likely to perch out in the open...makes for a much better display.

I'm not saying either one is a bad choice for a beginner and I'm really not biased.  I have several hundred carpets and I also have a few dozen ball pythons.  Both are hardy snakes, have very few health problems and are small enough to easily manage (unlike burms, boas and retics).

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. 

Matt,  

No offense, but you're kinda making it sound like you've been around a lot of carpets...but from what you're saying about them, I can tell that you haven't.   I could be wrong, but it sounds like you've either had a bad experience with a few carpets that were either unusually nutty or just stressed out from being at a show or in a pet store.  

On the other hand, if you really have been around a lot of carpets and you think they're too fast, all I can tell you is to stick with ball pythons because you won't find many other snakes (if any) as mellow as a ball python.

[Anthony Caponetto]

I guess one important factor is if you're somewhat scared of snakes, for lack of a better term.

If you're somewhat scared of snakes, go with a ball python for sure...they're by far the least likely to do anything to freak you out.

If you're not necessarily scared of snakes, there are a lot of choices.  If you want something big enough to be impressive, but not dangerously big, go with a carpet, a smaller race of boa constrictor, etc.  If you don't care about size, there are a lot of colubrids out there (cornsnakes, kingsnakes, milksnakes, etc.)

[smith710]

Matt,  

No offense, but you're kinda making it sound like you've been around a lot of carpets...but from what you're saying about them, I can tell that you haven't.   I could be wrong, but it sounds like you've either had a bad experience with a few carpets that were either unusually nutty or just stressed out from being at a show or in a pet store.  

On the other hand, if you really have been around a lot of carpets and you think they're too fast, all I can tell you is to stick with ball pythons because you won't find many other snakes (if any) as mellow as a ball python.

I'm not saying I've been around tons of carpets, but I've been around quite a few. I'm also not saying that they are extremely fast animals that are very difficult to hold or anything, as I said before, it all depends on how you feel about snakes at first.  From what I have seen with carpets, they move quite a bit, and from what I have noticed with many people buying a snake for the first time, they don't usually like snakes that are moving around alot, putting their faces next to their hands, trying to get away, etc.  They usually go towards the ball python because they don't move nearly as much and are alot easier to hang on to when you are a little worried.  I work at an exotic pet store and see ALOT of people coming in looking to get their first snake and have seen lots of carpts come in and out.  

No, not all of the carpets were mean and nippy or always moving, but more than not. I'm not saying their fast, and if I did without realizing it, I didn't mean it, but they are just seem to want to get away more than ball pythons would, which in my experience with people getting their firsts, they don't like it. No, I haven't seen too many not in the pet stores, but the feww I have seen, including mine, about 50/50 were nippy and just wanted to constantly get away.

Also, I'm not saying that I personally think they are too fast or hard to hold but I have a few snakes, so it's not something I'm worried about, I've been bitten plenty of times to the point where it doesn't bother me enough to worry about it unless they are quite big.

[honuman]

A sand boa wouldn't make a bad starter snake. They are very rarely nippy as well, the only problem with them is, they constantly hide, so not much viewing pleasure.

Agreed you have to press the issue to view them.  That is a down side.

[Smaug]

I have a few ball pythons and I definitely recommend them for first timers.  Anthony is right, because they are nocturnal, they prefer to hide so you won't get much enjoyment viewing them in their enclosure.  Getting a captive bred is key.  Of all the snake species I have had experience with, the ball python can be a finicky eater.  They can go off feeding for months.  However, if you make sure the temperature and humidity are correct and they have a secure hide box, you should have no problems.  I've been bitten by an adult ball python, and I would much rather have that than a bee sting.  Pull out a couple teeth and you are good.  LOL.  When choosing a ball python, pick one out that has a clean vent, no stuck sheds and isn't head shy when you touch him on the back of the neck.  That way you'll know you have a ball that likes to be held.  I feel like a few of mine actually enjoy the interaction of being held.  I never get sick of holding them.

The best thing about ball pythons that I didn't notice anyone mention, is the amount of morphs available.  Corn snakes have a lot of mutations, but in my opinion, nothing touches ball python mutations.  For those that think ball pythons look like terds, I guess you have never seen a lavender albino or a banana clown.  I have held one of Ralph Davis' "Dreamsicles" which is a designer morph cross of a lavender albino and a piebald.  Unbelievable snake.  Check out Ralph Davis' 2005 birthing record for some unbelievable balls.  The snakes I just mentioned are in the $20k-60k range, so not something for a beginner.  But, pastels are gorgeous snakes and you can get a nice male for $150.  Mojaves, cinnamons and spiders have also come down in price.  I do have one more thing to mention...Buying ball pythons can be addictive if you start getting into the myriad of morphs available.  I'll say this...."Friends don't let friends buy ball pythons morphs."   

[warnersister_2000]

For those that think ball pythons look like terds, I guess you have never seen a lavender albino or a banana clown.

i wasn't talking about morphs, which are admittedly beautiful, i was talking about how fat they are for their length.

[Panther]

I personally love hognose snakes. But then again I guess they do kind of have the fat to length ratio kind of off, haha. But really, they're very sweet snakes. I also really love carpets.

~k

[smith710]

Hognoses are cool, but not a snake you want to get bit by.  You aren't going to get seriously hurt or anything, but they are rear fanged, so you swell up like a balloon.

[marigold]

I loved reading this thread!  I don't know much about snakes... my son and I adopted an adult, snow, corn snake (4ft long), and I keep it in my classroom.  it's beautiful, and we do hold it sometimes, and it IS active, and keeps moving.  it's the first snake i have handled, but it gets a little high strung, and i can tell immediately, and we put it back into it's cage.  we have been told that corns are a good first snake.  we are interested in a ball python, but noticed the blood pythons on this site.  we want one when some are available in the spring!

it was interesting hearing what everyone thought.  after reading this, we may be interested in a carpet python.  i like a snake that hangs around in the cage and is visible.  they are very fun to watch!
marigold