Reptile & Amphibian Forums

HEY GUYS IVE KINDA NEW TO SNAKES IVE BEEN READING ALLOT AND IM UNDECIDED. DONT KNOW WEATHER I SHOULD GET A CORN OR A BALL. I REAllY LIKE BALLS BUT IVE BEEN READING THERE MORE DIFFICULT EATERS AND IVE ALSO READ THAT CORNS ARE MORE ACTIVE. SO I REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT TO GET. I HAVE A 55 GAL AQUARIUM WHICH IS WHERE IM GOING TO HOUSE THE SNAKE IN AND ITS IN MY LIVING ROOM SO I WANT IT TO KINDA LOOK COOL. I DONT KNOW I NEED SOME HELP DECIDING SO FEEL FREE TO BRAIN WASH ME. THANX IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP.

ALEX

grab a ball. it's true they can be picky eaters. this most likely happens say if you were to get an imported ball. they are picky also a ball may not eat because of seasonal changes. this is no big deal. if your ball eats on a normal schedule then it wont even matter when it decides to fast for the winter months....this doesnt always happen in fact most of my balls will readily eat in the winter even if i drop the temp to stimulate breeding. if you aren't breeding you dont have to lower the temp. If the temp stays the same year round they may not even stop eating. balls can go months without food if they want to so it would be months before you would have to worry. i havent owned corns but they do seem to be more active right off the bat but balls can be as well.. the thing i like if they will kinda just hang out with you. they will constantly move but just a little slower. But sit on the floor & see what happens when it has a chance to get to some hiding spot it sees or if it thinks it can make a break for it..lol they can be real quick. balls are calm friendly snakes that are extremely forgiving of your mistakes. they will do great in a fancy set up but will do just a well in a sweater box with newspaper substrate & a shoe box for hiding...they seem to demand nothing & only require a couple of things. i have had a ball snap at me once or twice but that was my own stupidity. usually when afraid they curl into a ball hence "ball" python. watching them may not always be the most exciting thing in the world but they can at times be so smart & so dumb leading to an entertaining site.they are a nice size snake only getting round 5 feet give or take if that & they have a temperment that i would trust a small child handeling them. i'm sure there's many peoples here who have wonderful stories about owning balls. so go find yourself a nice captive baby ball & enjoy years of fun & companionship. if you read this you have now been brainwashed so go buy one.buy one...lol

Both make great pets, and I just happen to keep both! Here are a few things to consider. ONE snake per enclosure. Thats a big tub, (55 gallons) and it will take a while for a ball or a corn to fill it and look impressive. Don't give in to temptation and put two in there. (Okay, you will hear that you can keep two in there, and I suspect *almost* every begining snake keeper has tried this at least once.....it fails more often than succeeds.)

Corns eat smaller prey, feed more reliably, and can be purchased in some really great colors for really inexpensive price. They also crap more. (I don't know why, but yes they do. I clean a LOT of cages every day and I KNOW! )

Balls get larger and look more impressive in a large tank. You get ONE color unless you have a LOT of money to spend. They are easier to clean up after, but when they do make a mess.......it's a BIG mess!

Good luck making a choice. Avoid purchasing from the pet store if you can. Look for a local breeder..you'll *usually* save money AND get a better snake.

they are both great snakes so its entirely up to you
Balls spend most of their time in the hide box unless at night
corns are usually out most of the day it depends on the snake
in a 55 gallon tank if you get a hatchling corn if it decides to burrow you will never find it! i have a hard time in a 20 gallon.

Corns temp requirments are easier to keep than a BP and they are a little easier to care for
if you have the dedication to look after a BP then BP's are far more impressive looking snakes

good luck on your decision and let us all know what your choice was.
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Girlfriend: Your room smells like reptiles!
Me: Are you saying that my Balls smell?

I prefer balls. For sure! I love my balls. I love my corns too but I prefer the laid-back heavy-bodied ball pythons. I now keep 2.2 balls and want more! Corn snakes are cool too, but I prefer my BPs. It's a personal thing, so maybe you should go to a pet shop and ask to handle each to get a feel for them. (I would try buying online from a reputable breeder instead of a pet shop, however.)

If you want something a little more active and maybe better motivated about feeding, I would heartily reccomend to you a jungle carpet python. They have very similar requirements to a ball python and get just a small bit longer, but not so big that they can not be handled or easily kept. Baby jungle carpets CAN be a little nippy, but mine has never bitten me. Find a breeder who will help you out by sending you a calm individual. There are also other carpet python species that are easy to keep. If you are interested, try the carpet forum.

Good luck on whatever you choose!!