Ball pythons VS. Corn snakes?

I get the vibe that ball pythons are seen as much more of a "pet" snake than the corn snake... is this true in your opinion? What do you think? I personally just purchased a ball python and am considering getting a different species of snake.

Corns are much easier than balls...they don't really need high temps, no humidity ( a little squirt during shedding always helps) and they eat anything. Pretty easy pets if you ask me!

Actually, corns possibly make better pets. BPs are very shy and stay in their hides most of the time, especially during the day. They can be stressed by too much handling. Plus their set-ups are a little more demanding which can cause trouble for a first time keeper, although it really isn't hard as long as someone is willing to put in the effort and money to get it right.

Corns on the other hand are more forgiving of a wider range of temps and humidity. They are more active and are more likely to be seen out of their hides during the day, which makes them better for watching. They are not as likely to be stressed by handling, although they can be very flighty when young and need a little work to tame them down. They are not as shy; in fact, the older of our 2 corns often will poke her head out of her hide to see what is going on when someone walks past her enclosure.

I have both species and love them both. They complement each other very nicely. When I'm in the mood to have a snake curl up on my lap while I watch a TV show, I take out a bp. When I'm in the mood for a more active handling session, I take out one of the corns.

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Originally Posted by kc261

Actually, corns possibly make better pets. BPs are very shy and stay in their hides most of the time, especially during the day. They can be stressed by too much handling. Plus their set-ups are a little more demanding which can cause trouble for a first time keeper, although it really isn't hard as long as someone is willing to put in the effort and money to get it right.

Corns on the other hand are more forgiving of a wider range of temps and humidity. They are more active and are more likely to be seen out of their hides during the day, which makes them better for watching. They are not as likely to be stressed by handling, although they can be very flighty when young and need a little work to tame them down. They are not as shy; in fact, the older of our 2 corns often will poke her head out of her hide to see what is going on when someone walks past her enclosure.

I have both species and love them both. They complement each other very nicely. When I'm in the mood to have a snake curl up on my lap while I watch a TV show, I take out a bp. When I'm in the mood for a more active handling session, I take out one of the corns.

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I agree. I have both species and i enjoy them both equally.

Ya, corns are easier and more forgiving, but balls are awsome. They're so pretty.:banana:

I am not into corns myself, because they are flighty / squirmy when handling. I also like the larger bodied snakes. They do look pretty awesome though. There are so many different color morphs.

I've had two corn snakes die.
No other snakes of mine have died.(Burm,RTB,BP)
They where all in proper care.

The supposed beginner snake has been the worst for me.

Try getting an older corn. Baby corns are more succeptable to mistakes.

We keep ball pythons, a milksnake and some boas. Really any of them make good pet snakes, it just depends on what you personally like in a snake. They all have their good points and are all slightly different in their care requirements or style of handling. Personally I like the differences and enjoy having a mixed collection. :)

I have both species and love them all. :)

Tho I agree that if you're not really comfortable with a pencil size snake, you should look for a sub-adult to adult. A little more money but a lot more calm. :)

Overall, I'd opt for the cornsnake being a better starter snake, based on the following criteria:

1.) cheaper initial cost (although a cornsnake from petsmart may be just as much as buying a baby BP from an expo)
2.) many of the different morphs are fairly cheap, too, so a noob has many choices to start with...compared to entering BP morphs ("hmmm...$40 for a normal BP....$150+ for anything else....not a hard choice!")
3.) better initial feed responses (usually)
4.) less demanding care/husbandry

...like someone else said though, the only thing I don't like is perhaps a baby corn is quite small and squirmy compared to a more "hefty" baby BP. However, if they eat good, it doesn't take long for a baby corn to get large enough for regular handling.

corns are great, balls are ok, boas are the best :)

Hmm... Maybe a corn snake is in my future. The babies look so cute at the pet store! =D How does the texture of their skin compare to the ball pythons? I hear they're rough against our skin.

Corns?

Nah I always found them smooth.

Then again I may just be naturally insensitive. :P


dr del

They are quite smooth...except that when they move any way but forward the scales lift a bit. That might be the 'rough' you heard about. And some are more noticeable than others. :)

I see. I guess I won't know until I handle one. I like that they can be handled more than a ball python. I hate that my handling my ball is going to stress it out. o.O I was always told they liked being handled, because they like our body heat. Guess everyone in the real world is full of crap and the people online are the ones that know their stuff. =p lol

I have both also corns are easy to take care of, eat anything anytime ,easy to breed ,but stinkier then balls go way more often.

Stinkier? I don't understand your last sentence. lol

Hi,

Well it is not a gauranteed occurance but I have to say the poop of my male cornsnake is disgusting smelling in comparrison with my ball pythons poop.

The female corn however is about on a par with the balls.

They all eat the same things from the same shop and are all clear for parasites etc.

But the male could clear a room and delights me with a present at least twice to three times a week.


dr del

Makes sense... waste isn't supposed to smell pretty. =D

:D Yep, my two boys are the same way. You KNOW when they leave gifts... but all the others, female corns included, (and I have 12 snakes in a small apartment) you wouldn't know unless you looked.

So if you get a male corn...don't keep it in a confined space :P

Well I got one. How unusual... a friend who heard about my new ball python called me up and asked if I wanted a baby corn snake. Who am I to ignore a sign!? =D

Sounds good! POST PICS!! :)

We wanna know what morph and how cute.

I'll take some pictures tonight when it does its exploring. =D I'm glad you guys can tell me what the morph is, because I have NO clue. I just know it is a pretty orange color.

I really like my ball python and i really like my corn snake. But my corn snake is a much better eater. It takes about everything that looks and smells like food, including my fingers sometimes. Hehehe.

Orange usually means an Amel or a Creamsicle. :) More red = Amel (albino) and more white/yellow usually means Creamsicle.

Of course, those aren't the only ones...but they're the ones that come to mind. :)

So they bite humans more frequently than say a ball python would?

The corn snakes were all white with red, but the one I chose was the odd one of the littler. Where all the others had white spots, this one has orange spots. Its so pretty. [=

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Originally Posted by jorgasm

So they bite humans more frequently than say a ball python would?

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Because ball pythons can be stressed out for more reasons, I've been bitten by my ball that I've had for 6 months twice.. and only once by my FIRST corn and he was sick.
Even my crazy female corn who is fearful of any touch, doesn't bite.. she just.. musks. D:

I love, adore, and own both for many different reasons.

Balls

• I love the way that ball pythons handle.. it's a bit more calm and the way that they feel is very fun. For begginner snake handlers, it's a bit less intimidating than holding a fast moving corn.
• They don't poop as much and it usually doesn't smell as bad.
• They are a bit more of a challenge, which I enjoy.
• I love the morphs!

Corns

• Cheaper for the snakes and morphs in general.
• Less specific about temps and husbandry details.. much easier in that range.
• Usually have a better feeding response.
• The morphs are cheap and very pretty, they are also good begginner breeders before balls to get used to the entire idea.
• I don't mind smaller/thinner snakes and still enjoy holding them when I'm in a 'faster' mood.

That basically covers it.

I can't wait to handle it... I wish I didn't have to wait a damn week to do it. >_< LOL I think I'm going to feed it in a week and then handle it a day or two after. The breeder said they were hungry... so I dunno. Should I feed sooner than a week or would that stress the corn out?

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Originally Posted by jorgasm

I can't wait to handle it... I wish I didn't have to wait a damn week to do it. >_< LOL I think I'm going to feed it in a week and then handle it a day or two after. The breeder said they were hungry... so I dunno. Should I feed sooner than a week or would that stress the corn out?

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Wait a week and let it settle just to be safe.
You should post pictures!

It sounds like you might have taken a normal instead of an albino.
Ahahaha.

Did I say I picked an albino? And I will post pictures tonight. =D

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Originally Posted by jorgasm

Did I say I picked an albino? And I will post pictures tonight. =D

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No but white with red spots sounds albino/candy cane ish. And white with orange spots sounds normal ish.

I think the official name of its morph is pretty. =D

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Originally Posted by jorgasm

I think the official name of its morph is pretty. =D

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Ahaha. Why can't we have pictures nowwwwwww? :[[[
I'm impatient and adore corns. BAFHDDskfjlasg.

Your impatient!? Please! I'm the one that has to sit here and NOT see my own corn. LOL. When he starts moving around tonight I will make sure to take some pictures and post them right away. My boyfriend took it out this morning while I was asleep. I woke up to him sitting at the foot of the bed, snake slithering through his fingers. I was pissed. LOL

Sorry the quality is so bad. I couldn't find our good camera.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30...s/HPIM0680.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y30...s/HPIM0684.jpg

Pretty sure thats an amelanistic. Congrats.

A friend of mine at paganspace.net just said the same thing. Thanks. =p

in my opinion it depends on wat you are lookin for.if you want to be able to handle your snakes and chill with them i suggest a ball python.if you are a newb and not good at anything i suggest a corn.

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Originally Posted by Butters420

if you are a newb and not good at anything i suggest a corn.

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Say what? ...not good at anything...???

Well, I think you have just insulted many corn snake owners.

I had a albino corn for a while and while she was very pretty and pretty nifty colubred poo is down right GROSS and in a small apartment it makes a BIG impact so I ended up selling her only after having her for about a month as a result of that, but I thought she was very nifty.

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Originally Posted by xxTYLERxx

Say what? ...not good at anything...???

Well, I think you have just insulted many corn snake owners.

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I think they're just saying that they're really easy to take care of in comparison to other snakes.

I have balls, a boa, milk, and corn. They are all different in their temperaments, handling, and metabolism.
My corn and milk have much faster metabolism than my balls and boa. Makes a difference when it comes to cleaning. But I love them all and am happy with my mixed group.

Yeah, I thought it was a little rude too. >_> I love my corny.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Butters420

in my opinion it depends on wat you are lookin for.if you want to be able to handle your snakes and chill with them i suggest a ball python.if you are a newb and not good at anything i suggest a corn.

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There are ups and downs with all snakes. If you don't know anything, you need to research the subject, not get a snake.
I'm a corn owner and have had many struggles, I consider that comment an insult to my hard work.

Definitely an Amelanistic. No doubt.