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Please help me pick the perfect "giant snake"2007-11-24 2:01:53

I'm in the process of adding one of the "giant" snake species to my collection. He/she will be used eventually for shows and talks. I will purchase as a hatchling. I've been keeping snakes for the better part of 12 years, I know the risks involved in keeping large snake species. It will have a proper size enclosure etc. I've been caught between a Burmese Python and a Redtail Boa (Normal Boa). Give me some feedback on what you think, personalities etc of the snakes. Thanks

Answers:

I guess the answer to this would depend upon just how big of a "giant" you want to end up with.

Red Tails typically reach between 7-9 feet.

Burmese Pythons can get quite a bit larger. Usually around double(15-17 feet in captivity) And they also can get quite heavy. We have a 15 foot burm that is 97 pounds. (do you really want to be toting a snake that heavy back and forth to shows?)

Both snakes can be great animals and pretty calm if handled from an early age.

Also, before you decide, keep in mind that a 16 foot burmese is going to need something larger than rats as a food source. If you don't have access to rabbits or chickens, I would stick with a Redtail.

Just look at all the pros and cons to each animal and decide which would be better suited for your lifestyle.

Good Luck!

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Well, the biggest difference you will encounter between the two is an adult size of 7ft versus 16ft. Burms get huge. I breed boas, and I have some really impressively large specimens..but none of them are big enough to overcome me if they wanted to. A good friend of mine has Retics and Burms.and in my opinion he puts himself in harms way almost daily. Not to say that people shouldn't keep them, but you have to respect the risk that is present. Adult burms are usually really calm animals.but if that is the direction you go, be cautious.

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Red tails easily.