Advice please...?

[lisa77]

Hey Guys,
I would like to know the main differences between keeping a Royals/Ball Pythons and a Corn snake.

I have 2 corns at the moment & am currently trying (my hardest) to decide what to get next.(& have been for the last 3 months!)

I love Balls. many people have said that they arnt keen on handling, & this can cause them to stress & stop eating, and if I want a sociable snake that likes getting handled then go for another corn..then again i have had some people say that with regular handling from young, they dont mind it..and have no probs with thiers...????

confused !!?? I am !!.I have read care sheet after care sheet, been on varios forums & websites ...any help would be great, I am off to a show in July, so I have to make up my mind & quick!!!

Cheers !

[kavmon]

go for a ball( it's what you want ). correct temps and hides are vital for success with balls. every snake is different, some are real active and curious and some are nervous and scared. you have to find one that suits you.


vaughn

[lisa77]

So for a baby, I will be using a secure plastic container to begin with. How long are they able to stay in this type of thing before they need a big viv ?


also what about heating whilst in the plastic tub ? would you put a heat mat on the underside of 1 half of it & use a stat to ?

cheers for replying

[kavmon]

for a baby i would use a 6qt. shoebox tub or a 12/15 qt tub. they like nice small hides and warm temps. i'd use a heat mat regulated by a thermostat. around 300 grams or so i move them up to larger tubs.



vaughn

[lisa77]

thats great, cheers for your help.


If anyone has anything to add to this advice I would be happy to hear it !!

thank you thank you

[jglass38]

thats great, cheers for your help.


If anyone has anything to add to this advice I would be happy to hear it !!

thank you thank you

Go with what Vaughn said. Get a secure plastic container, make a bunch of holes in it for air flow. Get a UTH (under tank heater) and thermostat to control them (try www.reptilebasics.com) and get a water bowl and a couple small hides that the snake can just squeeze into. Balls rock!!

[lisa77]

thanks so much guys..i cant contain my excitment !

[kenzie]

Don't get me wrong... I love my ball!! But... The corn snake does not need all the heating as the ball does. So the "maintanance" on the ball is much more difficult as they NEED proper heat and humidity. Someone can and will correct me if I'm wrong but this is what I've found.


As far as handling goes mine doesn't mind at all! They move much slower than corns but can have thier bursts of speed too. For my 5 year old son I chose the ball python because it wouldn't "get away" as fast as the corn. But the heating and humidity took a month or two to get under control.

For a viv you can also think about a regular 20 gal tank with a solid wood top. My breeder I bought my snake from swears by them and has them available at his shop. This way the humidity stays in and you don't have to worry so much about regulating it. The heat source is a 40W bulb that has a small cut out in the top. I will have to take a picture of the viv and post it.

Must admit though I would much rather be lifting up a plastic container rather than a heavy glass one when it's time to clean!!

[snakedude56]

Snakes can be pretty unpredictable I had a corn tht hated bein handled and was a terrible eater even though i gave him everything he needed to stay stress free and healthy but my bp ive had for a month and he actually likes bein handled and loves to eat just as much

[gmmuscle91]

So for a baby, I will be using a secure plastic container to begin with. How long are they able to stay in this type of thing before they need a big viv ?

A ball python can live in a plastic tub their whole life. You do need to up the sizes every once in a while. You will have to ask someone else for the size they use for adults as I dont know that, but do know that tubs are WAY better than glass for a bp.