RTBs vs BPs?

Voodoo · #1 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 12:39 AM

I didn't really know where to post this, so if it's in a bad place, just move it.

Okay, I have 4 Ball Pythons. I'm looking into (once I have the moola for to build a big enough cage [is 6x3x3 big enough for an adult?]) getting a Red Tail.

Now, what differences should I know about? They seem to require the same temps, and slightly lower humidity. They're apparently more active, so it'll need a climby-dowel and shelf and whatnot.

How big should I expect it to get in the first year? Once it's full grown, will it take jumbo rats, or rabbits?

I know BPs are known for being finiky eaters. What kind of problems should I watch out for with Red Tails?

Columbian Red Tails seems to be the easiest to aquire. Should I get one of them, or spend time looking for a different breed? And I STILL don't understand the difference between BCI and BCC.

I've been reading RTB caresheets, but it'd really be easier for me to care for a RTB if I understand what's different for them vs BPs.

Thaaaaanks.
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travie · #2 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 01:08 AM

hi voodoo,i think a bci will grow to about 3_4 feet in the first year and when its fully grown will probally be taking jumbo rats,maybe rabbits.i have had no problems feeding my bci but i've heard bcc can be a little finicky just try not to overfeed.as for differences bci will grow faster than bcc but not as big.bcc tend to have redder tails and a scale count can tell the difference between them.i cant tell you much more cause i am new to red tails myself but i hoped i have helped a bit [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Boaguy · #3 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 01:24 AM

Well one big diffrence is how willingly they will eat [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]
its like there always hungry

I also ( no offence to anyone) think they are a lot more fun to handle and own.

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Voodoo · #4 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 02:09 AM

Sorry, I love my Pythons. *sniffle* But I think I'm in the minority here, lol.

But a snake that'll always eat will be a nice change. And I'd like to try my hand at a larger snake.

I'm also researching Blood Pythons and cornsnakes. I can't decide which of the three I want first.
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Ophiophagus-hannah · #5 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 02:49 AM

At your rate, I think you'll own all of them by the end of the year...... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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Voodoo · #6 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 02:53 AM

LOL What's that supposed to mean? hehe.

Well, okay. Yeah. I'd like to have one of each RIGHT NOW, but I have to save up for cages/lamps/UTHs/hides. Besides, I don't have any extra room right now. Mmmm, when I have my own apt again . . .
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Dr.Oviparous · #7 (**permalink**) 10-15-2002, 12:25 PM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> is 6x3x3 big enough for an adult? </BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE> Well, that will do fine for the average male, but might not for a big ol female. Forget the corns...... GO FOR THE BCI!!! . -Juggalo
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Voodoo · #8 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:16 AM

Righ-o, y'all've been helpful.

Now, what would a GOOD cage size be, given that I may not know if I have a male or a female. And I'll most likely end up with a Columbian. Are those BCI or BCC? (Someday I'll be able to remember all of this stuff - I'm working on it.)

And is there any badness that CRTBs are prone to? What will I really have to keep an eye on? Are they fragile or hardy (system-wise)?
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Boaguy · #9 (**permalink**) 10-17-2002, 01:49 AM

Columbians are BCI
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Gib · #10 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 08:24 AM

Actually a 6x3x3 should be plenty big for an adult BCI male or female...there are some females out there pushing the 10' mark...and even then thats still big enough....
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Dr.Oviparous · #11 (**permalink**) 10-18-2002, 08:56 AM

Personally I would take that 3' down from the top, and depth. About the same size (just longer, and skinnier) that would work a little better IMO would be 8'X2'X1.5". The 3' height is a little taller than what you need for BCI IMO, I would take that some of that and put it towards more length. Not saying 3' high is bad, it's not bad at all, I just believe more important is more length in the floor space for BCI. BTW, did you get your snake yet? -Juggalo
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Voodoo · #12 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 04:29 AM

No, I can't get anymore snakes while I'm still living with my dad - I have no more room!

I did find a wicked Snow Cornsnake, tho. I may end up with one of those, first.
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Ed_r · #13 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 05:15 AM

Only reason I still have my ball Pythons is because I took the responsability to keep them. had I known then what I know now.... No Way would I get a Ball Python P.I.T.A! If you can handle the size requirements of a cage 6x3x3 would be plenty big. Most people keep them in 4x2x2 only cuz it doesnt take much wood or plexi fabricating to get a quick sturdy cage built. I think BCIs have soooooo much personality.
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Voodoo · #14 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 05:32 AM

I love my BPs.

No one understands me.
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Johnny801 · #15 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 07:11 AM

I think you are all mistaken. ETB's are the way to go!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Emerald Tree Boas all the way. Corallus rules!!!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
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Ed_r · #16 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 07:15 AM

Johnny its a toss up with me. I do love the Corallus. I dont have an ETB [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_cry.gif[/img] But the Ammies are allot of fun too. They keep me on my toes. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]
For me the BCIs are a good snake to just chill out with.
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Johnny801 · #17 (**permalink**) 10-20-2002, 07:25 AM

Ah, I see. Excellent point. However, my BCI has a real nasty disposition. So she keeps me on my toes more than my ETB's do. *LOL* Go figure. [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
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JuliusSqueezer · #18 (**permalink**) 10-22-2002, 09:22 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> And I STILL don't understand the difference between BCI and BCC.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Do you understand that while there are different races of people, they are all still people? Boa Constrictor Constrictor (BCC) describes the Boas commonly refered to as Red Tail boas that for the most part, thrive along the Eastern coasts of South America all the way from Venezuela down through Suriname/guyana and down into Brazil. For the most part, the Andes Mtns seperate them from the other boas to the West of of the continent but in the north where Venezuela and Columbia are in parts only seperated by river...some crossing does occur. And so there are some BCI likely originating from Columbia over in Venezuela and at the same time there are some BCC over into Columbia. Boa Constrictor Imperator (BCI) is the scientific name for a large group of boas that reside in Mexico/Central and South America but to the West of the Andes Mtns. But scattered through these groups are a few others. BCC and BCI are the most common but are certainly not all there are. There are also B.C.Ortonii (Peruvian boas with some ranging into Brazil among the BCCs....but Northwest Peruvian Boas are B.C. longicauda), B.C.Amarili (Bolivian boas) Argentine Boas ae B.C. Occidentalis..and there are several more...this was just to name a few of the most popular ones. I was just trying to make a point that not all boas are either BCI or BCC...there are also BCA, BCL, a couple of BCOs, a BCM and a couple of BCSs.....but anyway...all it is about is naming of species and subspecies as they occur in different locales witch certain different characteristics that are common enough throughout the certain range and unique from other locales enough to give them their own name....such things as scale counts, skeletal structure, colors and patterns (though vague and unreliable) and now DNA testing are used in naming subspecies....Hope this helped.

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JuliusSqueezer · #19 (**permalink**) 10-22-2002, 09:28 AM

<TABLE BORDER=0 ALIGN=CENTER WIDTH=85%><TR><TD><font class="pn-sub">Quote:</font><HR></TD></TR><TR><TD><FONT class="pn-sub"><BLOCKQUOTE> I've been reading RTB caresheets, but it'd really be easier for me to care for a RTB if I understand what's different for them vs BPs.
</BLOCKQUOTE></FONT></TD></TR><TR><TD><HR></TD></TR></TABLE>

Simple...a ball python is a relatively small African egg laying python and boa constrictors are a larger, much stonger, muscular live birth bearing boa from central and south america. If you can understand the climates and conditions in their native habitat, you can better meet their needs in captivity. Boas are a bit more tropical than ball pythons who come from African grasslands, savannahs and also found deep into the heavily forested jungles.

While both boas and pythons are classified as boids or boidae. What seperates them as a rule is that boas give live birth and pythons lay eggs. Argueably there may be or are a couple of bizzare exceptions as there are a couple of species that have characteristics of one but act like another...no need really to get into whether calabar pythons are really egg laying sand boas...who cares? lol...maybe they are something all to themselves. But anyway...these are the key differences.

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slaponte · #20 (**permalink**) 10-23-2002, 07:17 PM

I started with RTBs and just a few months ago went into BPs. So far I find :

- RTBs eat easier, seem more calm.
- The BPs I have seem friendly, but hiss more often and seem more tense. Once in your hands, they settle down ok.
- The BPs took some time to get into a feeding schedule. Any noise/movement in the room seems to disturb them from eating. But, once they got into the swing of things, they are eating regularly, just moved up to (small) rats.
- I notice the BPs more active than the RTBs. My RTBs eat and settle down for a few days. The BPs seem to always be active at night, one in specific has escaped once and seems to always be trying to get out.
- Adjusting temp/hum also took me a while, so the first sheds on the BPs were not perfect. Since I setup little humidity "igloos" they do perfect sheds every time.

By now they are all settled in and in their routines, I think the only diff I notice is the BPs take lots less space.... [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

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