Ball Python or Cornsnake?

[Daserh]

I really need to know, which one is better? I love both of they're morphs, and they are both great snakes, but I need to know, which one should I get? Think about this, don't just say BP because it is your favourite snake or likewise with the corn. These are the points I need to think about:

- Which snake is cheaper? Not fancy morphs, but with feeding, care and tub?
- Which snake is more people friendly? My mom will not react well if it is an aggressive snake at times.
- Which snake is easier to care for? I DO NOT CURRENTLY HAVE A SNAKE. I AM ON THIS FORUM FOR RESEARCH. So, please tell me honestly.

[shelliebear]

Cornsnake is probably cheaper, both morph and food wise. As adults a corn probably wouldn't eat anything bigger than a small rat, and as babies they eat pinky mice which are fairly cheap.
They don't require their temps or humidity be as high as BP's, and most will use Aspen shavings as a place to hide instead of an actual hide.
Cornsnakes could be put in a 10 gallon tank while younger, probably up to about 1.5 years (depending on growth), which would equal a pretty small tub. Not sure how many quarts--maybe 5 ish?
Something to think about is the age of snake you get. With corn snakes, (I own one! ) as babies, they are wriggly little shoelaces. They won't sit still just like a ball python will most of the time. They're barely big enough as babies to wrap around anything so they can't hang from your neck while you do homework, if that's what you're looking for.
Both are beautiful kinds of snakes. Corn snake morphs are a lot cheaper, though it's sad that they are for breeders and future breeders.
As for temperament, both types of snake can be nippy as babies. My corn snake has never struck at me, but then again, neither have my BP's. It depends which snake you get. See if you can monitor one you're interested in for a few days. Hold it in your hands, see if it's aggressive when you're getting it out of the tank.
I'd say probably go corn snake. Especially since with a BP you have to be prepared to either hook a humidifier up in the snake room to keep the humidity up (you live in Canada, I'm in Washington state just beneath ya'll and our humidity is awful), or spray the tank with a bottle until you have arthritis, LOL.
Read some of the care sheets on this site if you haven't already. After that, it's up to you. Find a breeder if you can, and I bet you my left arm they'd let you hold the snake and look at it before you buy it.
Ask for one that doesn't bite a lot.

Good luck! I want pics when you decide

[xxxLIGERxxx]

never owned or know anything about corn snake so i will be giving inputs on my personal experience with BPs.

temperament wise, my BP never did try to strike or look angry when handled even if she hasnt eaten yet. even startled she would just try to back up and look for a safe place. she is even a training material when i teach and let my students get the feel in handling her. she is handled almost everyday except for feeding week where i let her be to help digestion.

feeding for me is easy as i have a steady supply of rat and mouse.

hope this helps

[masterofdestiny90]

I have both corns and balls. They each have there good points and not so good points. Most corns have a good temperament. There are some that like to bite but IMHO they are few and most of those even grow out of it. Corns don't eat as much as balls and don't require as high of humidity as balls. There bad point is that most will not sit still. They are always on the move. Most ball pythons have a good temperament and seem to like to hang out with there owners sometimes. I only have one ball that likes to strike at me but she is young and it seems she is starting to get used to being touched. I think that both make very good pets but it is all up to you as to which one works for you.

[Plissken]

I have both and they are great. My new girlfriend, who is not a snake person, actually touched the corn snake and thought it was pretty cool. She is interested in handling it, but not the others (ball, bull, rtb.) When anyone walks into the room, the corn snake will come out of it's hide and watch the person...if you go up to the tank, it will climb and see what's what (probably thinks it's getting fed.) The corn is very handlable, but is always on the move.
The ball definitely has more substance and moves slow...it will just hang out. The ball's head is very distinct from it's body...it looks like it has more expression...sounds weird, but just how it feels to me.
I'm in canada, so the corn is a lot hardier, as far as not needing as complex a husbandry and eats less, but eats regularly...balls are picky.
For a first snake, I'd say get the corn...smaller, easier to maintain, friendly and not as intimidating to nonsnake people. You'll have it and enjoy it for a little while before you go out and grab a ball for your collection...and you won't regret doing that in the least. Good luck

[blushingball419]

Well, the others have already brought up a lot of good points, but I'll see what I can add since I own both.

My first snake was a corn and I still have her 4 years later. She's a great snake. Corns are easier to care for if you're going to have a glass tank, since they don't require the higher temps and humidity that a ball python does. No matter what the people at the pet store try to tell you, it is very difficult to maintain the proper humidity for a ball python in a glass tank unless you live in a tropical or semi-tropical area. So that's probably the biggest pro when it comes to corns, they are very hardy and are much easier to care for in a glass tank. Also, like shelliebear mentioned, they normally won't have to be fed anything bigger than a large mouse or maybe a small rat for a huge female, and a large ball python might eventually eat medium rats, which can get expensive.

You also never have to worry about a corn snake refusing to eat. They are much easier in that aspect as well. Most of them will eat anytime, everytime and go for anything you put in front of them, whereas ball pythons can stress new owners out when they decide to be picky or go off food in the winter months.

The best thing about a ball python, however, is that most of them are extremely laid back and usually just like to chill when you have them out. Although all of my corns have nice temperaments and never try to bite, they are just always moving and are very active when you try to hold them.

Hope this helps, they are both great snakes and it's really up to you. I would say corns are a bit cheaper in the long run because you might have to buy an extra heating element for a ball python depending on the temperature of your house, but they are pretty much equal when it comes to that. They are both relatively "people friendly", but bps are more laid back while corns are active. And they are both easy to care for, but a corn is a little easier since you don't have to worry about the humidity.

Good luck, and it's nice to see you're doing your research!

[angllady2]

Although I've yet to own a corn, I know a lot of people who do.

Corns are undoubtedly cheaper all the way around. Even morphs are cheaper.

Husbandry wise corns are easier.

However if it comes down to temperament for your decision, corns are the party animals and balls are the couch potatoes. It all depends on what you are looking for.

Gale

[youbeyouibei]

A wealth of great information from everyone and just to reiterate what's already been stated, corns are cheaper all the way around and are absolutely great snakes.

I have both ball pythons and corn snakes and there are pluses and minuses to both. I started out with a corn snake and am glad I did, as it was a great learning experience (still have him!) and he was very forgiving of my clumsy mistakes. Corns are hardier but tend to be more active as previously noted. There are a TON of morphs of almost any color imaginable and like it was previously stated, they're cheaper as a whole than are ball morphs.

Another thing to think about is the upkeep and costs and a corn snake is cheaper all around, in my experience, anyway. Great animals but very active. They're more of a "display" animal in that they come out to see what's going on as opposed to a ball hiding away. Just my two cents. Either way, you really can't go wrong, lol! Kudos to you for doing your research and getting some informed opinions.

Best of luck to you!

[omnibus2]

I cannot in all honesty recommend a ball python as a first snake unless you've had experience with other reptiles. Look up care guides on this site-you must maintain proper ambient and belly heat in addition to humidity. That being said, ball pythons are incredibly tame and great pets, but I recommend a corn snake for a first. They are far easier to keep and are terrific pets as well. I keep both bp and corns. good luck

[Johan]

I started with the corn simply because they were easier to care for and cheaper. Once I became confident that I was able to do all that was needed for a ball, I made the jump and got my first last week. Whatever you choose, do tons of research and have a good setup before you get your new pet