r/carpetpythons 9d ago

Carpet Python vs Ball Python

My family is looking into getting our first snake. We had pretty much settled on the ball python, i have been doing research on enclosure setup, care, etc for the better part of a year (i always do a ton of research before making a commitment like a pet). However, today we went to a reptile store in a nearby city to see what all they had and they showed us a jungle carpet python. My wife, daughter, and I all fell in love with it. I was wondering if anyone who has had both can give me your opinions on each? We like how easy ball pythons are, but like how much more active and curious the carpet python is. Can you guys give me any reasons to NOT get a carpet python as our fist snake?

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u/Mainbutter 9d ago

I've kept multiples of both.

Carpet python wins by miles.

The tldr is that carpet pythons have moderate activity, generally eat well, and get longer, while ball pythons are very low activity, can be tricky eaters, and stay shorter.

If you have space for a longer (and ideally taller) enclosure, go for a carpet python.

That said, don't buy the first jungle you see at a local store. I recommend coastal (same species, different subspecies) and bredlis (same genus, different species) very highly personally!

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u/cascadiabibliomania 9d ago

The enclosure for a coastal or bredli is going to be even bigger than for the jungle, though. If they found a nice puppy-dog tame jungle at a store, IDK, my feeling is get it

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u/Appropriate_Slice333 9d ago

They don’t get that much bigger