ball vs. corn

[ABrose]

Ball Python vs. The Corn Snake

This is my first post on this site, therefore it's obvious that I'm quite new to the world of reptiles.
I know that I would like a snake that is slightly easier to care for than some of the snakes out there these days but natually I'd still like it to be interesting and active. I've done a lot of reading on both the ball python and the corn snake and both sound like good starter snakes.

Perhaps anyone wondering on to this particular forum is slightly bias to which they would perfer to have as their first snake but I'm absolutly torn as to which one to aquire. Both obviously have pros and cons but thats not making the decision any easier. Your input is desperatly needed! Thanks

[BornboreD]

Corns might be a better choice for a beginner. They're cheaper, better feeders, and much more active. To be perfectly honest Ball Pythons pretty much just hide all the time. Corn's also come in a huge variety of very attractive morphs, which are also quite affordable. hOwever, I myself am partial to Balls. Do plenty of research ask lots of questions. Find a REPUTABLE breeder to acquire your animal from. You'll most likely have to wait at least the summer though. However it will be worth it to get a quality animal. Pick the breeders brain for lots of advice/info as well. Who better to tell you how to care for a Ball than a successful Ball breeder.

Just my thoughts.

Colin

[mykee]

Yup. EXACTLY what Colin said. I've owned and bred plenty of balls and I would go with a corn as a first snake also. Surprised, huh?

[Spirit]

I started out with corns, not because balls are harder to keep, but because there's more you need to monitor. Temps and humidity are pretty important to a balls well being (they'll often refuse to eat if the humidity is too low for example), but there are certain advantages with balls that you can't get with corns. For example getting your snake to eat when it doesn't want to. There are many more "tricks" to get a ball to eat, but when a corn refuses, that's usually it. Nothing you can do but leave it overnight and hope it takes the meal.

If you've never owned a snake, I would suggest a corn as your first, simply because they're just painfully easy (they don't need high humidity, the temps can be kept a little bit lower than the python, etc), but there is NO comparing balls to corns. They're just completely different... once you have one (or more) of each, you'll understand why. LOL

I have both, but they ARE very different. Corns (for example) are MUCH more active during handling, and often just a pain in the butt to keep still, but they sure are cute (personality wise).

My advise would be to either do a LOT of research on the python, or start with a cornsnake. Or do as I did and get one of each. LOL

You'll love either one, but for different reasons. lol :)

[ATBlover]

DONT GET A CORN...U WILL SON REALISE HOW MUCH U DONT LIKE THEM!...sry i shouldn't say that but i personally dont like corns.....My first snake was a bal and their not hard to care for..they look nice and they grow faster..so i thin ka ball is cooler...My opinion but do what you want!...Connor

[Spirit]

Poppycock. Okay I just wanted an excuse to say poppycock, but I really do mean it. That's like saying "Don't get a dog because cats are better.

Seriously... I have both snakes and they is just NO comparring the two. My corn is much easier to take care of, I never worry about humidity or feeding problems, but corns are MUCH more active during handling than balls.

They're just different. You should go to a pet store and ask to handle them both (use sanitizing lotion inbetween handling).

[beanersmysav]

I just got my Ball Python but I'd have to say I was painfully attracted to Ball Pythons well before I even got into herps. Probably 8-9 years ago or better I started researching them but knew I couldn't get one because I lived with my grandma who was afraid of snakes. Again the final decisions is yours and I own both species. So far what I notice about the ball is they are quite active for the first day or two and then you notice them just relaxing and hiding alot, but once they get used to their house you can handle them etc. Corn snakes are VERY active. Mine is atleast. The more thing I give it to use the more it does. He does everything from climbing dowels to burrowing under the shavings, to make weird shapes when he moves. They are both beautiful and in beautiful morphs. But I say overall spend $20-30.00 on a nice normal from a good breeder and if you don't end up liking snakes it's not a HUGE money loss. However you'll spend about or over $100.00 for a normal ball. Not to mention they eat rats pretty much right away which are more expensive. I like both snakes about equal however I give it up to the ball only because of it's size. I like 3-5 ft girthy snakes...

However my Colombian Red Tail Boa is my favorite along with the BP :-)

[Artemis]

Its really all about you, ABrose, and your ability to meet the husbandry requirements of a ball python. I have both a BP and a Corn, and I got the BP first. I chose the BP over the corn beause they are very docile, slow moving snakes, calm and easy to work with, and if their husbandry is taken care of as it should be then these tricky feeding issues often arent issues at all.

Both corns and BPs make excellent first snakes. You should get whichever one you are interested in AND know you can care for. If the requirements of the BP (specific temperature gradients, humidity levels, etc) are more than you are willing to take on and maintain for 20 years, then I would advise against getting a ball python. However, corns have requirements too, but are not as sensitive to mistakes, and for that reason people often reccommend them over BPs as a first snake. Corns are much faster and jumpier than BPs until they are accustomed to being handled, and if you think you will find their temperment intimidating and NOT handle as a result, then you will end up with a grown up fast moving jumpy snake.

My advice-

Go to reptile shows, LPS, local breeders, anywhere you can in your area, and HANDLE both kinds of snakes. See which one you like working with, and are comfortable with, and generally more interested in.

Once you have decided which species you would like to work with, begin researching that species inside and out, husbandry, biology, anything you can learn.

MAKE YOUR ENCLOSURE, and make it right the first time. Run your heating elements, and check your temp and humidity levels regularly BEFORE you bring your snake home. Make sure his needs will be met from day 1.

The ultimate key to getting into reptiles is patience. The people who have problems in this hobby are the ones who bring their snakes home with no more knowledge about them than they were told in the pet store, and then they come here and say "I got a snake, now what do i do for him???"

If you take your time, do your research and set up your enclosure in advance, then I say get either one you like, they both make great first snakes.

On a side note, I am GLAD I got my BP first, because handling was the most intimidating part for me. My BP has always been a gem, and really helped me get over any residual fear factor, and my corns potential bitiness and jumpiness didnt freak me out when I got him, but I think it would have if he had been my first snake.

Hope this helps-

Artemis

[Spirit]

Yeah, see for me I got the corn first, then when I got the python I got fully scared that it was sick BECAUSE it was so docile. LOL

In my personal experience, I would definitely recommend a cornsnake first (if you plan to eventually have one of each, that is). Otherwise, go with the one that attracts you most. They're both wonderful snakes, easy to care for, but very different than the other.

Keep up posted though, with whichever one you decide to get!

[ABrose]

Thanks so much for all your input! I have already gone to the local pet expo to check out their snakes and I plan on going to the Edmonton and Calgary Reptile shows in April to buy him/her. Even though I find the ball the more attractive of the two (I love the look of a gurthy python as opposed to the long, slender body of the corn) but buying an animal based totally on looks just isn't being a reponsible pet keeper. SO I'll most likely end up going with a larger corn. Thanks again

-Rose

[JDouglas]

I think corn snakes are great beginner snakes but I personally don't care for them. Balls seem calmer with more personality. I also dislike colubrids because it seems like they defecate every other day. They seem flighty. When you hold them most corns are actively crawling while most balls like to chill. I also like snakes with some girth so when you hold it they feel like you actually have something in your hand. For me its like comparing a hyper active little yippy dog that poops all over to a well trained calm lab. Sure a ball is a little harder to care for but the negatives don't out weigh the positives for me.

Do more research on husbandry and get a ball python!

[jawad]

hi abrose im also new to keeping snakes and i must admit im totally hooked now i have 2 corns and a ball i get alot of enjoyment from both in different ways as stated above both need different things to keep them happy but niether are difficult to keep well, i find my corns are more active during the day and my ball spends alot of time in his hide, my advice would probably be to figure want you want frm a snake and decide from there if you want something to handle often then i'd say the ball because they like nothing more than to curl up in your hands in the evening(myn does anyhow) corns can be little wrigglers, balls can be very fussy eaters and often go a couple of months without taking food, most importantly corns tend to be more forgiving by that i mean if they strike you dont really notice but a bite from a ball can hurt although it does take alot to provock a bite unless you are feeding them, as with any animal make sure you have someone you can turn to for advice that you trust not everyone does things the same way. which ever you decide on you will get alot from them good luck
http://gwx.org.uk/jawad/jaws1.gif

[HighFlyer]

I started off with a BP then added 2 more BP's. When I was looking for my first snake, my 11 y.o. son decided he wanted a corn rather than a BP. I promised to get him a corn at a later date after I bought the BP. Well, we now have 5 corn's all with different coloration and 3 BP's as well as 1 cal-king.

The corns are the best eaters - almost never refusing a meal. My BPs have not eaten in a few months now. I expect they will start eating again once the weather heats up. Of the 3 BPs, 2 are very calm and gentle but the 3rd is very agressive and has tried to bite me several without success times. The corns are all calm but active. I've noticed that the corns calm down as they grow. None of the corns have tried to bite. Our cal-king, on the other hand, seems high strung - our latest acquisition.

Based upon my experience, I would recommend a corn first although a BP could also be a good choice. :)

[Manitoban Herps]

For me right now the corns are actually harder to take care of. The young corns need food every 3-4 days and need to be cleaned once they go to the washroom, which is around 1-2x a week I think(I can't rememeber off hand), while balls get fed every week, and get cleaned every 2 weeks.

But how hard is feeding and cleaning?

Get what your really want, just make sure your up to the task of either one :)

Good Luck!