What do you mean, I can't have both?!

[Kritters4Keeps]

Hey ya'll- No doubt, I'm not a familiar name. I joined in the late hours of yesterday, thanks to my dad, who found this spectacular site!

Here's a quick quip of information so that you know what I know:

When I was a toddler until I was about seven, my parents had a wide array of animals. They even had a few different tarantulas before I was born, snakes, lizards, you name it. I started growing up with a fat, beloved gray pet rat I named Nosey (had several others too), Rose knee (I believe) tarantula, geckos in my bedroom, and my stepmum had both a Burmese Python and a Ball Python. We had an iguana, too, and apparently a Savannah Monitor when I was around three. (Dad said it had a rather freakish fascination with me, and they got rid of it because they were afraid it'd nail me as a treat.)..And you can't forget all the little land & water turtles we've found and rescued from the road, lol. I used to catch garden snakes, growing up.

After that little critter era, they moved to the country. We've had many cats, a few dogs, and as many as sixteen horses at a time. Before the horse market crashed, my parents bred them, raised them here at the ranch, and took me along with them. Last year, we turned back to the smaller animals since nature has been picking off our aging, furry pets where the horses had to be sold. (That, and my horse-crazy stepmum turned to metal horses instead..) We got two pet hedgehogs after two weeks of (my, lol) extensive research.. I was eighteen at the time I contacted the breeder in the next state, spoke with her mostly through email though we had phone calls. She's still on my facebook friends, and still stay in contact.

So, although I don't have any personal experience with most reptiles, I do have experience with a wide array of animals, breeders, and one very beloved vet we've used since I can remember. You can speak critter with me. I'm also a lover of research- I'm a writer and a reader, and it does come in handy, lol. I've already learned a great deal about snakes, and have printed off papers from this site about what I'll need, what to look for, and other things. My vet also handles exotic pets, rather regularly..

Sounds like I should be good to get going, right? Lol, not so easy.

I'm having a difficult time choosing between a Ball Python and a Cornsnake.

I'm not at all afraid of either or most others, although anything that somewhat resembles a Coral snake makes me nervous, and the water snakes, those of which we have plenty. I'm located in southern IL, a couple hours from the IN border.

Some things I am considering:

My Weight VS Theirs
I am about 5'4, and might weigh 120LBS on a good day. I know that pythons are a great deal thicker, but both they and cornsnakes are the same length. I'm not afraid of being attacked, etc.- my concern is handling. I have read that (like many animals, even hedgehogs!) BPs get increasingly aggressive if not regularly handled. It wouldn't be a problem, but I'm wondering how much trouble I'd have picking them up, cleaning their cages, basic handling, lol.

Space
I'm planning on moving out in the spring; I won't be getting any other pet until at least summer, but I'm looking into fall. I know how big of a responsibility horses are- and to me, being inexperienced, snakes are no different. I am a full time worker with the local hospital (have been part time for three years, was my first job), so income is no threat or an issue. I know cornsnakes can have a smaller aquarium, but I've already found some promising 40gals that are only ten bucks off some 30 gals in pet stores in nearby towns. I guess I'm just wanting to throw this out there.. I'll be the only one really handling the snake, and I usually have a working-mid-day sort of schedule.

Temperment
99% of my friends are scared of snakes (despite most of them being bigger than me). I've heard that cornsnakes are very gentle, but hyper; I've read that BPs are lazy but can be temperamental.. And then, a new website, and it says the opposite about either. I like a little exploration and curiosity with my sitting at the computer or watching a movie.. I know, personalities vary by the snake. I want something that I can keep tamed easily enough to allow other people to touch it- I'm not at all going to be hasty with my selection. I'm going to be looking for a pet that is active, curious, but not showing aggression unless its a defense move for a hatchling.. And yes, I'm buying one young so I can raise it myself- something my parents learned with horses. But has anyone noticed any key things that helped let them know a snake was friendly or visa versa, besides the basic signs of interest, allowing to be touched, etc.?


This is probably going to answer my own question, but I've got a feeling I'm not going to know until I hold either species of snake at one pet store or breeder, or another. Thoughts, anyone? Extra advice quips? Its greatly appreciated.

[CA cowgirl]

I think you'll be happiest with a corn if you really want a snake that's active and curious in its enclosure. Balls tend to be nocturnal and active at night... not much to look at during the day. The size for handling is not much difference (compared to a burmese python or other large boids), and you can easily handle either adult snake by yourself. Their temperments you don't have much to worry about either. Baby corns might be a bit jumpy and nippy. If you ever are worried, use a snake hook to lift the critter out of its habitat, and wear latex gloves for a bit of courage, though tactile-ness with smaller snakes is then lacking. Most snakes settle down well after they are in your hands and realize you pose no threat.

And for your friends, let them scope them out on their terms. My snake fearful friends will look at them while I hold them, some will even touch them. One friend hasn't said it, but I think she won't come over now that I have more than 2 snakes. But I don't push the issue. LOL

As for space, you could start either snake in a 10 gallon (or, in my opinion, a 20g long - just be sure to place a couple hides in it for the critter's security). The ball would be very happy to live out its years in a 40 gallon if you stayed with glass terrariums, and a corn would be very happy in a 29 gallon tall. I like to offer my ratsnake (both corn and ratsnake are in the colubrid family "Elaphe") climbing branches, she digs it.

I think the corn might be hardier, but maybe I'm wrong. Bottom line, both are great snakes and you should pick out one you really like when you see it!

This is my opinion and its based on my experience, use it how you like. And have fun shopping!!

[nixer]

there is nothing as funny as seeing a 300lb tough guy get scared over a little snake

[BPelizabeth]

there is nothing as funny as seeing a 300lb tough guy get scared over a little snake

That is sooooo true....lol!! I find that my friends come around eventually. They may not like them that much....but I have gotten all of them to pet them and at least stopping being such scardie cats.

Now...my son had a corn...actually he bought it for his Bio Dad for fathers day. Way before we had any snakes here. It was ok I thought. It was very active and fast!! Not something my son at the time could handle without supervision because it could get away pretty quickly. But he was at the time around 6 I think.

When it came time and he wanted a pet here we did a lot of research and ended up buying a ball python. My son is now 9 and pretty tiny..weighs about 55 lbs. I do not worry at all about him ever not being able to handle the snake. (we have 3 now because I fell in love w them) We have them out every day except for when they are shedding and for the 48 hrs after feeding. The only one right now that is a little grumpy or shy is our baby and she is only about 2 months old. Our others are big love bugs. Now our Bee did not start off like that....he was afraid of everything!! But a couple of months later...no problems. They can have quite the personalities. I love them because they are (to me) much more affectionate than what I experienced with the corn snakes. (now I use affectionate lightly) no they are not giving me snakey kisses... Just not as active and crazy as what I witnessed with the corns.

If you get a ball python....I would suggest getting it as a baby....and raising it. I think you might feel a little more comfortable with it. That is what we have done with all of ours. However with that being said....it is what YOU feel more comfortable with.

Good luck and great story by the way!! We too had all kinds of animals when I was growing up. Including wild ones that would hang out. My Mom tells a story of when I was two and I came in and said I was playing with the black and white kitty. Apparently I was playing outside for hours with a skunk.... With all of my animal adventures....wild or domesticated....the only thing I have ever been bitten by was a dog. Now pee'd on is another story....lol

[j_h_smith]

there is nothing as funny as seeing a 300lb tough guy get scared over a little snake

This reminds me of something that happened about 20 years ago. I worked in the communications department and we found a baby black snake in a manhole. We took it back to the office and put it in the top drawer of the foreman's desk, knowing was terrified of snakes. He came in and opend the desk drawer. He's 6' 2" tall and weighed about 260 lbs, but that didn't prevent him from screaming like a 6 year old little girl, jumping up onto his desk and running from desk to desk before he jumped down and ran out the door to the office.

We all laughed about that for months.

Jim Smith

[Kritters4Keeps]

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[Foschi Exotic Serpents]

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HuH??

Anyway.. Like some others have said. BPs are slower and become much more calm with time. Corns are fast and often just dont relax in your lap or on your shoulders like a ball will. If you are looking for a display snake only go with a corn. If you want a snake that will become your "buddy" as far as handling goes, get a BP.

Males stay smaller and generally thinner if size is an issue.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Hm, I have 40 ball pythons, which get handled when their cages are cleaned, when they are being weighed and checked over once in a while, and when I'm moving them around for breeding.

Their temperaments are largely the result of their genes. We have not spent a considerable amount of time handling them. They remain non-aggressive. We had one aggressive female, but sold her some time back.

Our largest girl weighs 3500 grams. That's under 8 pounds. So I don't think you'll have any problems with handling ball pythons.

Corns move faster--they're much more active, alert, and fidgety than ball pythons.

Hatchlings of both species can be nippy and very nervous, but they generally grow out of it as they get older. I think corns are more prone to stay nervous if not handled frequently than balls are, but I haven't worked very much with corns, so you'd have to talk to someone that does to be sure.

[RichsBallPythons]

there is nothing as funny as seeing a 300lb tough guy get scared over a little snake

LMAO. This just happened to me last week at work. A baby garter snake looking for a place to brumate wandered into workplace and out of no where i hear a HUGE guy running, huffing and puffing screaming yelling snake. i got up and it literally was like 8" long. I was laughing sooo bad that he made a mess running.

[mainbutter]

as different as corn snakes and ball pythons are, the areas of concern that most people are worried about (size of the snake, size of the enclosure, temperment) are actually not different enough IMO for them to be any kind of deciding factor.

Both get to be in the "over 4 foot" range. Corns get longer but stay quite a bit skinnier. However, neither get big enough to ever pose a danger to you or any pets like dogs or cats. They both get big enough to be scary to snake-phobic people, but small enough to not be threatening to "snake-wary-but-not-phobic" people.

Size and type of caging is always a topic of debate but neither require giant cages. Cage size is pretty negligible for a single snake of either species unless you literally have no room for any pet. You'll find somewhere to keep it.

Temperment.. both are notoriously good for people new to snakes. Most I encounter are kitty-cat tame, with exceptions for those that are wild caught, never handled, or exceptionally young.

The differences between them that SHOULD be a deciding factor:

1) which one is 'cooler' to you? This isn't so much a logical 'well this one is prettier, but this one has a better body shape' question, but more of a gut-instinct first-reaction feeling. This is important, as it definitely is a basis for your interest in your pet. As strange as some people may find it, I do consider this to be the #1 thing to consider when choosing a snake. Neglect is the #1 killer of pets, and true interest is the #1 thing that transforms someone into a good pet keeper.

2) husbandry. They have different temperature, humidity, and to a smaller degree caging requirements and tolerances. They are different, and especially in dry climates BPs are harder keep adequate humidity levels. Corn snakes on the other hand are pretty bulletproof. They have a wide range for temperature tolerance (with easily established ideal temperatures), and pretty much do well at any humidity level.

3) activity: BPs are nocturnal, you will rarely see them out of their hides during the day. Corn snakes will be seen during the day at times.

4) aesthetics: consider the paintjobs that you can afford and the overall look of the snake. Do you want a pink and orange snake? Get a amelanistic corn. Do you want a fatter yellow and white snake? Get an albino BP.

All in all you can't go wrong with either choice. I've had both and adore both, and highly recommend them as pets.

Another thing to consider: although your thread title was in jest, do go ahead and look at your funds, you might find that you really can get both! Both snakes can be surprisingly affordable to aquire, and with some tricks of the trade they can be affordable to house as well. You can find each snake for under $50 easily. Setups can be as cheap as $15 including hides. Heating and heat control then are the biggest costs.