Difference between BP and Corn in regards to handling and temperment?

Balls for life...


Corns are too slippery, and are angry snakes (at least the one I had was).

Never again.

First snake I got was a BP - never had any problems handling, feeding or whatever. She's always been a docile, happy (so far as I can tell) and tolerant creature. Apart from a sick corn I rescued I don't have much experience with them - the closest being a western hognose - and she has the "buddy-buddy" attitude that corn owners seem to speak of and seems to really enjoy snuggling. I've got a boa also and she, too, is very handleable and docile. Good luck on what you decide.

I'm glad I started out with a corn.
He's my favorite snake and always will be. I can agree with lillyorchird and say that he is very 'buddy buddy'. A couple of my bps are also but they took longer to get that way. Tomo (my corn) was like that from day one.

Colubrids on a whole seem more of an active snake compared to BP's. Perhaps that's due to them being a more naturally active hunter compared to the ambush hunter that ball pythons are. Both are lovely snakes. Corns and the like are more delicate, small snakes and I know for my husband with his large hands, he's more nervous handling our Nelson's Milksnake when she was just a hatchling. Corns are also extreme escape artists even for a snake so if you choose any smaller colubrid make doubly sure the enclosure is absolutely escape proof. Corns have a less restrictive husbandry requirement than bp's but really a ball python enclosure is not beyond anyone's means to set up properly.

I'd say continue to research. Look at a lot of pictures (there's a lot of colubrid's beyond cornsnakes) and pick the snake you fall in love with. You'll be cleaning up snake turds for a lot of years so it may as well be from a snake that caught your heart and soul from the get go.

When I went to the petstore to see the ball pythons, I got to hold one and while it was docile, it just curled into a ball and stayed that way. I was a bit uncomfortable holding it and put it back. I then opted to hold a smaller snake, a snow corn, which was just about the length of my arms. It didn't go into defensive mode and instead began slithering along my arm and going through my fingers. A very calm snake, and I fell in love with it. Now I have it at home and this will be my first snake.

Snow corns are just lovely! Congrats on making the right decision for you. BP's ball up like that defensively. Once they feel safe and secure a lot of them never bother to do that as much. We have some BP's in our collection that have never balled up at all for some reason. They just didn't read the BP Manual about all that LOL. Of course now we need pics of your new snow corn and to hear what nice name you chose for it.

Corns are active, fast moving, and sometimes defensive.

Ball are not very active, slow moving, and sometimes defensive.

I have dealt with nightmare psycho animals of both types.

I currently keep both types but I prefer the BP's.

It all depends what you are looking for. A corn can be great for a first snake and so can a BP. You just need more control when handling a corn and they take off when you go to pick them up. A BP will just sit there when you reach in to pick it up.

Before you decide which to go with, check out the various patterns and colors offerred for each type and make sure you buy an established feeder that is used to handling.

You will have this animal for a long time so make sure you get the one you like the most.

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Originally Posted by SPJ

Corns are active, fast moving, and sometimes defensive.

Ball are not very active, slow moving, and sometimes defensive.

I have dealt with nightmare psycho animals of both types.

I currently keep both types but I prefer the BP's.

It all depends what you are looking for. A corn can be great for a first snake and so can a BP. You just need more control when handling a corn and they take off when you go to pick them up. A BP will just sit there when you reach in to pick it up.

Before you decide which to go with, check out the various patterns and colors offerred for each type and make sure you buy an established feeder that is used to handling.

You will have this animal for a long time so make sure you get the one you like the most.

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Good post, Yeah I like some of the various patterns and morphs that the corns are available in but I definitely favor the ball python over them any day. I personally like the slower moving heavier body with the ball python as oppose to the slender and fast moving corns and colubrids. You can never go wrong with a healthy ball python.

Both snakes make great first snakes. I am a BP person and feel they are the best snake. They are a big solid creature that gets a little respect but not outrageous big. For their size they don't need alot of space so keeping several of them is easy. I think they require a little more patience and husbandry than corns. If you're impatient and a snake that spends most of it's time in it's hide bore's you(happened to my friend, the boa lover) maybe a corn suits you better.. It really depeds what kind of animal you are looking for? an active corn or a larger more private ball. Make sure if get a ball you pick a mellow one. There is always that one in the crowd :snake: that has an attitude (1 out if 15 for me). I am sure you will enjoy which ever one you choose! Good luck!

If you want an easier animal to take care of, get a corn snake.

If you want an animal that is still easy but a little challenging, get a ball python.

In my experience, adult corn snakes move somewhat faster than an '06 ball python (both my snow corn and my ball python love to explore). Ball pythons weigh more, so obviously they'll be slower. Baby corns are a whole other game, though. If I set my sister's corn snake on the ground, he tries to take off at top speed (which is remarkably fast for a snake). Even holding him in your hands for the whole time, he's constantly on the move. I'd recommend a yearling corn, or older, if you want an easy-to-handle corn.