What do you mean, I can't have both?!

[Kritters4Keeps]

Hey ya'll- No doubt, I'm not a familiar name. I joined in the late hours of yesterday, thanks to my dad, who found this spectacular site!

Here's a quick quip of information so that you know what I know:

When I was a toddler until I was about seven, my parents had a wide array of animals. They even had a few different tarantulas before I was born, snakes, lizards, you name it. I started growing up with a fat, beloved gray pet rat I named Nosey (had several others too), Rose knee (I believe) tarantula, geckos in my bedroom, and my stepmum had both a Burmese Python and a Ball Python. We had an iguana, too, and apparently a Savannah Monitor when I was around three. (Dad said it had a rather freakish fascination with me, and they got rid of it because they were afraid it'd nail me as a treat.)..And you can't forget all the little land & water turtles we've found and rescued from the road, lol. I used to catch garden snakes, growing up.

After that little critter era, they moved to the country. We've had many cats, a few dogs, and as many as sixteen horses at a time. Before the horse market crashed, my parents bred them, raised them here at the ranch, and took me along with them. Last year, we turned back to the smaller animals since nature has been picking off our aging, furry pets where the horses had to be sold. (That, and my horse-crazy stepmum turned to metal horses instead..) We got two pet hedgehogs after two weeks of (my, lol) extensive research.. I was eighteen at the time I contacted the breeder in the next state, spoke with her mostly through email though we had phone calls. She's still on my facebook friends, and still stay in contact.

So, although I don't have any personal experience with most reptiles, I do have experience with a wide array of animals, breeders, and one very beloved vet we've used since I can remember. You can speak critter with me. I'm also a lover of research- I'm a writer and a reader, and it does come in handy, lol. I've already learned a great deal about snakes, and have printed off papers from this site about what I'll need, what to look for, and other things. My vet also handles exotic pets, rather regularly..

Sounds like I should be good to get going, right? Lol, not so easy.

I'm having a difficult time choosing between a Ball Python and a Cornsnake.

I'm not at all afraid of either or most others, although anything that somewhat resembles a Coral snake makes me nervous, and the water snakes, those of which we have plenty. I'm located in southern IL, a couple hours from the IN border.

Some things I am considering:

My Weight VS Theirs
I am about 5'4, and might weigh 120LBS on a good day. I know that pythons are a great deal thicker, but both they and cornsnakes are the same length. I'm not afraid of being attacked, etc.- my concern is handling. I have read that (like many animals, even hedgehogs!) BPs get increasingly aggressive if not regularly handled. It wouldn't be a problem, but I'm wondering how much trouble I'd have picking them up, cleaning their cages, basic handling, lol.

Space
I'm planning on moving out in the spring; I won't be getting any other pet until at least summer, but I'm looking into fall. I know how big of a responsibility horses are- and to me, being inexperienced, snakes are no different. I am a full time worker with the local hospital (have been part time for three years, was my first job), so income is no threat or an issue. I know cornsnakes can have a smaller aquarium, but I've already found some promising 40gals that are only ten bucks off some 30 gals in pet stores in nearby towns. I guess I'm just wanting to throw this out there.. I'll be the only one really handling the snake, and I usually have a working-mid-day sort of schedule.

Temperment
99% of my friends are scared of snakes (despite most of them being bigger than me). I've heard that cornsnakes are very gentle, but hyper; I've read that BPs are lazy but can be temperamental.. And then, a new website, and it says the opposite about either. I like a little exploration and curiosity with my sitting at the computer or watching a movie.. I know, personalities vary by the snake. I want something that I can keep tamed easily enough to allow other people to touch it- I'm not at all going to be hasty with my selection. I'm going to be looking for a pet that is active, curious, but not showing aggression unless its a defense move for a hatchling.. And yes, I'm buying one young so I can raise it myself- something my parents learned with horses. But has anyone noticed any key things that helped let them know a snake was friendly or visa versa, besides the basic signs of interest, allowing to be touched, etc.?


This is probably going to answer my own question, but I've got a feeling I'm not going to know until I hold either species of snake at one pet store or breeder, or another. Thoughts, anyone? Extra advice quips? Its greatly appreciated.