Ball or corn?

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-14-03, 11:43 PM

I am trying to decide which snake would be better as a first snake. I like both the corn snake and ball python, but I just read balls can be troubled eaters. Are corns the same way? they get to be about the same size right?

I am just looking for suggestions now as I am not buying the snake for a little while now. so what are the pros and cons of each?

enso · 07-14-03, 11:47 PM

Most corns are cheaper, have more variation in color/pattern and dont require any significant humidity. If it was my choice i'd go with the corn, but i'm not you. =P

marisa · 07-14-03, 11:51 PM

Corns:

Pro- Almost always good feeders, especially established adults/yearlings. Hatchlings purchased at a decent breeder will also most likely eat anything put in front of them.

Pro- They come in AMAZING variety for relativly low prices for all morphs.

Pro- They are a small species and rarely hit 6 feet. Even then its not that big as they are also slender.

Pro- Simple SIMPLE requirements and less humidity needed than a Ball Python.

Con- THye poop WAY more than Ball Pythons! That's about the only con!

Ball Python
Pro- Poop much less than corns! LOL
Pro- Very slow moving normally calm docile snake. Even the most friendly corn will still enjoy moving in your hands CONSTANTLY. Balls do this but are most likely content to just sit there a lot of the time.
Pro- Small snake. Fatter than corns but males don't often get longer than four feet.

Con- Yes Balls can be picky feeders BUT you can eliminate this con by simply purchasing only CB pythons from good breeders.

I keep both and love both for different reasons. But my first was a corn.

Marisa

Jeff_Favelle · 07-15-03, 12:29 AM

Erika, kudos to you for ASKING questions BEFORE you buy. That rocks man. I wish everyone had your sense and brain.

Good on you, and I'm positive your choice will be the right one!

Serpent-King · 07-15-03, 12:33 AM

Ball pythons all the way!

WingedWolf · 07-15-03, 12:58 AM

Balls tend to be shyer, and don't care for commotion, whereas corns may be a bit more tolerant of that, another thing to consider.

Serpent-King · 07-15-03, 01:03 AM

Balls are for people who want a real hands on pet, that will not be very flighty and try to escape. They're very slow moving and very docile. And normally cb balls are not problem feeders. Ball pythons are definitely the way to go.

Lisa · 07-15-03, 01:55 AM

2 of our ball pythons were picky eaters, one wouldn't eat the other would only eat pure white mice (she doesn't have that issue with rats). patience prevailed. with corns we only had 2 that wouldn't eat and it was temp related (last summer was just too hot), now all 4 snakes eat like champs.

Bryce Masuk · 07-15-03, 02:42 AM

corns are far more active then balls they just lay there like a sausage corns are usually better feeders many balls are overly shy and easily stressed you could no either way but I would would rather have a corn then a ball myself

nicola_boulton · 07-15-03, 02:58 AM

i would say balls are harder2 look after than corn, mabey start of with a corn and then get a ball. I think corns are generally less care

Serpent-King · 07-15-03, 04:24 AM

Yeah, my opinions are just personal preference. I have both a ball python and a corn and would much rather have one ball python then 10 corns. I just find they make better pets. I have never had a bp get stressed because pf excessive handling, nor have I had a corn. But I like to site at my computer with my python around my neck, or lying in my lap. Rather then spending a five minute handling session trying to keep a skinny lil snake from escaping my hands. I like how I can stop and watch a movie and pay no mind to the snake coiled on my stomach. Plus I love the pattern of normal ball pythons, and how cute they look just lying there. Everything about them makes me drool in adoration. LOL, I've gone so far as to build a huge bp sire. http://ball.leo-land.net . Check out the caresheet to see if a bp is right for you.

But personal preference aside let me break it down. If you want aesthetics in a snake get a corn, probly a morph. If you want something that would be impossible to kill by lack of care get a corn. If you want a pet that you can just forget about for a week and come back and its fine get a corn. If you want something easy to care for corn is the way. Like perfect sheds? Go corn. Want something long and slender? Corn.

On the flip side. If you want a snake you can sit and watch tv or be on the computer with, ball python. If you want somethjing heavy bodied, ball python. If you want a boid that is neither too big nor too small, get a bp. If you want more of a challenge then a mundane corn snake, get a ball python. Ball pythons a simply too wonderful to explain in this paragraph. So get a ball python.
Look at these pics and try to resist ( Property of Lisa)

Bencb3 · 07-15-03, 05:43 AM

every one told me to research both alot before i even had the money to buy antything, and i reasearched them both for like 3 months, then i was having doubts and i started researching leopard geckos, and i have one of those now, and there ya go, oh to answer ur question, ball pythons some times stop eating for some reasons and somtimes arnt good beginning snakes, my friend, who is like 35 and got his first snake when he was 10, started out with a bp and he said it all depends on the breeder, because if it is a good breeder then it usualy is a good snake

Colonel SB · 07-15-03, 06:50 AM

I'm gonna say Corns, I own both and I think corns are the better starter snake.

Darlene · 07-15-03, 08:59 AM

I got my first snake this year after a great deal of research. I now have 3 corns & more on the way. My girls are tremendous eaters & super easy keepers. They look to come out every afternoon. My kids (a 3 year old & 5 year old) sit with them on the couch. We take turns handling them. They do move around a lot but not fast & do sometimes stay still. Neither myself or the kids have a problem handling them. They are very friendly snakes & I'm extremely glad I started with them. The anery loves to lay across my shoulders & the littlest one (a motley normal) likes to curl up on my lap). However I must admit , they have given me such a love of snakes that I'm after a western hognose this year & a bp(ball python) & bc(boa constrictor) within the next couple of years!!
My best advice is to research thoroughly, pick what mostly impresses you & then prepare for more !!!
Good luck with the newbie you pick.
Dar.
P.S. Remember to browse the forums here on the different species, too.

Dark_Angel_x322 · 07-15-03, 09:08 AM

Ok i still can't really decide, both are beautiful animals. I like the fact that a BP will sit and watch tv and stuff, but the corn seems to be the one that will be easier to take care of. Also How heavy are BPs? corns? one of my main worries with a ball is that it will be too heavy for me, or too strong. I also read that corns are escape artists, is this true of balls too?

Ok here is a bit of background on my life....
I live at home with my parents, work part time, and starting at the end of aug, I will be starting my 3rd year of college
(classes only 2 days a week but all day) . I was going to live on campus but unfortuently funds are not availible for that and I would have to leave my babies. I have 1 chinese water dragon, 2 leopard geckos, 1 gecko that i can't figure out the species, and a green tree frog(probably will get another one soon). Those are my babies but my family owns a "few" more pets than that... 2 dogs, 3 cats, 5 birds, 10-12 fish, 1 red earred slider, and 2 more leo geckos that are my sisters. My brother and his family also live here, so there are also small children around (6yrs & 3 yrs). As you can see we own a small zoo... All my reptiles are in my room with me so they are sheltered from the kids about 95% of the time. Ok I think that should be good...

Now from that what do you think?