Pros and cons?

[ThatPetPerson]

So I've been very interested in snake lately and although I won't be getting one for a long time I still want to be prepared. Anyway what are the pros and cons of corn snakes? Ball Python vs corn snake? Please post pictures of your snakes here as well!

[jjhill001]

Pros of Ball Pythons:
More body to them
Popular
Lots of Morphs

Cons of Ball Pythons:
Have to worry about humidity more.
Morphs are ridiculously expensive.

Pros of Corn Snakes:
Not only cool morphs, but pattern variances and other stuff.
More active in the enclosure
Less strict environmental factors to worry about
Price
With the money you save on the snake you can afford to set up a terrarium so it isn't a newspaper covered eyesore.

Cons of Corn Snakes:
Not as much body too them.
Can be a bit flighty when young.

The decision is simple, get a Gopher or Pine Snake. Has the body provided by a ball python but the length to be a truly impressive animal in the way a corn or ball can't be. Basically the same care requirements as a corn snake except they need a slightly larger terrarium but like the corn snake you'll be able to afford it because they aren't as expensive either.

[D Grade]

While I do like Corns (and any other Colubrid for that matter), I think a King is a perfect starter snake and thats what I decided to go with. They are less flighty than Milks and Corns when young and come in just as many attractive morphs as either. The only downside is that they can be a bit more cage defensive than Milks and Corns, so pulling them out of their home to handle them when young can be challenging at times. This is the case with my 7 month old Coastal Phase anyways, but not the case with them all. Most are very docile and tame, especially once you get them out of their enclosure (mine always is).

Also if you want a more girthy Colubrid, Kings are the way to go. Kings will get more girth while Corns and Milks generally get a bit more length.

[Aaron_S]

Pros of Ball Pythons:
More body to them
Popular
Lots of Morphs

Cons of Ball Pythons:
Have to worry about humidity more.
Morphs are ridiculously expensive.

Pros of Corn Snakes:
Not only cool morphs, but pattern variances and other stuff.
More active in the enclosure
Less strict environmental factors to worry about
Price
With the money you save on the snake you can afford to set up a terrarium so it isn't a newspaper covered eyesore.

Cons of Corn Snakes:
Not as much body too them.
Can be a bit flighty when young.

The decision is simple, get a Gopher or Pine Snake. Has the body provided by a ball python but the length to be a truly impressive animal in the way a corn or ball can't be. Basically the same care requirements as a corn snake except they need a slightly larger terrarium but like the corn snake you'll be able to afford it because they aren't as expensive either.


While I see you have got most of the pros and cons you're sorely mistaken on cost of ball python morphs. If you're only looking in pet stores then yes they can seem high.

However I sell some of my baby morphs for as low as $35! It seems you're a little biased about the whole cost of morphs and not having enough money for a set up other than an "eye sore".

My recommendation is to not judge someone based on what or how they choose to keep their snakes and consider them "poor" because they choose newspaper over fancier bedding.

[jjhill001]

While I see you have got most of the pros and cons you're sorely mistaken on cost of ball python morphs. If you're only looking in pet stores then yes they can seem high.

However I sell some of my baby morphs for as low as $35! It seems you're a little biased about the whole cost of morphs and not having enough money for a set up other than an "eye sore".

My recommendation is to not judge someone based on what or how they choose to keep their snakes and consider them "poor" because they choose newspaper over fancier bedding.

I went to a reptile show last month and they were selling Pastels for like 300 bucks. That's ridiculous. When I say the morphs are expensive they are. If you are talking about those weak sauce morphs that barely change the look of the snake then yeah sure. But that's not really a morph to me.

[reptiledude987]

While I see you have got most of the pros and cons you're sorely mistaken on cost of ball python morphs. If you're only looking in pet stores then yes they can seem high.

However I sell some of my baby morphs for as low as $35! It seems you're a little biased about the whole cost of morphs and not having enough money for a set up other than an "eye sore".

My recommendation is to not judge someone based on what or how they choose to keep their snakes and consider them "poor" because they choose newspaper over fancier bedding.


Have to agree with Aaron on this for sure. I just picked up a pastel at an expo in Jan for $40. Im getting a blue eyed luci for $300 this spring. which retail around here for $1000. Expos are always the way to go for a morph of any species.

[Aaron_S]

I went to a reptile show last month and they were selling Pastels for like 300 bucks. That's ridiculous. When I say the morphs are expensive they are. If you are talking about those weak sauce morphs that barely change the look of the snake then yeah sure. But that's not really a morph to me.

Again you're being biased to what you like in a morph.

I'm sorry I don't agree that a few hundred dollars is "ridiculously" expensive even for the more extreme examples of morphs such as the pieds, banana combos or lavander albinos.

Your local show may have pastels for $300 (I highly doubt it) but it doesn't dictate the entire market as a whole.

Again I was selling double gene animals for as low as $75 to $100 this year. I have a triple male that's being sold for $200 (Hypo spider pastel) so this idea you have that ball morphs are either expensive or suck is off base.

[D Grade]

Keep in mind OP, you can get some pretty cool Colubrid morphs as well for cheap. If you decide to go with a BP, Id contact Aaron_S and see what he can do for ya.

[jjhill001]

Again you're being biased to what you like in a morph.

I'm sorry I don't agree that a few hundred dollars is "ridiculously" expensive even for the more extreme examples of morphs such as the pieds, banana combos or lavander albinos.

Your local show may have pastels for $300 (I highly doubt it) but it doesn't dictate the entire market as a whole.

Again I was selling double gene animals for as low as $75 to $100 this year. I have a triple male that's being sold for $200 (Hypo spider pastel) so this idea you have that ball morphs are either expensive or suck is off base.

I'll admit that I'm not really on the up and up when it comes to BP morphs so they might have been something else I was just going on what I thought they were. I do get frustrated because a lot of the shows in my area (Cleveland/Pittsburgh) I'd ball park it and say over 60% of the animals available were ball pythons. I remember going to shows probably 10 years ago and it was like going to the zoo in terms of insane variety.

[Aaron_S]

I'll admit that I'm not really on the up and up when it comes to BP morphs so they might have been something else I was just going on what I thought they were. I do get frustrated because a lot of the shows in my area (Cleveland/Pittsburgh) I'd ball park it and say over 60% of the animals available were ball pythons. I remember going to shows probably 10 years ago and it was like going to the zoo in terms of insane variety.

People stopped doing all the variety because they didn't sell. Why produce something when you're stuck with 20 of them? Most people are just wanting a zoo like atmosphere at the reptile expos just so they can see cool things but won't buy.

People buy all sorts of balls and other common species so vendors just switched. Oh well.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nothing is stopping you (or anyone like you) from buying up that variety and reproducing it and getting a table at a show. You can even ask 2 friends who think like you to buy different species they want to work with and split a table, offering up 3 different species. Become the variety yourself.

[jjhill001]

People stopped doing all the variety because they didn't sell. Why produce something when you're stuck with 20 of them? Most people are just wanting a zoo like atmosphere at the reptile expos just so they can see cool things but won't buy.

People buy all sorts of balls and other common species so vendors just switched. Oh well.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Nothing is stopping you (or anyone like you) from buying up that variety and reproducing it and getting a table at a show. You can even ask 2 friends who think like you to buy different species they want to work with and split a table, offering up 3 different species. Become the variety yourself.

I understand the whys of it, and in general I think it's probably good for the animals themselves most of the common easily kept species aren't immediately condemned to death because their husbandry is complicated. And I see fewer dead animals at pet stores since the shift to only popular species which is nice.

Just thinking back to the good ole days Aaron. I do try and promote some of the less popular species such as pines and some of the rat snakes because they are really fun species too.

[Aaron_S]

I understand the whys of it, and in general I think it's probably good for the animals themselves most of the common easily kept species aren't immediately condemned to death because their husbandry is complicated. And I see fewer dead animals at pet stores since the shift to only popular species which is nice.

Just thinking back to the good ole days Aaron. I do try and promote some of the less popular species such as pines and some of the rat snakes because they are really fun species too.

I know the "good ole days" too. Lots of cool species out there however as you said many of them lay dead in pet stores or in collections. I chalk it up to the evolution of the hobby/industry. We learned from the mistakes, tried a bit of everything and the masses picked where the focus is/was. Fine by me. It's promoted reptiles to a lot more accepting.

[Akuma223]

Bps are generally docile and sweet little snakes, pretty no matter what morph they are and get to a perfect size. Cons: Need higher humidity, kinda boring, can be finicky and difficult eaters, overly popular(imho). Corns are generally more energetic and fun, eat great, hardier than Bps, and come in beautiful patterns and colors. Cons: Can be nippy, very popular.

[Dcuccio742]

Yea but its a reptile expo not a ball python expo.

[Jrich]

I was looking into buying an albino ball python next month at an expo. Is it possible that I could buy one for less than $200? Let me know.

[fishingfool]

I like the arazona king snake but i got two balls a yearling a 900+ gram pinstrip male i would say grab a king i love my balls but keeping the subtrate dry and the humidity up to 65 is a paaaaaaaaain in the rear but its a good place to start if.you want to get experience for harder to keep speices

[Aaron_S]

I was looking into buying an albino ball python next month at an expo. Is it possible that I could buy one for less than $200? Let me know.

It should be possible. I am selling an albino male ball python today for $200 as a baby. I wouldn't be surprised to see them a little less.

[Jrich]

It should be possible. I am selling an albino male ball python today for $200 as a baby. I wouldn't be surprised to see them a little less.

Ok! Thank you. I wouldn't mind paying a little more for such a beautiful snake but it's good to know they're pretty darn affordable.