Boid Recommendations?

[Mojo Jojo]

Here is what I don't want:

Ball Python (or anything eles that gets really fat compared to its body length)
Any aggressive (highly defensive) species
Anything that could potentially hurt a small kid
--so this would rule out Redtails or any of its variants
--no burmese pythons

Long pythons are fine as long as they aren't fat pythons.

I like most boids for the shape of their heads in and the differentiation between their heads and their necks. That is why I don't like Sand Boas.



Right now, I'm leaning towards Carpet Pythons. What else should I consider?

Jon

 

[FryLock]

Id go with a Spotted python Antaresia maculosa.

 

[LPacker79]

Carpets are awesome! I've got a female Jungle and a female Coastal, both yearlings. Since you want to stick with small, I'd rule out a Coastal. Jungle's are awesome, and stay a happy medium (6 to 8 feet). Irian Jaya's are also very nice and are the smallest of the Carpets. They tend to be nippy as babies, but I haven't seen that with mine. My two have not been handled much and I've only been bitten by my Jungle (two strikes, she's in shed at the moment and her cage needed cleaning). But at that size it felt like someone had just poked me with a hairbrush, she didn't even break the skin. If you're serious about a Carpet, go HERE and check out the Morelia spilota forum. These people really know their stuff when it comes to Morelia.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

How about Hogg Island Boas?

 

[LPacker79]

How about Hogg Island Boas?

Not sure about those, other than I reallly really like them. Funnily enough, I plan on getting a Hogg as my next snake, whenever that happens. From what I understand they're just a subspecies of the redtails. I like them because of their color and that they stay smaller. A friend of mine says every one that's he's had contact with is bitey though. Might be something to look into.
Good luck with the search!

 

[FryLock]

Hogg Island Boas are a race of BCI they look very different to it tho, MOST of the time if there pure they max out at 4'-5' male 5'-6' female but iv heard of ones including W/C imported from the isle getting up to 8'-10' for female some lines are more lighty to stay small if you want a real dwarf BC get a Sonoran BCI they max at 5' and are very nice IMO (im thinking of a pair :} ) http://boamorph.leeardern.com/species.php?species_category_id=3 Chris is a UK breeder but on this page you can see them.

 

[LPacker79]

Just had another thought......what about a Dumerils boa? I got the opportunity to handle a friend's 4 ft female a few weeks ago, and she was so laid back and docile. Beautiful too. Unlike my Carpets, which are always on the go, this Dumerils just hung out, content to be still.

 

[pitbulllady]

I wouldn't consider a Common or a true "Redtail" boa to be a threat to a small child, but if it's size that concerns you, how about a Hogg Island boa or one of the small Australian pythons, like a Spotted or a Children's? Jungle Carpets are nice, not generally too large(usually under 8 ft.), but young ones can be quite nippy! A good-sized Morelia of ANY species can give a nasty bite when it wants to, since they have tremendously long teeth for their size. There are also some subspecies of Reticulated python, believe it or not, in which the males remain a pretty manageable size, and captive-bred specimens can be very docile. My Kayudi male is six years old, and only six feet long, and definately eats well! I've also encountered some really sweet White-lipped pythons which were captive bred, and they don't reach unmanageable sizes, either, plus they are sooo soft. Speaking of soft, there's also the Savu python, which feels like a chamois cloth, and five-six feet is the biggest I've seen them get. Most are also very docile as adults, though again, can be rather defensive as babies.

pitbulllady

 

[Joe]

Ringed pythons stay a manageable size and aren't too aggressive, although they are a little high-strung. They aren't too pricey, either. Womas are nice if you have the $.

Edit: Savus stay small, usually have a great personality, and are relatively inexpensive.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I have narrowed my search down to two: the Jungle Carpet Python and the Hog Island Boa.

As of 3:08 AM Pacific, I am leaning towards the Hog Island Boa. I went into a pet shop earlier and got to see both and both were quite pretty. However the Hog Island just seem "neater".

Maybe I will end up with both -- who knows?

I think that I'll put up a poll about the two snakes.

Jon

 

[FryLock]

I wouldn't consider a Common or a true "Redtail" boa to be a threat to a small child.

pitbulllady

I would have said so too but there have been adult death's from BCI and BCC all most all have involved ppl handing alone and often drunk (one iv heard of was chap in France handling drunk strangled by a 7’ BCI) i have a 8' female E.angulifer and she’s way stronger then my 9' CCP like you say Morelia bites are bad my carpet bit me though the knuckle of my thumb it was bruised blue for a fortnight , if he wants a hogg isle i cant see that being a threat to a child so long as its off some one who knows the size of there stock.

 

[ddale]

I'm pretty fond of my Brazilian Rainbow Boas.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Well, I still haven't gotten a boid yet, but I have been continuing to look. The Dumeril's Boa has REALLY caught my eye. It is gorgeous. I'd like to get some input if anyone cares to share.

Thanks,

Jon

 

[Yve]

Dumeril's can be nippy and high strung...very beautiful though....same with carpets....

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Dumeril's can be nippy and high strung...very beautiful though....same with carpets....

Oh, but the pattern and the color!!!!

I got bit by a juvenile Burmese python. It didn't hurt but did bleed a decent amount. How much worse could this snakes bite be?

I grew up under that school of thought that if you KNOW that you can't avoid the bite, to not flinch, as that flinching is what rips the skin. Otherwise, the snake will just let go or it will be easily pried off.

Jon

 

[LPacker79]

Dumerils are awesome. I have a friend with a female about 4 feet in size, maybe 4.5. She's incredibly docile and oh so beautiful! I also got the opportunity to handle a very nice 6ft female JCP while I was in the Chicago area last week. Very docile, very active. Can't wait for my girl to get big. I spent several hours handling the most beautiful Hogg Island boa the same day, I was teasing his owner saying I was going to sneak him home with me when he wasn't looking. Yup, a Hogg Island is definitely next for me.

 

[eksong]

I've also had a chance to take a first hand look at an adult dumeril from a local snake breeder. Their patterning is gorgeous to say the least.

Personally, though, I do like the Columbian BCIs a little bit more. It's true their patterning is simpler, but the coloration, especially towards the tail, is just totally amazing.

 

[Yve]

Jon, I agree, they are awesome looking snakes...and although they can be temperamental not nearly as temperamental as a green tree python, scrub or wild caught blood python. They can also be calm. I just thought I'd mention that because some people's idea of a calm snake is more along the lines of a ball python or bci. If you're willing to overlook that possibility then I'd say either are a great choice....How juvenille was the burm? I have an albino and did a presentation for a whole bunch of kids last weekend. I opened her mouth to show them what it looks like inside and her teeth cut my hand just by brushing against them(she's about9ft). They're like razors!