r/carpetpythons • u/Nirvanafan94 • 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/PukeyOwlPellet 9d ago
I walked into a reptile shop for my first snake with my mind set on something small & known to be beginner friendly, like a baby childrens or spotted python (I’m in Australia & can only own native snakes)
I left with a yearling jungle!
I saw all the warnings saying that carpet pythons are bitey so i dismissed them immediately, but it really depends on the individual snake. My baby boy Kif the jungle carpet was the sweetest creature I’ve ever met, zero inclination to bite even if kids were running about or he was being pat by several people at once (he did school trips!)
I fell in love with carpets & now have several more, some are just like Kif who refuse to attack humans, others are quite determined to remove me from this earth with all their mighty 30cm-long bodies & barely-there teeth (gotta love feisty hatchlings 🤣💕)
Obviously a bigger snake will need a bigger setup, which i had to immediately upgrade as soon as i brought my Kif home, but now i use my 2m long enclosures as decoration in my loungeroom, plus they have very useful storage cupboards underneath them.
I love the same thing about them as you do, they’re very active & curious snakes! My Kif likes to surf the kitchen counter while i unpack my shopping, bury himself in the sheets on the bed while i fold clothes or hangs out around my neck while i scrub the dishes. He did however make an enemy of the kitchen sink - the tap dared to get his head wet when he stuck his face under the faucet! That’s the only time he’s ever tried to kill something that wasn’t food 🤣
Anyway, I’m 110% biased - get the jungle!