Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have owned a leopard gecko and bearded dragon. Both were in great health and they were wonderful pets. Unforturnately when moving cross country last year I was forced to sell them. I know they went to great homes though. Anyways I am interested in maybe getting a ball python or a corn snake. Now I have read care sheets on both animals. Which do you guys reccomend the most? Also we travel once and a while and I seem to see that snakes are easier to have because they need fed less often. IF I went away for a week would it be ok with timers on its lights and a way of giving it constant water? Let me know guys your tips and info.

Thanks

Matt

Hi Matt, a corn snake is probably the best beginners snake. Ball pythons are lovely animals, but they can be really picky eaters, sometimes refuse food for quite some time and have specific humidity requirements. So, unless you're 100% in love with a ball python, I strongly recommend a corn snake. They're generally docile, hardy and you can take your pick of colors. Many many morphs.
If you were gone for a week, your (semi-grown to adult) snake would be perfectly fine without food for that period of time if you fed him/her before you left. (I feed my skinny Cal king once a week and once she's at a good weight I'll scale it back to once every 10 days) However, I'd strongly recommend hiring a reliable and snake friendly person to check in everyday to check that your animal's water is clean and check cage temps (just in case of the slim chance of equipment malfunction).
Hope this helps and good luck.
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0.1 chickens (Condor)
0.2 dog mutts (half ownership, only mine when they misbehave, Lucy & Amy)
0.1 Halflinger horse (Crissy)
0.1 Normal phase California Kingsnake (Sophia)
1.1 parents
Still searching for 1.0 WC human

As far as travelling, even a snake younger than a year can easily go a fortnight without food, providing that it is a rare occurence. As long as you buy one, and are prepared to spend the first couple of months ensuring that the temps are perfect and feeding is good, then go ahead!

But before you do... run a thermostat with at least 3 globes on it, with a cage around each so that the snake cannot touch them... this way, if one, or even two globes, malfunction, there is still a heat source. I wouldn't leave a snake alone using a heating mat though, just in case they burrow down and get too close to it

Good luck in your decision... though, i would consider a carpet python... perhaps a jungle, but then again, that's just my bias

Either are hardy enough to endure a week or two with just water. Actually as healthy adults either one could do as much as a year. The key point is adults, while you could probably leave a neonate alone for a week or two, they are much more delicate and theres is a greater chance of something going wrong, so I would recommend an adult. With that in mind the corn snake is the better choice they are more adaptable to new situation were the adult ball python reacts badly to change.

Thanks for the info. Right now I probably will get a corn. I am trying to find a corn snake thats not like real old yet but not a hatchling. Not having much luck finding a lot thats really reasonalbe.

Matt