10/20/2026
Species comparison
So I've had alot of questions lately between these 2 and which snake is right for me. At the end of the day it does come down to personal preference. But let's compare the 2. Please note this is not a care guide but more a general comparison.
Ball pythons
There's a reason this is the most popular snake in the pet trade. They are docile and easy to obtain.
Pros:
These snakes come in a huge color variety. Over the last few decades we've discovered hundreds of Morphs that make this almost impossible to find 2 that look alike.
They are generally docile and working with them will turn them very relaxed. Great for handling and most of them will just hang out with you when you do handle.
They don't get huge. When people think of pythons they think of the burmese and being huge. Ball pythons are a small species. Getting big enough to all show off but not so big they become a hassle to handle. Adults average 2 1/2 to 4 feet. 5 to 6 has happened but this is in the larger side specifically volta lines known to reach 6. I've heard of 7 foot specimens being found in the wild but that is almost unheard of.
Cons:
These guys can sometimes be hard headed with food. They are sometimes difficult to convert to frozen thawed. At times they will go on hunger strikes as they get older. Even as young snakes it's not uncommon for them to skip several meals sometimes for a few months only to start eating again like they never stopped.
For some even though I consider this small, they still get to a bigger size than the owner wants.
Not super active. This could be a pro or con depending on your outlook. They are sometimes described as pet rocks. Some are more active than others and they all have their own personality. Typically if you give them the chance to climb they will but they're more uncoordinated than some Species.
Sand boas:
Pros:
I put this as a pro but to some this can be a con. The size. Sand boas are small. These guys are sexually dimorphic. Meaning they're a big difference in size with male and female. Females can average 2 to 2 1/2 feet well males sometimes not getting much bigger than a foot. So for sometime wanting something small this is perfect.
Crazy food response. There's always the exception so you can sometimes run across a problem feeder but in general these guys don't typically turn down food.
They are reluctant to bite. They will sometimes almost whip head to tail when they feel threatened but typically don't bite.
Cons:
This is a fossorial species. Meaning no matter how nice a set up you have you may not see your snake much. They primarily stay underground and come up to eat and drink.
They don't have a big a personality like some snakes. Although they tolerate handling well they will usually try to bury into your hand. You can cup them with your other hand to help them feel hidden but they don't like the handling as much.
Color variety. Although these do have Morphs they don't have as much variety as Ball pythons.
