Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My 10 year old daughter and I are experienced with Bearded Dragons (successfully keeping breeding pair for several years).

Now she wants a snake, and she thinks Ball python, whereas I was leaning to Corn snake.

In terms of relative ease of care, not biting, handleability, ease of breeding, and any other relative merits, pluses and minues for each... what do you all think?

I like both. I prefer the ball over the corn because of its size. it all depends of how u feel and if u can provide proper care for the snake. both are very calm and i rarely hear about biting or anything. just go with what you think is right.they are both really easy to aquire and now a days you can get each for about $15 at show. do some research and decide on what you feel is best for her.

I say this, and have both, just my opinion. I think balls are more calm and "hang out" more than corns that can be more on the move. good luck

Posted by: sgraff at Thu Oct 4 17:50:15 2007 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]

I say this, and have both, just my opinion. I think balls are more calm and "hang out" more than corns that can be more on the move. good luck

lol my friend was over my house yesterday and said same thing. I have corns she has a ball.
You can "drape" her snake over your shoulder and he stays there my corns move around all the time both great tempermeants but your right balls 'easier going" -smaller to

I know it's not normally associated with a starter snake but my male columbian redtail was my first snake and he is the best one of my bunch. He is without a doubt the most handleable, friendly, and nonaggressive snake I ever had. Just my .02 of course, take it FWIW. Thanks!
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1.0 Columbian RTB - "Fedor"
1.0 Orange Ghost BP - "Charlie"
1.0 Mojave BP - "Jack"
3.0 Pastel BP - "Tito", "Cruz"(50% Het Ghost), "Jose"
1.0 100% Het Pied BP - "Logan"
1.0 100% Het Albino BP - "Mac"
0.1 Possible Unknown Morph BP - "Mystery"
0.1 100% Het Orange Ghost - "Mya"
0.8 Normal BP - (3 poss het alb, 1 poss het pied)
1.2 Bengal cats

As much as I like Balls more than Corns.....Corns are easier to keep. They don't require as high of temperatures....don't get as bulky which doesn't require as large of food items. And Corns don't usually go off feed and stress the owner out because of it....though, those of us that have been through it many times actually welcome the "fasting" so we don't have to worry about feeding for a couple months! Corns also tend to be better display animals as they will move around a cage more freely and will utilize climbing structures in the cage more often, whereas balls like to be in their hides the majority of the time.

...just some thoughts...

Jason

Ball pythons:

Pros:

Calm dispositions
Slow moving
Typical size 3-4 feet
Adult cage requirements 30 gal long tank or equivalent space

Temperature and humidity requirements very easy to maintain

Breeding isn't very difficult, clutch sizes are small average about 4-6 per clutch, never double clutch.

Relatively inexpensive to buy and keep.

Cons:

Morphs can be costly.
wild caught or captive hatched can be difficult to acclimate and may have internal or external parasites (or both)

Can be very difficult to get to eat frozen thawed, or to consistently eat frozen thawed.

Tend to go on hunger strikes for no apparent reason.

Many consider ball pythons 'boring' as they are very inactive and unless hungry, rarely prowl about their cage.

Heavier bodied snake so can have a fair weight on them (3-5 pounds or more for females)

Small clutches, don't double clutch. Often skip seasons.

May be banned in some areas due to being a 'python', which is often seen as a huge man eating snake.

Corn snakes:

Pros:

Calm disposition
Active
Colorful
small bodied snakes, rarely exceed 5' in length
Easy to house, 30 gal tank is more than enough space for an adult though larger can be provided.
Care is easy, temp and humidity easy to maintain.
Readily eat frozen thawed rodents.

Easy to breed, can double clutch each season.
Clutch size are large, 20-30 eggs

Tolerate handling pretty well.
Rarely bite.

Morphs are many and affordable
Normal corn snakes vary quite a bit with several recognized 'phases' (Miami, Okeetee, etc.) plus countless morphs

Cons:

young corn snakes can be nippy and may musk when held.

Can be more excitable during their first year or two of life but with regular handling calm down.

Addictive (hard to have just one corn snake)

Large clutches make it harder to find new homes for babies though high demand for these snakes often offset this.

hmm, can't really think of any other negative aspects of corn snakes...other than being one of the most popular snakes out there so just about everybody who has an interest in snakes, typically has one or had one.

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IN defense of ball pythons, with proper setups and care, they are pretty easy to care for and very interesting snakes. I really don't see my corn snakes prowling around much more than my ball pythons. I think it is more a matter of meeting a ball pythons basic needs that indicate how interesting and active it is. COrn snakes are more error forgiving than ball pythons. If a ball python doesn't feel secure within its environment and has the proper temperatures, he won't eat, not matter what. A corn snake probably eat anyway.

Both snakes are excellent beginner pets, though ball pythons should be captive bred. Not just to avoid parasite issues but mainly because they are more easier to care for. Not that wild caught or captive hatched ball pythons are impossible to care for, they just have more issues to deal with. Making sure clear of parasites, giving them the extra time to acclimate to captive conditions, especially with adult wild caught etc. thus, I feel captive hatched or wild caught snakes (this is straight from the wild, not from somebody who owned it for a few years then sold it...unless itis in horrible health and that is why it is being sold, because the owner didn't know how to acclimate it properly) are for more experienced keepers.

There are many other snakes that are good first time snakes, including many colubrids (rat snakes, corn snakes, milk snakes etc) various pythons and boas as well as other families of snakes. But these other kinds of snakes vary in price and care so proper research should be done on them before buying.

YOu can never go wrong with getting a corn snake or a ball python (captive bred) as a first snake. But definitely research as much as you can. there are several very good books on both species available on the market. Not to mention tons of websites (read many, not just a few, the more you read the more you find the tried and true methods as well as possible workable new ideals..and unfortunately old outdated and outright wrong suggestions) Good care sheets to check out are the sheets found here at Kingsnake (check the sticky at the top of each forum for species FAQ's and Care), or any of the forum sponsor websites. Clicking ont eh banner links will bring you right to their sites and you can read their care sheets etc.

Finally, for any additional questions, the forums are here for you to ask away and get responses from your fellow herpers. ALso there is the weekly reptile chats, 8pm-9pm Tuesday, 9pm-11pm Friday and Sunday, times are Eastern.

One last thought. Snakes are very diet specific and must have whole prey food. If you have any issues about feeding mice and rats to your pets, then having a corn snake or ball python won't be for you. However, once eating on frozen thawed, it is much easier to feed these snakes as you don't have to worry about killing the prey before hand or risking damage to your snake by feeding live rodents. Snakes are fast killers but sometimes they are not the most efficient.

Non rodent eating snakes are also the hardest snakes to care for especially if the prey item needed is not one easily purchased at pet stores or mail order.
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PHLdyPayne

In my opinion, both are excellent first snakes. I got one of each within a month of each other as my first snakes, and both of them are fantastic.
For a kid's first snake, however, I would probably recommend a Ball. I know that she's not overly young and that she has experience with young reptiles, but if you set a hatchling corn snake down and look away for a second, your snake is history. A ball, on the other hand, probably won't get much more than a couple feet away if you take your attention away for a minute. I also feel that ball pythons are more easily handleable in general. Corns are very easy to handle once they're adults, but most of the fun is watching them grow and change color and mature, so you don't want to miss out on that. When they're little, they're like a shoe string with a head.

Either way you'll get a fantastic pet, and you're already on your way with a good start...
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2.1 Normal Ball Pythons ('04-Captain Jack; '05-BoBo; '05-Queen Latifa)
0.1 Normal Corn Snake ('06-Little Prince)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Blondie)
2.0 Fancy Rats (Ho0dz, Donnie)

For a beginner, I'd say Ball Python! Less squirrely!

I was just thinking! I never got into corn snakes because of the number of morphs were just overwhelming! NOW LOOK AT THE MESS I'M IN! LOL

balls are boring and need more heat.......get a corn.....

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as to be expected........
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finally done hatching.........wheee......
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your ten year old will probably want to handle the snake often since it will be something new.and ball pythons are shy by nature.to much handling of a ball will probably stress it out and make it go off it's feed. not something you want to deal with your first snake. also balls are limited in color to browns,blacks,yellows,whites.whithout spending a fortune.not the same for corns they way more color for their price.
hope this helps you.

just wanted to chime in and say that i hold my 2 bps every evening while watching tv without any ill effects. neither miss a meal or show any signs of being stressed. i think alot depends on what snake u get. as soon as i open there cages i put my hand in and they come climb up my arm so its like they like to come out for a bit. granted one is a semi retarded spider that doesnt really have a clue whats goin on. and the other is a pastel that seems to just really enjoy the time out it gets. never had a corn so i cant compare but from what i hear they can be rather snappy as juveniles. but that is pure speculation on my part. any ways pick whats going to make u happiest as its your pet. im sure you will be happy with whatever u get. one good thing about corns is there relitivly cheap compared to the bps especially if ur looking for a morph. good luck

western hognose or a albino garter snakes are very good/great starter snakes as well..
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ball pythons
pastel,het&PH albino,het&PH hypo,PH pieds,PH clown,and norms!!
borneo ST,black,& red blood pythons
0.1 black SSTP
2.2 borneo STP/marble
2.2 red bloods
garter snake morphs easterns/checkereds/plains/redsides
w.hognose morphs
1.1 super kids Memfis Lance and Linda May(co-dom)

If she wants a ball, go for it. That means she's okay with it not being brightly colored, and she probably likes the heavier bodied look and feel of it.

Corns, overall, are easier, especially if you get one that's healthy. Corns will eat just about anything you put in front of them - I remember a baby trying to eat a kid's finger once! The temperatures required are less, but you do have to consider the possibility of actual hibernation/brumation once the snake gets older.
Corns don't get as big, as big bodied, or require as large of food. But...they also get fatter if overfed, which isn't quite as attractive as a snake at a healthy weight.
Babies are very tiny, and tend to be on the nutty side. They're quick, escape easily through small cracks in the screen that you couldn't even see, and you have to be okay with feeding small, cute little pink mouse babies to them. Mice always kind of look cute...rats, especially older rats, just aren't quite so constantly adorable.

Balls, however, are easy with a few hitches. These hitches can either be an interesting challenge or a pain in the rear. Yes, you have to keep an eye on the humidity, and yes, they do need to be kept warmer...but they're not something you can go to the east coast and find in someone's backyard. That's part of the allure...and part of why you need to pay more attention to their needs.
Balls get thicker, heavier, and just plain bigger. They're less spaztic compared to a corn, especially a baby, and they'll curl into a ball when stressed rather than frantically try to escape like a corn. I actually have a juvenile female who will explore the bed a bit and then relax over my lap while I read a book. I have never met a corn that wasn't obese and could stay still for more than 20 seconds.
Yes, balls can be picky eaters...but if you're diligent and patient, they start eating again. It's not really too big a deal to have a ball that isn't eating at the moment...chances are in a month or two it'll pick up again.

I personally have had the same ball python since I was 5 years old. She's almost 16 years old now, and my collection continues to slowly grow (at 7 snakes now). I have worked with and played with cornsnakes, but wouldn't trade them at all for my ball pythons.

If your daughter is gravitating towards a ball, that's probably the best choice. She'll be more interested in it, more willing to care for it, and just all around like it more. Just make sure you do lots of research, and make sure that the information you find makes sense and seems reliable (for instance, sources that say a heat rock is a great way to heat a tank are probably not reliable sources).

Good luck!

~jenny
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"Polysyllabism in no way insures that what you're saying is actually worth being heard." - Blake (an e-friend of mine)

"I have never made but one prayer to god, a very short one: "O lord, make my enemies ridiculous." And he granted it." - Voltaire

If you do go with a Ball, make sure you get one that is a proven good eater. Balls are notoriously bad eaters. If you get a ravenous eater, you will thank yourself for it. Frozen thawed, live, pre-killed...I have some that will eat anything that smells like a rat / mouse...this is what you want.

I would also recommend getting a female and I would get one that is het for something. Some people will say to get a Pastel male, but I think this is boring. Get a het for Albino female($100-$300), or even a het for Pied or Clown female($500-$900)...awesome! You do not have to breed her- ever, if you do not want to. However, after you have her for a couple years and you continue to read this site and begin to become intrigued by these gentle, curious and fascinating creatures , you will want to breed her. This way you will have the genetics all set up if you so choose.

If you do buy a het female, it is imperative that you purchase her from a reputable source. Royal Constrictor Designs, For Goodness Snakes, Royal Variations, VPI, Jay Martin, I would go with one of these, but do your research, there are many other honest people you can purchase hets from and not get ripped off.

Good luck and please let us know what you decide to do.

~Alan

Thanks to everybody who has replied (and to anybody else who chimes in). I will be collecting them all and having my daughter read them too. No decisions yet, but we will be getting something at Nov NY Metro show.