I have 2 beardies , and 2 cornsnake. My vote is beardie, more active than snakes, love attention and handling, more fun all around. My dragons hang out on the couch with us for a couple hours every day, my male loves going for rides and basking on the dash! When you aren't holding them, they are watching you and they let you know when they want something. My 2 cents.
my dragons...
Pyro-cawley orange / chris allen red x Orange sunburst / red flame
Angel- Hypo- possible citrus hypo or hypo leucstic (not sure)
I used to have both and think that they are both a great addition. But if you're wanting one that is more active go with a beardie but I do recommend getting a decent size one if you can. I had 2 (Spike and Ike) from when they weren't more than 3" long and I came home one day and spike had bitten off Ike's foot. The poor guy ended up living through it but I ended up getting a 2nd tank and had to split them up. They were characters though and funny to watch eat and also funny when you spray them down with water. Def. more personality than the ball python
If you're into watching them do stuff, go Dragon. If you're more "hands-on", I'd suggest going Python. w/ Ball Pythons, try to go w/ captive raised specimens as wild caught ones may (or may not) eat for you. I think some who've tasted fowl won't go back to rodents...
What sort of stuff? LOL. I have a beardie and I love him but he doesn't do much besides bask under his light all day. When he was young he was really active but once they become an adult they are pretty much sedentary.
I do recommend the dragon though because they are fairly safe reptiles.
i feel it depends on your level of involvement more so than anything. beardies will need more care and attention and can be trained like a lap dog if given enough attention. in trade off you will go through a whole lot of feeders and clean up will be more involved and more often. both are pretty docile (personality depending ofcourse) and usually great with kids and such.
for price, color, health and temperament i would definitely go to a breeder if you choose a beardie... you will regret it if you don't and happen to stumble upon a breeders website afterward.
i am a snake lover also. i currently own a 6'+ redtail. i personally (for me) would go with the bp first. they are much easier to care for and if you go on vacation you won't have to worry about feeding them. this means to me that you won't have to worry about a friend or neighbor killing them or making them sick while you're gone. that's a huge point for me!
I would go with a beardie. I love my girl. had her for many years. she was 19" when she died, and was very BIG for a female of that species.
she would love to sleep laying on my arm, and she would run around the house for hours. I miss her so.
one day, I will have another one.
I'd personally go for the bp as I own two of them right now. My female is actually very active and as soon as the sun goes down shes out of her hide and slithering around the tank as if she'd never seen it before. She's also very friendly and will just chill around my neck for hours. I also like point dundadundun made about the advantage of being able to go away for extened periods of time without having to feed them. I just a huge fan of snakes though
