Better then a cornsnake?

[Syrus]

My mom is letting me get a snake for the first time(have owned reptiles for a while now, but this would be my first snake)
She wants me to get a small snake, and I know royal pythons stay relatively small, But she thinks a corn snake is better. From what I have gathered they are about the same length as each other, with the corn snake being a little smaller. I love royal pythons and if the size isn't a winner for my mom what are some other things that could convince her over corn snakes?

[Joe]

personally I agree with your mother, a corn snake is the perfect starter snake, they can tolerate heat fluctuation better then most boids, humidity isnt really much of a concern and they eat for the most part a hell of alot better then balls, hunger strikes can be pretty stressful on amature snake keepers, corns seem to take to hadling more then balls also, you have plenty of years left to get ball pythons and other choice animals in your future, IMO a corn is a good place to start, good luck and happy herping

[LISA127]

I agree that a corn is the best first snake. Besides, they're beautiful!!

[viper99]

corn snakes are better begginer snakes they are alot easier to take care of.

[Syrus]

I want a snake that is slower moving and better at being handled, and this may be wrong, but a corn snake doesn't seem like a snake that would be up for handling like a royal python would. That and I don't want a cage larger then a 40gal, but still want the snake to have as large of a cage that makes them feel comfortable

[RIBBIT]

I did get a ball python for my first snake but I have around nine years experience with snakes so if you are just starting i would get a corn snake they are a few nice ones what colour snake do you want I could maybe point you towards a nice morph for you.

[chu'si]

I want a snake that is slower moving and better at being handled, and this may be wrong, but a corn snake doesn't seem like a snake that would be up for handling like a royal python would. That and I don't want a cage larger then a 40gal, but still want the snake to have as large of a cage that makes them feel comfortable
i have a corn and she handles well if u get a few month old 1 u could handle him/her every day once its settled after a few days .. ive had mine 4 over 2 months now and shes just fine with bein handled as for the cage mines is in a 60cm n a half by 15cm and 15cm n a half high this size will do her 4 another 2 to 3 years u dont need a full sized cage 2 start with i hope this helps here is a pic of my cage my snake is 60cm long so this cage is spaceous and i got the tank 4 £30 with lamp check out ebay for a deal but give it a well good clean b4 u use it
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h94/shainnain/cam4081.jpg?t=1191184937

[mykee]

I'm a ball python breeder, but I would have to agree with the others, adn more importantly your mom. A ball python, for the purposes you mentioned is not a good beginner snake. I would go with the corn. Ball pythons do not handle as well as corns, stress out easily and will go off food; quite stressful for a newbie. Start with a corn, work up to a ball later.

[chu'si]

soz size o tank is 62cm by 39 by 40cm tall

[Syrus]

thanks y'all, I am planning to adopt so this will definantely help out when I go to the shelter. What are the is the basic temp, humidity, and cage specs for a cornsnake?

[chu'si]

thanks y'all, I am planning to adopt so this will definantely help out when I go to the shelter. What are the is the basic temp, humidity, and cage specs for a cornsnake?
ur welcome i keep mine between 80 and 85 and nite between 75 n 80 go to this web site its fab with all the info Cranwill's Captive Bred Snakes (http://www.cranwill.com/) let me know wot type o one u get

[Syrus]

Yeah, I defiantly want a corn, and I found a breeder right next to me :)
But this is going horribly off topic, in the future when I do get that ball, I will be back to this section

[chu'si]

Yeah, I defiantly want a corn, and I found a breeder right next to me :)
But this is going horribly off topic, in the future when I do get that ball, I will be back to this section
lucky u findin a breeder so close as for the ball as ur next snake each 2 there own as i love all snakes :) u let me know wot kind o corn u choose but post it in the corn forum

[PDXErik]

I :hart: my ball python, but I'm afraid it is unrequited. I have a sneaking suspicion that it would taste mighty good on the bbq because I think that's what it thinks every time I handle it. Even though I handle it everyday, and I haven't eaten it yet.

My red tails are better at being curious about me and my big cage.

[Artemis]

The BP is getting a bad rep here. I think BP's are better than cornsnakes, because they are nicer to have in terms of handling than corns, who are much more active snakes. The corn is a good starter snake to start learning the basics of snake keeping, and has less husbandry requirements. But its a totally different experience to work with a ratsnake than a boid. It's like apples and oranges. I enjoyed having both, but I started with a BP because he was easier to handle, a bit less fiesty than the corn, and I felt more comfortable with him. So a BP was a better choice for me personally. You gotta go with what you like. If you really WANT a BP, then get it, because the more interested you are in your animal, the better you will take care of it. A BP needs higher (and regulated) humidity, and appropriate hides (I upturn tupperwares I cut a little entrance into, and line them in spagnum moss I mist for moisture and change every now and again). BP's need those extras and corns dont.

How old are you, if you dont mind telling!? :)

[Syrus]

18 :P but i haven't ever owned a snake nor have had much interactions with them. Mostly, I want a snake that is easy to tame/handle and is good for a beginner

[PDXErik]

IMHO, a ball is GREAT. It'll prepare you for more complex snakes in the future, they are a little bit of work, mostly in maintaining an environment. Corn snakes are probably easier than balls, but balls are still a great first snake.

What you really have to remember always, is that these are living things with feelings and are capable of feeling pain and hurt. Because they can feel pain and hurt proves to me that they can feel joy and love. They just express the pain more than they express the love.

Good work doing research before you subject a living animal to your care, though!!!

[RIBBIT]

never mind what I said before if your 18 you can handle a ball

[Artemis]

I think if you are 18 and obviously you are willing to do your research, that a BP is a great choice.

[WingedWolf]

I'll go with snakes feel fear, pain, happiness, contentment, and curiousity. Not so much so with the love...they really haven't evolved that emotional complex yet. They have no use for it. Snakes come together only to breed, and in some cases to hibernate. They don't look after their offspring. They never form social attachments to each other, or other animals...thus, no love. It's just not there. Our pets get to know that we're not a threat to them, and we might even be nice and warm. If we can achieve their being content to be held, we've gotten about as far as we ever will with them emotionally.
Given free reign, our reptiles choose to head in the opposite direction from where we are, virtually every time. Birds and mammals can return our affection--reptiles, fish, amphibians, and inverts never will. But that's not the reason we keep them.
Most of us keep them because we enjoy watching them, and enjoy making them happy, or at least content, even if they don't necessarily enjoy us. <g>

There are a few less typical suggestions for a 'starter' snake. African House Snakes are great--hardy, fantastic feeders (which ball pythons can't be said to be, in general), somewhat uncommon still, and manageable in size (under 4 feet, generally).

Eastern garter snakes can be easily converted to eating f/t mice by scenting them over with nightcrawlers, and are available as CB animals if you hunt around. Many of them develop very placid dispositions with frequent handling, and will be content to sit for an hour coiled around your hand. Again, they stay a manageable size, generally under 4 feet, and are quite hardy.

Many of the characteristics that make ball pythons so appealing as pets also make them a little 'fragile' in some regards. They are exceptionally shy, and need a low stress environment to do well. They're not necessarily lacking in hardiness, but they go off their feed quite easily if conditions aren't ideal.

I love ball pythons as pets, but keeping both, many colubrids are easier to care for overall. I cannot imagine any of my house snakes turning down a meal over something as simple as being moved to a different cage.
One of my female ball pythons that I acquired this year has eaten nothing in the past 24 days but a single live mouse. From her behavior, she's simply very timid, and not pleased with her bin, although she has an appropriate-sized hide box, and is in a very quiet area. I'm hoping she'll be more secure once my racks arrive. She wasn't shipped, she was taken for a 45 minute car ride, nothing more--that was enough to put her off her food. From her weight and good condition, she was obviously eating just fine prior to my acquiring her. It can be quite frustrating.
Now, that's only one snake out of 8 total ball pythons I've gotten this year, and none of the others went off of their food, even after fed ex shipping, but it's hard to predict in advance how adaptable an individual python will be.

[manglerMCG]

I would reccomend a corn to start off. I have 2 corns and 12 balls and find the corns more user friendly to an inexperienced handler. Mine seem to enjoy being handled and aren't near as jumpy as balls. Also they are easy to feed even after handling unlike balls who tend to get stressed with over handling and can go on hunger strikes.

[RIBBIT]

my friends corns he has 10 out of which only 4 are handleable

[Greenlover]

personally id go for a ball python mine loves to be handled has never hissed has never snapped at any one and has also never refused a meal even after lots of handeling....

[rosky19]

I prefer sand boas for there colors and they are a small size like the corn but mine really seem to like to be held so they made me the perfect beginner snake. I say do your research and find the one right for you and your mom. lol

[blueskyangel]

I have 5 children ages 11,11,10,9,8 We started on corns they were awsome pets and breeders. They have been handled and have never gotten loose, are wonderful eaters. BP,s we have now also they are great but require caution to much handling and they won't eat well. They are alot more shy when it comes to company also. We have all kinds I really like corns to start.

[dayoh]

I Have 3 corns that are all great, and to be honest love to be handled. My male comes to the glass when I come in the room and waits to be picked up. Slithers right into my hand, he is about 3 years old. I can not hold him for weeks or hold him every day and he is happy. Now my ball python, he is rather jumpy and has bitten me twice, once I will say was my own fault. And I have tried giving him to a better home because I don't take the time to hold him as much as he needs to be , but I can't. Twice now he has gotten sent back to me because he won't eat for other people. I go visit where he is and he will take his food but when I am not there he lets the rat crawl all over him and refuses to eat. And I can't drive 4 hours every week or two to feed him, so he's is back home with me again. They also say he never comes out of his hide there either. But at my house he comes out and watches me most of the day. Strange snake. But I love him and I believe he must love me too! I would say both are great starter snakes. Just make sure you handle what ever you get often enough for it to know you and know your not a danger.