trying to decide whether to get a corn or a BP

[intermission]

I can't decide which one to get. From what I read I think I would have no problem keeping either. I just can't decide. Corns come in more colors and are more active. BP will just wrap around you arm and stay there which is cool. I just can't decide. Any more pros or cons for either species?

[Argentra]

I could write a mini book on that.

I keep, and adore, both species. Corns are much easier to keep on the husbandry level: lower temps with more tolerance for fluctuations, less humidity, smaller size enclosures... but they can be a handful when young. Best to get an older, calmer corn whenever you can. And yes, calm corn snakes do exist...they just move slower and are easier to keep in hand.

Ball pythons are calmer and easier to handle, but have husbandry needs that are kinda specific. Also, they hide all day so are not 'display' snakes (i.e. are not for showing off in the living room).

It all depends on your:
Available funds (BPs are much more expensive than corns).
Space (BPs are larger and need bigger cages, corns can spend their whole adult life in a 20long).
Level of comfort with snake care (Corns are more of a beginner snake)

Hope that helped some.

[kjhowland]

easy solution.....get both I can't comment on the balls, for I have a boa. They both are great animals. The ball has a little more husbandry care, corns are fairly easy. Balls from what I hear can go off their feed occasionally, the only time my corn did that was due to its yearly hibernation. corns tend to be a bit more skittish.

[panthercz]

I've been keeping corns for the past 20+ years.
Corns in my opinion are much easier from a husbandry standpoint. They are easy to feed, they don't seem as picky or go off food like balls do. You can tame them down without a problem, you just have to work with them. As babies they can be a handful.
The thing I do *NOT* like about corns is the odor from their feces. I can't stand it for some reason, them and milksnakes smell horrible imo. I moved my last remaining corn into my basement just a few months ago with my feeder rodents so I don't have to smell him.

Balls are my favorite especially from an attitude standpoint. Even all the wild caught imports I worked with never tried to bite. They would hiss and curl into a ball but never struck.
I like the size and feel of ball pythons much more, not too big and not too small. They don't spaz out like a corn will and just seem much more slow going.
While a little more demanding husbandry wise they are still fairly easy. Feeding can be a hassle with some but it's nothing major.
Smell wise...they don't smell like roses but they don't have that pungent bite to em that corns do.