hard time deciding on what to get

Ok this is only my second post but ive been lurking for a bit. I looking to get my first snake this saturday at the reptile show. Im at a toss up between a Corn and a Ball. Ive read alot a things on the finiky eating of the balls and the breader i talk to at the show last time said "NAHHH never had a problem".. So i was about to get the ball then but second guessed it and thought i should reasearch some more.. So i like both, ive never had a snake before and would like to start with something easy but also cool.. Something about it being a Python just has so much interest to me. Corn snakes you can see anywhere if you flip over some rocks or something. So im at a toss up on what to get, anyone got any good advise for a serious NEWBIE here???

i have a corn snake and a ball python! and they are both amazing! but if my ball python is relaxed and chilled my corn snake is INSANE and hyper!!! so as far as which is better for a first snake id say ball python simply because they are easier to handle.

I would say get a ball but they are kinda picky eaters. Make sure you get what you really want tho.

Well, we have 6 ball pythons and 1 corn snake.

The corn snake is much easier for feeding/shedding. However, he is extremely hyper for the first few minutes of handling. He burrows a lot which means that there is often poop buried under his aspen. Which makes his cleaning a tad more annoying.

The pythons are very troublesome when it comes to feeding. We had one that would NOT eat for a few months and we had to assist feed until she started taking live. We have had one ball python immediately agree to f/t. However, the others would only take live at first and we have gotten 3 to switch over to f/t. The BPs are much more relaxed when handling, but their sheds take much longer and get stuck easier. Clean up for these guys is ez pz since they don't burrow, and you can spot clean for the most part.

Hope this helps.

Id say the ball i agree they can be picky eaters but they are also docile. all the balls i have had are like "puppy dogs" except when it comes to there food. Boas on the other hand can be very tempermental and flighty at times. id say as your first pet start off with a ball. Thats where I began.

I know I'm going to get flamed down saying this on a python forum, but if you want a lazy do nothing but hide all day snake, get the BP.

If you want something that moves around a lot, something you don't have to lift up a hide to prove you actually have a snake, get the corn.

The bottom line is, don't get anything that you will lose interest in later.

Ok so im going to throw a wench in the situation... I was in your same spot in july. Toss up between corn and ball. I did some more research... Well hours and hours later, I come up with... ..... .... A rosy boa. They are the best beginner snake if you ask me! Low humidity, heat around 75 to 90 water dish in the tank for one day out of the week. Calm and one of the most docile snakes there is. They don't get too big, about 4 feet full grown and about as wide as a big bratwurst. I have two albino rosys, one make one female so in a few years I can breed them. I just recently got my first ball python, an albino male and I love him to bits as well. My best advice, ball or rosy. Corns are hyper and flighty, where the other two are much easier to handle as a beginner and both a very reluctant to bite as well. But make sure to hold the snakes you are wanting to consider... They all have their own personalities and the right one will cozy up to you...at least all mine did :)

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not always true fo rthe corn .. I have a corn and she stays burrowed all day ... I have to search through the aspen to find her lol but, when I do the race is on they love to explore. I'm in the process of searching for my perfect ball also.

The perfect ball, adopt one from a shelter.

They are one of the most "dumped" snakes sold (normals)

this is still such a hard decision for me cause like infernalis pointed out, i would like a snake that moves around so it would be cool to watch.... But then balls are just awesome too.

When you say a corn is flighty, what exactly do you mean? are you saying they just constantly wanna get away from you? or they snap often?? I'll be honest and i know i'll sound like a wuss but im scared to get bit, im sure after it happens ill feel better about it and it wont matter much. Just in my head it seems bad.. I got bit when i was a kid by a hamster and it sucked those little f*#kers have long and sharp teeth.

Thanks for all the great advise so far!

My corn is docile and tame.

Personally I rather like both, but I would say this, for a first snake, Corns are far more forgiving of husbandry errors.

random question between corn and ball pythons, do corn snakes really get full grown in 18 months to where balls take about 36months??

can anyone tell me about a western hognose snake, meaning does anyone own one?

Corns are NOT full grown at 18 months. They are normally bred at 3 years of age. They tend to be on the move when you hold them, like a hamster if you ever owned one. Balls tend to chill in your hand.

Balls get a lot heavier and make MUCh bigger poops. BOTH can be picky about eating, but balls are a tad worse. Balls need more heat and humidity.

Once you think about breeding... corns make SMALL, DELICATE babies. Bp's, not so much.

If you are starting with a baby snake: you need to buy a bunch of different sized mice as a corn grows... Ball python, start with hopper/small adult mouse. Move to small rats. DONE.

At least in my experience. I have 18 corns and 8 balls right now. :D

ya know i keep reading and hearing about the poop, is it that nasty as they get older and bigger??:confused:

What about corns? i have had many hampsters when i was young ( it was the only pet i could have as a kid). im not so much into the breeding aspect of owning a snake but more for the snake itself. Of course i keep reading its an addiction and well see how that goes:D:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wax32

Once you think about breeding... corns make SMALL, DELICATE babies. Bp's, not so much.

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how's this for a small delicate baby ;)

http://www.thamnophis.us/thams/cheech4.jpg

In my opinon,

It depends on what size of a snake you want. The first snake i owned was a red tail boa. Then i seen how big they get i was like damn. But when some one broke into my apartment they stole it. So my next snake was a ball python. Now when you are purchasing one ask what they feed the bp. F/T is good if you can find them in your area. Normal BP's can run anywhere from like $25-$35 bucks. Not that bad.

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR CHOICE:D

I have 2 BP's.....I'd say BP! But, Corn's are cool as well! My kid's want Corn snakes. From what I hear they end up the same length. Just the BP will be fatter!!!