What kind of snakes are there that require similar care to ball pythons?
Written by scottology on November 9, 2009 – 5:09 pm -
I’m not planning on getting another snake soon, but in the future I’m thinking about what kind of snake I want. I was looking at Hogg Island Boas, and Brazilian Rainbow Boas, but they require too big of enclosures. I don’t really like corn snakes and milk snakes because of their size, I like thicker hardier snakes. Any suggestions? One that doesn’t get TOO big and is fairly easy to take care of… like ball pythons. Thanks in advance!
Thanks for the suggestions, but I’m looking more towards one that won’t take up too much room! I think a Red tail boa might need a tank a little bigger than 30 gallons or so. 
Related posts:
- Can anyone tell me how big of a terrarium I would need for 2 full grown ball pythons?
- Are the markings on Ball Pythons unique to each snake?
- Can I put two ball pythons together in one cage?
- How much for one of the piebald ball pythons?
Posted in Pythons | 3 Comments »
By Aaron on Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
Hognose snakes are great, because they have about the same requirements as corns, but they are much thicker (and oddly enough, have a very very light venom).
Red tail boas will get about ten feet or so for males, but they’re thick bodied snakes.
Blood pythons are very thick bodied and are about six feet, but need high humidity. Also they commonly have a reputation for bad tempers, or have kind of… mood swings.
If you have about two grand to throw down, you can buy an Angolan python. The face is constructed like a ball, but their appetite is much better, they have a beautiful pattern, about 8-9 ft, and are much more active snakes. The reason they’re so expensive is that they’re becoming endangered in the wild so most of them have to be captive bred, and they’re not so easy to breed.
Rainbow boas and Carpet pythons are a great medium sized snakes. Carpets being about ten to twelve feet but not near as thick as red tails. These are medium experience snakes because they need a little higher humidity than your ball will.
Emerald tree boas, and green tree pythons are for advanced keepers because of the level of humidity needed, strict temps, and their attitude problems make them snakes that should only be left to the dedicated and experienced.
By Jessi on Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
Check into a Blood Python. They are a little on the thicker side. And I believe they stay somewhere between 4-6 feet.
Other common names: Red blood python, Malaysian blood python, Malaysian red blood python, Sumatran red blood python.
Size: This is a very heavy-bodied snake. Large adults may have a massive girth. The head is long and broad, wider than the neck; the tail is short. Most adult females measure 50"-66" in total length, most adult males measure 40"-56" in total length. Older females occasionally attain 72" in total length. The maximum size for the taxon reportedly exceeds 9 feet in total length, but we are unconvinced. We’ve seen large obese females that weighed 40-45 pounds.
You could also look into some kind of sand boa, they stay small and they dont require much.
Size: Female Kenyan sand boas are generally larger than males reaching lengths of 26 to 32 inches and weighing up to two pounds. Some females have reached up to 40 inches in length. Males generally only reach 15 inches in length.
And look into some carpet pythons. Like the northwestern only gets 4-6 feet long.
By Anna on Nov 9, 2009 | Reply
Red tail boa indeed. I have had 3 pythons & now I am down to a red tail & a kenyan sand boa. The Kenyan Sand Boa doesn’t get too big btw. She is like 2-3 ft & hides a lot. I’m giving away my snakes, too!