Reptile & Amphibian Forums

ok i havve always loved reptiles and will soon be able to gett one captive snake. I have been researching extensively and have narrowed it down to 2 different snakes as possible canidates.
The Corn and the Ball Python. I like em both, and probably the only differences is feeding and behavior. Can Cornsnakes be kept on Mice their whole life? i think ive read that before but just double checking. I have also read that cornsnakes are very 'darty' when being handled, vs. the calm ball python.
Can somebodyb clear up these questions, i wanna know the most before i get a snake.
Thanks
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Nic
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Email me if you want to give me any more info

ok i havve always loved reptiles and will soon be able to gett one captive snake. I have been researching extensively and have narrowed it down to 2 different snakes as possible canidates.
The Corn and the Ball Python. I like em both, and probably the only differences is feeding and behavior. Can Cornsnakes be kept on Mice their whole life? i think ive read that before but just double checking. I have also read that cornsnakes are very 'darty' when being handled, vs. the calm ball python.
Can somebodyb clear up these questions, i wanna know the most before i get a snake.
Thanks

Hi.

I have both ... here's a quick summary:

Corns can be fed mice their whole life. When they become adults, they'll need several adult mice per feeding.

I wouldn't say that corns are darty, they're just more active. BP's hardly move at all. Even an active ball is still relatively docile. Corns are much more interesting to handle ... if you get a hatchling (which you should) and handle it on an appropriate schedule, your corn will be used to handling and be very active, but not uncontrollable or darty.

If you want "to know the most before i get a snake" ... buy the Corn Snake Manual and the Ball Python Manual. At around 10$ each, its a worthy investment to know your ins and outs. Don't trust online caresheets unless from a VERY reliable source - even then, read many of them as well as the books.

In conclusion ... As a pet, I would advise a corn snake 100% over a BP. Corns are all round easier to care for, shed perfectly each time with little or no extra humidity requirements, EAT EVERY SINGLE TIME YOU OFFER THEM FOOD (this alone makes them a much better pet snake).

Do your research, and have fun.

Joel
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2.5 Leopard Geckos
0.1 Ball Python
0.1 Okeetee Corn Snake
1.0 Blair's Phase Gray Banded Kingsnake
0.0.2 Crested Geckos

There are alot of cool reptiles out there get what you want.
There are pro's and con's to anything living.Just get what feels right to you.In all likelyhood you will become addicted like the rest of us and end up with with more than one specie anyway.Whatever your decision make sure it appears healthy and feeding.Im glad you have been doing some research it means you care and didnt just jump in head first.Good luck with whatever you choose...Paul.

you might as well get one of each......snakes are like potato chips,YOU CAN'T HAVE JUST ONE"

Get the corn. :0) My first snake was a corn and she has been a great pet. They are not 'darty' when being held but do like to crawl about your hands. (If you want a 'darty' snake get a milk!)
After a year I now have 2 corns, a milk, and a python.

My corns are yearlings and eat fuzzies with no problems. They will be comfy in a 20 gallon long tank their whole lives. Where as a ball will need a bigger enclosure from what I've read. I've also read that balls don't necessarily make a good beginner snake.

What ever you chose be sure to so lots of research on your future addition. :0)

My brother had a ball about 10 years ago, and it was the first snake I touched since I was a kid chasing garters (bitey buggars they were). His was calm, but boring, really boring. All he ever did was curl up in his cage.

I have 13 corns and even the shy-est of them is more interesting than his ball ever was! He now has one of my corn babies and says the corn is way more fun to watch, and to take out. Not to mention, if you did happen to get a difficult corn (pretty rare) their teeth are MUCH smaller than a balls And the variety of morphs in corns gives them even more appeal.

Can you tell I like corns?
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Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
6.7 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

I keep both corns and balls. To tell you the truth, I don't know why ball pythons are considered to be begginer's snakes. They can be extremely difficult to get to feed. This is frustrating as can be. Check out all the "help, my ball python won't eat" posts on the BP forum!
And, contrary to popular belief, they DO bite. Mine do anyway. I have been tagged countless times by my pythons. Never once by a corn. Anymore, when I handle the BPs, I just put on leather gloves and let 'em get their ya-yas out. Once they are out and in my hads they are fine.
The corns are more active than balls. A ball python mill sit like a lump in your lap for hours. A ball python will stay in his hide for days and weeks, leaving you wondering if he's OK. I tell people, "No, there really is a snake in there. Really." I see much more of my corns.
Ball pythons are good if you want a lap snake. you can be much less on your toes when hanlding them. Corns are more flighty, and I think this also makes them more interesting.
And it is far more affordable to collect all the cool looking color morphs of corns than balls, once you do become addicted!

Get whet you want. Think about what you want out of a snake, and what you are willing to go through. I'm sure that, either way, you will find much enjoyment from your snake.

Best of luck,
GratefulFred
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GratefulFred

I will say get a corn everyone has said what I have to add the only time I would ever worry about my corn is when it would not eat and that would be the same time hell frezzes over. Also the colors you can get now are very nice. A ball morph color will be out of my price range for ever

I agree. There are so many color morphs, and new ones being developed every year. I keep both corns and bp's. They are both great snakes, but I can buy a whole house full of diferent corn snakes for the same price as one morph bp. Just my opiniuon, Jim
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1,0 snow
1,0 amel

1,0 aney stripe motley
0,1 normal
0,1 anery
0,1 motley
1,1 oketee
1,1 tx rat
4,4 ball python
1,1 dumerils boa
1,0 columbian red tail boa
1,1 green iguana
1,0 leopard gecko
1,3 dogs
freezer full of mice & rats

n/p

Just to give you a little of the other side. Corns are more flighty than balls. Even people who are afraid of snakes have held my ball python while they don't like the constant quick movements of my small corn. Also baby corns are VERY small and despite what many people say, I have known novice keepers to have new born corns die on them. Balls never feel too fragile to handle, while you may have to wait for your corn to gain some size to handle frequently. With all of that said, sub adult and adult corns of most morphs are cheap, colorful, hardy (not fragile)tame, and would a great pet.

How many posts do you read about corns that wont feed,corns that bite,etc.I love ball pythons there a great begginer snake.There also a good investment at the moment.It's all about personal preference, not if one snake is better than the other.
Paul..

You should be posting this on the ball python forum AS WELL. You must expect some biased responses on the corn snake forum (of course).

However, I currently keep ONLY ball pythons and black milk snakes... and I recommend between the two choices presented that you begin with the CORN SNAKE.

.... however, the black milk is even better.