Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The only difference I'm finding info on is that males sometimes go off eating during the breeding season. Any other differences in normal corns? I'm more inclined to get a female for that reason, but I don't know if there's other stuff I haven't found out yet that would make me want to get a male instead...lol.

I don't know... the fact that males may decide not to eat during breeding season sounds like a good reason to choose a male. You'll save money because you wont be feeding off as many mice.

Other things you may want to think of:

Males tend to be larger than females

Females may lay slugs once they get to be sexually mature (though this is usually only if they have been bred in the past)

If you think you may want to get more in order to breed them:

1 male can breed many females, so if you are like me and would prefer to minimize your breeder stock but still get a wide variety of morphs in the babies, you should get a male that is homozygous or at least heterozygous for MANY traits.

Having a female as your first snake will allow her to get an extra year or so of growth on her compaired to the male; this will allow you to breed much sooner than if your male was older than your female.
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Cornsnake Projects:
Coral Snows
Ghosts
Bloodreds
Caramels
Ambers

Thanks for the reply. The reason males going off feeding was pushing me in the other direction was because this is my first snake and I don't know what's "normal" and what isn't. If males do go off, how long is it usually until they eat again? The reason I'm wondering is I can see myself freaking out because my snake isn't eating and I don't know why...lol. I know that hatchlings are born usually June - October, but what is the breeding season considered (i.e. When might they stop eating)? I haven't read much on breeding because I don't intend to breed anything anytime soon. You do make a good point though....less mice, less $$$. Thanks!

With a first snake, you are right, it may be hard to determine what is normal, but you wouldn't have to worry about a male going off feed at least until 2 springs after it hatches, around 1.5 years old. This is because he wouldn't be sexually mature until then. By then, you should know what's normal for your snake.

I've never had a male go off feed, but I have had a few not want as much. I basically slow down the male's feedings between Feb and July to 1 mouse every 21-30 days. Most males, while they might refuse a mouse every week or every other week, will usually eat every 21-30 days.

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Cornsnake Projects:
Coral Snows
Ghosts
Bloodreds
Caramels
Ambers