Which do you think is a better first snake and why, Corns or Balls?

[BoidKeeper]

I think it depends on your personal experiences with each species.

First snake implies that the person has no experience with either species, that's kinda my point.
On another note, two of my fellow mods hi-jacking another mods post. Tisk, tisk, tisk.
Cheers,
Trevor

[Matt_K]

Sorry Trevor :'(

[YummyCdnMale]

I would go with a corn. i have found the Snow Corn the calmest snakes i have ever had or handled. I still have my first snow corn and she is 12 yrs old. I also have my first Ball who is male and 10 yrs old. I agree both are good snakes but a corns a better first snake. If you going for savings in a long term cost well then again a corns a better choice. What ever choice you make it's a great step into joining many people that love and respect the less desired and respected creatures in the world...

[marisa]

"I think it depends on your personal experiences with each species. "

I meant that as that effects which one you recommend to others as a first snake. For me, I will recommend both corns and ball pythons as my experiences with both are good.

I feel that if you research a snake with care that suits your needs and are ready to handle any specfic behaviours, MANY snakes would be just fine for starter snakes. If someone cannot grasp the simple fact the balls fast, or that corns wont ever just sit there while you hold them, then they need more time thinking about which species of ANIMAL over all they want IMHO

Marisa

[BoidKeeper]

All good stuff guys, keep it coming.
As for you Matt, no more magic jelly beans for you.
Trevor

[Jeff Hathaway]

"that corns wont ever just sit there while you hold them"

I find corns one of the calmest and best handling snakes around. That's why we have so many for our programs.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[Vengeance]

I think that a first good snake really depends on the person then the species. As an example if you have a person is is really quite interestead in a Ball Python for there very first snake. If that person does the necessary research, finding out all the quirks and behaviors of a Ball Python, sets up a cage and gets everything where it supposed to be before the purchase and has done everything they way they should be doing then I see no problem with why a Ball Python, or any species of snake (excluding Hots and larger breed snakes), would make a bad first snake. I mean even something like a GTP, which is a little more advanced for keeping, would not make a bad first herp for someone as long as they knew EXACTLY what they were getting into and was willing to give the effort needed to make sure that snake had everything it needed. I don't think anyone would ever recommend a GTP as a frst snake, but if that person knows what to expect and is willing to put that effort into the care and upkeep of that snake, then I don't see it as a bad first snake, for that person.

Now on the other side of the spectrum is the impulse buyer or a person buying a herp because johnny down the street has one too. For these kind of people I 100% agree that a corn snake or something similar in ease of keeping is the snake they should be getting. At the end of the day a person like this would be more likely to be able to keep a corn alive and happy then a herp that had quite a few special needs.

[marisa]

Well basically whatever I say about a snake, someone else can disagree with it.

That's why trying to recommend a snake hardly ever works out, you say one thing from your experience but of course another person is right there saying its not true. Not that its a problem in this case of course, but thats a perfect example.

Another reason why I think people should just research on their own, find out whats best for THEM and then ask for peoples experience with that species instead of owners recommending because that just leads to constant disgreements. Obviously.

Marisa

[C.m.pyrrhus]

I think what we have concluded at, is that the best first snake is one that fits your fancy, and after much research is something you can work hard on as a beginning herper. Yet, I think we as experienced folk all know to well what the truth of the matter is when it lies with new reptile keepers. It is very hard to see many that do take time to know about other species than what is found is the average pet store or other "average" reptile keepers home.

For arguments sake, I find it true that nearly every beginner keeper does not have a clue on what it is truly like to keep reptiles, even after a ton of research. I can research the heck out of a Dodge Viper all I want as my first car and driving experience, but have I actually gotten into the drivers seat to see what it actually feels like to drive the darn thing? That is the part that kicks in, reality of it all.

No one is a pro at first when keeping any animal. Even with all the books and advise in the world, your still wondering about things. You are still a beginner no matter what you think you know, or how many "pro herpers" you know. Even seasoned folks have questions and ideas about herps. Just how it be. That is why we as the more experienced try to tell newer folks that corns are good, or this is good. Etc, etc, etc.

I also find it a bit personally discouraging that so many newer folks find themselves attracted to the same ol' reptiles. This is just my personal reflection, nothing personal to other keepers. Leo geckos, Ball Pythons, Bearded Dragons, Corn Snakes and so on. I would actually like to see newer folks that get into the hobby due for other reasons than being pushed into the same old reptile market. It makes it simple this way, but has no real deep interest as far as I see it towards herps. Maybe, like I say, I see it from a different angle. I did not start into herps like the general newbie does. I never knew about these online groups, Bob Clark was a name I never heard of. I rarely ever went into a pet store, they just pi$$ed me off. Honestly, I never knew the herp world was quite as popular as it is. But, out of the herper folks (should just say reptile freaks) I did know before through the years, I honestly do not think I knew one that seriously had a clue about them in the slightest degree. All of these guys and gals had tons of books, read the Reptiles Mag and were in this other phase or place than I am in. Some had boas, some had balls, some geckos..... I still feel this is the general newbie into the hobby even today.

I will state that I do keep several species together in one set up, and have many times before. And folks jump down my neck about it. But they are the ones I take their iguanas from that are yellow from eating nothing but crickets, or taking their boas over because they feed it huge live rats for years and have multiple scars. There corn snakes are skinny because the simply got bored of it and had to have a pair of breeding ball pythons to make some money. Or simply new folks that hear that keeping mixed species together is not right that have to put in their two words before they know why I have chosen to do this, and what excactly is in the cage.

This is why I see it is hard to recommend things to new folks, simply they think they have all the answers already anyhow, and simply do not want to understand they are new and need to know they are.

[Jeff Hathaway]

I, too, keep some species together- the horror:-) But, I don't recommend it for people.

Marisa, I agree with what you just said, but I can't just let people research on their own, as we're in the public eye a lot and people constantly ask me what I recommend- which is A) do some reading and B) corn snakes and/or leopard geckos, though I will discuss and recommend a few other species as well. I know from experience that people will do some research, but it won't be very much in most cases. They'll still call or email me if they have problems (even sometimes if I haven't talked to them before, like the friend of my sister's who called me yesterday about their new bearded dragon's eye infection). So I recommend the things that will give them the least problems possible in the hope that it will contribute to a positive experience for them, and for the animal.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[MouseKilla]

Originally posted by DragnDrop

(I'm a loving mother, but I really wouldn't mind having her bedroom for critters.)

Well I think I could give a 19 year old girl a good home. I don't think my wife would mind. lol!

[EDIN]

I have corn snakes and spotted pythons and i woud reccomend either of them to a beginner. edi

[Smilts]

i love all snakes but it really is easier to keep corns, yes with enough research you could keep anything youd like. At the same time how many out there are going to devote enough time to research. Care is easier for corns than BP's, i have both. one of my balls eats good so other than humidity and tank heat he is pretty easy to keep, the other ball doesnt eat most of the time even with perfect care req met. snakes not eating is scary for a first time owner even one that knows they are going to do it

[Leviathan]

The best thing to do is find a snake that appeals to you. Snakes live a long time and if you get one that you're not really going to enjoy but got it because it was easy to care for then that won't work. I know if I started with a corn I would probably pay attentiont to it just until I got my next snake. (which is why I don't have one) Like a couple people have said, there are many snakes that will be a good starter. The best thing to do is look at everything in a whole. What do I like, what is my budget, what is easy to care for. Then find a snake that suits your needs so that you know you can properly care for it.

Just for the record though, although out of my six BP's not one has gone off food for more than a week, I would reccomend a California Kingsnake. I just got my first one two weeks ago. Out of ALL the snakes in my reptile room, he is my favourite!!

[Optimus Prime]

I'm gonna say Corn just because I like them better lol and there are so many morphs out there and its jsut soo fun to mix and match them all.