ball python or Red tail boa?

[ozarkflyer1974]

my son wants a snake. i have had a red tailed boa that that had the perfect temperment. my son is 4 and wants a snake...of course i wont leave them unattended, but my buddy said that a mature ball python would be the way to go cuz they dont get as big and the temperment in a ball is usually better then that of a boa. can anyone help me here with opinions? ozarkflyer1974@yahoo.com

[Cubby23]

I would definately get a ball python. I know you would be the primary care taker (well i hope so) but a female RTB will be twice as long as your son. I BP is definately the choice for you. They are also MUCH cheaper in the long run. You may also consider a leopard gecko or bearded dragon instead.

[ozarkflyer1974]

hey thanks...do you have any idea about the temperment also? i am pretty sure that i am going to get a Ball for him, but i sure loved my boa

[JimiSnakes]

As far as temperment goes. I have been bit by more BPs than I have been struck at by Boas, and I don't even own any BPs anymore. I'd go with neither for a four year old. My daughter is four and half and she has a Mexican Rosy Boa. They only get about 2.5-3 ft max. And they are much calmer than both BP and Normal Boas together.

[Shelby]

I'd have to agree with Jim. BPs are very shy and the sometimes fast movements of a young child can put them in defense mode big time.

I would highly recommend something like a sand boa or rosy boa.. or a corn snake! Corns are one of the best ways to start with snakes. I'd try to find one that's a little older than a hatchling though so it's a little tougher for handling time.

[dca367437]

i was actually thinking about posting this as a topic a few days ago.
if i were you id think about something like a garter or ribbon snake. something with small teeth so if your 4 year old moves too quick and gets struck at , it will not hurt.
even though a bp's bite doesnt really hurt much, it does leave bad marks which when would a 4 year old sees his arm dripping blood would probally be terrified.
but if i were to decide id probaly pick the red tail, simply for the fact of bps going off of eating and being very frustrating. and depending on your son's likings. most kids that ive ever known have liked seeing snakes eat. also they also like handleing their pets ALOT, which with a bp could stress the snake out and make them go off eating.
its really your choice. everybody who has posted have made good points but you just gotta look at certain things for each species. because to every animal there are ALWAYS pros and cons....

the red tail boa
hides less during the day making it more interesting for your child
eats pretty much every single time which makes it less frustrating for you
and in my personal opinion i think they're prettier than bps

the ball python
probally more friendly
doesnt grow as big
easier/cheaper to take care of

[dca367437]

oops.. forgot to list some of the cons for each snake

bp
hides most of the day
stresses out extremely easily
goes off feed easily

rtb
gets pretty big
bites are worse (i think)
and im not sure but i think they're much stronger than a bp, which would make it harder to unwrap when they constrict

[Shelby]

If you got that RTB, you'd have to realise that you are going to have to be responsible for a possibly 10' long 40lb or more snake that can live 40 years. Your son may love snakes, but kids are notorious for losing interest in their pets and it turns into the parent's pet.. now, that may be just fine with you, but think long and hard before getting a boa!

ALL snakes (with the possible exception of the egg eating snake) have teeth. Now granted, most garters are too small to draw blood, these snakes are EXTREMELY fast. They are not normally the easiest snakes to handle, quite skittish usually. There are exceptions, but I'd lean more towards a corn snake (which come in a myriad of color and pattern morphs to pick from at a low price)