Breeding balls vs corns

Ultimately, I’d like to try to breed super dwarf retics, but I don’t think I should jump into that right away. To get started I’d like to do something that I feel is easier like breeding corns or balls. And I’d love to raise a pair (or trio) up, then breed them. This is probably just a hobby. My question is which is easier to breed?

Thanks in advance!

Which ones do you already have experience with and enjoy working with?

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I have a ball and really enjoy him. I guess both markets are pretty crap, so that’s not really a factor.

I don't think you should breed any snakes for which there isn't a good market & for which you aren't enthused. What's the point?

I agree that you should just do proper research and aim to breed the species you're passionate about. If you plan to raise a trio, just get one first and see how you like them.

You might find yet another species you enjoy after a year, or change your mind about breeding. Or maybe you'll love them, and still want to breed them after a couple years of keeping.

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Originally Posted by StupidGiant

This is probably just a hobby. My question is which is easier to breed?

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I've done both: they are both easy to breed.

In terms of hatchlings: In my area I can sell 10 corn snakes for every 1 ball python due to market saturation.

My two cents: don't breed either if you're not truly passionate about the species.

The BP market is already ridiculously over saturated (almost 14 THOUSAND BPs for sale on MM right now, and that's just ONE platform).

Either way, breeding shouldn't be done at all unless you have YEARS of experience working with that species.

With no reputation you will likely end up having a hard time selling the babies. So unless you can properly care for ALL of the offspring it would be irresponsible to breed them.
Not to mention potentially having to cull any animals with birth defects.

So, my two cents: don't breed any animals you're not truly passionate about and can care for all of the offspring.

I've bred corn snakes and failed to breed ball pythons. So IMO it is easier to breed corns. YMMV.

IMO, if the ultimate goal is to bred retic pythons, starting with corns would be a bad choice. Because corns are temperate zone snakes, with different breeding requirements. You would probably learn more that is applicable to retics from starting with ball pythons.

You might find some of the Australian pythons both more interesting and a more manageable size than even super dwarf retics. Womas, water pythons, spotted pythons, carpets, etc.

Others have covered the downside of breeding better than I can. For what it's worth, culling is necessary, but it is emotionally difficult for me. And for many other breeders, as far as I can tell. Be prepared.

One other thing: I've bred corn snakes before, and they don't always quit producing when you want & expect them to. One of mine churned out healthy
clutches for about 5 years after just one mating...no joke! So think about it carefully before you take the plunge, there can be "surprises" & no "off" switch.

That's crazy! I had a BP produce a fertile egg after almost 2 years of not being paired and thought that was long lol

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

One other thing: I've bred corn snakes before, and they don't always quit producing when you want & expect them to. One of mine churned out healthy
clutches for about 5 years after just one mating...no joke! So think about it carefully before you take the plunge, there can be "surprises" & no "off" switch.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

One other thing: I've bred corn snakes before, and they don't always quit producing when you want & expect them to. One of mine churned out healthy
clutches for about 5 years after just one mating...no joke! So think about it carefully before you take the plunge, there can be "surprises" & no "off" switch.

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This is how I got Bullet. I had bred my normal male and hypo female once. She had a healthy clutch of eggs with beautiful hatchlings. Over a year later I was selling the mobile home I lived in and had moved all my snakes to my Mom’s place so I didn’t have potential buyers freaking out. Mom called and said Yin was acting odd, not hiding under her water bowl like normal (hollow dog bowl style), cruising the tank, etc. I go out to Mom’s and take her out, noticing she’s a little thinner than the previous weekend. I pick up the water bowl to clean her cage while I was there and voila...small pile of small eggs. Most had gotten too dry as they had been laid at least 24 hours before, as she had been cruising the tank that long when Mom called. She hadn’t gotten noticably larger like she did with the first clutch, and the eggs were smaller as well. Luckily I didn’t get any more surprise clutches after the one set.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

One other thing: I've bred corn snakes before, and they don't always quit producing when you want & expect them to. One of mine churned out healthy
clutches for about 5 years after just one mating...no joke! So think about it carefully before you take the plunge, there can be "surprises" & no "off" switch.

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That's scary!

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Originally Posted by Dianne

This is how I got Bullet. I had bred my normal male and hypo female once. She had a healthy clutch of eggs with beautiful hatchlings. Over a year later I was selling the mobile home I lived in and had moved all my snakes to my Mom’s place so I didn’t have potential buyers freaking out. Mom called and said Yin was acting odd, not hiding under her water bowl like normal (hollow dog bowl style), cruising the tank, etc. I go out to Mom’s and take her out, noticing she’s a little thinner than the previous weekend. I pick up the water bowl to clean her cage while I was there and voila...small pile of small eggs. Most had gotten too dry as they had been laid at least 24 hours before, as she had been cruising the tank that long when Mom called. She hadn’t gotten noticeably larger like she did with the first clutch, and the eggs were smaller as well. Luckily I didn’t get any more surprise clutches after the one set.

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Snakes are fascinating creatures, & find ways to adapt & survive...don't you just love surprises!? :D I mean, I've never met a baby snake I didn't like, but there's a limit
to how many I want to care for or find homes for; despite that, once I've got them started, it's hard to part with them.

I know what you mean about selling a residence...every time I've done that, I've had to move out first...too many to hide & no other options. No regrets though. :snake:

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Originally Posted by MR Snakes

That's scary!

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Yeah, & not my only such experience...remind me to tell you how I got into breeding rosy boas for 6 years. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Snakes are fascinating creatures, & find ways to adapt & survive...don't you just love surprises!? :D I mean, I've never met a baby snake I didn't like, but there's a limit
to how many I want to care for or find homes for; despite that, once I've got them started, it's hard to part with them.

I know what you mean about selling a residence...every time I've done that, I've had to move out first...too many to hide & no other options. No regrets though. :snake:

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Well...I do like surprises, and baby snakes. :D However, I would have preferred to know eggs were coming as I would have set up a nesting box and incubator. :rolleyes: Bullet was the only successful hatchling of the three potentially viable eggs, the other two did not hatch. And though I thought he was perfect, he was slightly kinked and ended up with a much shorter life span than normal. I wouldn’t have given the little guy up though. :)