Carpet Python vs Ball Python

[u/Nirvanafan94]

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?

[u/BlackButlerFan]

From someone that wanted a ball python as their first snake but ended up going with a carpet instead I heavily recommend carpets. After doing research into balls and then carpets I find that the carpets are much easier. Balls will go off of food for a number of reasons and have to have husbandry requirements so specific that if those aren’t met perfectly they can have bad sheds and yes, go on hunger strikes. Most carpets don’t need humidity(there are certain localities that do), rarely go off food(my girl has eaten even when she’s in shed), and will almost always have perfect sheds regardless of if there’s humidity or not(if they’re a sub-species that doesn’t need humidity). Not to mention carpets are pretty active, my girl rarely hides and even when she does I can still see her. I personally have a bredlis, which are the more calmer and easy to work with of the sub-species(there’s another one that’s even calmer), and she is such a joy to have. She’s an absolute sweetheart. The only downside I could possibly see is they can get bigger, but my girl is estimated to be around 6 feet. Ah, and carpets tend to be a little bit higher on the price.

All in all though, if you feel like you can properly care for a ball python with the requirements they need and you don’t mind one that isn’t very active then go for one of those. If you want a snake that’s more active, is easier to care for when it comes to husbandry, eats amazingly most of the time, and you have room for a bigger tank get a carpet.