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Ball Python or Corn Snake

4drbeemer

4drbeemer

New member
I have been battling with myself back and forth with these two. What should I do? Give me your honest opinion please thats what I'm looking for. I know this is a Corn snake forum but it is my understanding that there is alot of people in here with both. So I dont mean to offend anyone by doing this I'm just looking for the best snake for me.

By the way thanks
 
Do you have any snakes at all? Have you kept snakes before? If no, I would recommend a cornsnake for your first snake. More foolproof.

Nanci
 
I'd go with a corn snake, especially if you don't have much experience keeping snakes.

I have both. I was really excited about the BP when I first got him, but now I'm back to liking my corns better. I still don't really trust boids.
 
Well like TTF, I also have both a Corn and a Royal/Ball python. I've held about 10 different BPs, and my girl is a rare breed: A grumpy BP. I'd recommend a Corn for your first because many BPs can go off feeding for long periods of time, and that can cause stress to you that isn't ideal for your first snake. Males are more likely to go off than females though.

They're both great snakes, and baby BPs are more cute than baby Corns IMO, although, a strike from a baby Corn is possibly the cutest thing in the snake world lol.

So, it's up to you.

All the best

David
 
I think corns are more "fool proof" than ball pythons. Though both are extremely easy to care for. But in the end I'd recommend a corn as a first snake. But if you're set on having a ball python, then it can be done. In either case, make sure you choose a healthy specimen that is eating regularly. That's the key to eliminating a lot of headaches in either case...
 
Have to agree with everyone else, go with a corn. I had a BP for my first snake years ago and she would go off feeding for ridiculous periods of time that started to worry me. Whatever you do let us know and we always love pics :)
 
I think I read where you wanted to do a tropical-themed aquarium(?). A corn would be a great snake for a "South Florida" or "Carolina palmetto" setup. A bit of research (i.e. Googling images ;)) would give some habitat idea's to base your setup with. As far as the snake I'd look for a really good-looking example of a locality corn, a real sweet Okeetee or Miami, or even an exceptional wild-type (normal) corn.

Balls can be a pain, and they aren't for everybody. For ease of learning, tolerance, and something to build a setup around, a corn snake is hard to beat...
 
I thought a royal would be a problem or I thought they would be complicated to keep, but they are not, and they make loverly pets, very calm, very chilled, yes they can stop eating, yes they can stress easy, but there are probably hundreds of ways to get a snake to eat,
however, I did get a corn as my first snake, and corn snakes IMO have to be the best snake for new people in this hobby, they are very hardy snakes and are generally very docile, they do and can grow bigger then a royal, so if size is a problem I'd get an adult, that way you know it eats, you can handle it more, and the size will never be a problem,

Goodluck, it's hard to say a real answer, both snakes are Very docile, Very easy to keep, and Very enjoyable pets :)
 
I was told by the pet store owner that it would be better to get a BP because they are alot easier to handle and that they have a lesser tendency to bite and that they were alot calmer than a corn snake. he told me that corn snakes are everywhere and they are a lot harder to handle and hold. he said corns required 100% attention instead of being able to put it around your neck and just "chill" was the word he used.
 
my big girl sits around my neck for 30mins happily without moving around, but othertimes she wants to move around, a corn will generally take about 5mins to calm down, because once they are out, they want to be moving around, but once calm they so just sit there, it's really hard, because both royal and corn are great pets, royals will just sit there though, but they cant really be handled for the same lengh of time as a corn, they stress very easy and they generally like to feel secure and hide, when handling you are afterall an unknown giant to them, corns seem to handle being handled very well, but some royals can be put off food, and stop eating for months..

It's really hard, why not get a corn, then get a royal? or the otherway around..
 
Pet Corn Snake said:
my big girl sits around my neck for 30mins happily without moving around, but othertimes she wants to move around, a corn will generally take about 5mins to calm down, because once they are out, they want to be moving around, but once calm they so just sit there, it's really hard, because both royal and corn are great pets, royals will just sit there though, but they cant really be handled for the same lengh of time as a corn, they stress very easy and they generally like to feel secure and hide, when handling you are afterall an unknown giant to them, corns seem to handle being handled very well, but some royals can be put off food, and stop eating for months..

It's really hard, why not get a corn, then get a royal? or the otherway around..
Click to expand...

because this will be my first. and i dont know if i can handle two right off the bat. but later on that will definatly be a possiblity just not right now. plus i live in a apartment and my room mate hates snakes
 
4drbeemer said:
I was told by the pet store owner that it would be better to get a BP because they are alot easier to handle and that they have a lesser tendency to bite and that they were alot calmer than a corn snake. he told me that corn snakes are everywhere and they are a lot harder to handle and hold. he said corns required 100% attention instead of being able to put it around your neck and just "chill" was the word he used.
Click to expand...

I am gonna have to agree with him... Personally, I would go with the ball python. A corn snake was my first reptile but I found that they were too much like worms, and they would never just lay down or sit with you. I know this is not what snakes do; they're not dogs or cats but I like a calm snake and personally, a calm one is absolutley the best to keep IMO. Ball pythons are more likely to stop eating but if you read up on them you will know it's just a phase. My 2 babies NEVER stopped eating, in fact they are very great eaters. If you get a good bp, from a breeder I will have to say it is less likely to stop eating and have problems.. so..

Corn Snakes- always active, usually eat, easy to lose (imo)

Ball Pythons- not as active, eating habits varies, a very "chill" snake... :)

Just what I think... but it's more of your choice, if you want a calm chunky snake get a BP, If you want a thin VERY active snake get a corn... :)
 
4drbeemer said:
I was told by the pet store owner that it would be better to get a BP because they are alot easier to handle and that they have a lesser tendency to bite and that they were alot calmer than a corn snake
Click to expand...

BP's may be a little less likely to bite, but if you do get bitten it will hurt a heck of a lot more than a corn snake bite. A bite from a hatchling BP is more painful than a bite from an adult corn snake.

Corn snake teeth = velcro

Ball python teeth = big needles
 
Here are my 2 cents worth, I own Corns, Rats, Kings, Boas, pythons, water snakes, garters, Pituophis, pretty much a variety of snakes. My Favorite by choice is the Mexican black kings, followed by Black Milks and then Corns to Pituophis.

As your first snake, go with the corn or a good rat snake. You can not go wrong with these guys. Yes, the little ones are jumpy but seriously snakes are not a hand holdy pet. They will squirm and try to get away. But for snakes, if you get a yearling your odds are much better. It will be a calmer snake and also it should be a good eater.
Plus everyone here is right, a corn is the better first snake compared to a ball. You will get frustrated more often with a Ball than with a corn. Yes, the are slower but they can get away non the less. I have had 2 balls escape and luck was on my side and they were found. But any snake will get out if given a chance.
 
4drbeemer said:
I was told by the pet store owner that it would be better to get a BP because they are alot easier to handle and that they have a lesser tendency to bite and that they were alot calmer than a corn snake. he told me that corn snakes are everywhere and they are a lot harder to handle and hold. he said corns required 100% attention instead of being able to put it around your neck and just "chill" was the word he used.
Click to expand...

this is pretty much exactly what i was gonna say, but I wanted to add that corn snakes are easier to take care of. After setting up my corns heat and humid hide, he really takes care of himself (of course I feed , hold, and clean his cage, but I mean I dont have to worry about the humidity that much at all) my bp on the other hand I am constantly monotering his humidity and the poor thing still has bad sheds...

soooo, even though this phrase is overdone... 6 of one and 1/2 dozen of the other...
 
I've got 7 Corns, and they are fabulous..
had a king, traded the bitey beast away..
I'm strongly considering a BP soon.. the only
experience I've had with a BP is a friends 4yr old
small "MEAN" female... (nickname is "The BI%@H")
but I love the look..
I can't imagine having anything but a corn as a first snake,
My 3ft adult will hang around my neck & shoulders for quite awhile
w/o problems, my 2yr old is mellow and hangs out too..
My fastest, most active one is my little normal..
so it depends on the snakes personality how active they are.

Good Luck with your choice>>>
 
I have both, and I would vote for cornsnake. My BP was my second snake, and I honestly think I should have waited a bit longer. It is EXTREMELY stressful when your snake goes off feed, and exceptionally hard to just accept that it's going to happen every once in awhile.

I was bitten by my BP as a hatchling, but have never been bitten by a corn. I can say that even a hatchling BP bite HURT... and I did bleed. Most people don't even bleed when they get bit by a corn.

BPs are also less forgiving about husbandry mistakes, and stress very easily. I honestly also feel that the flightiness of corns is a good exercise for people wanting to get into the snake hobby. It's a great way to used to handling snakes
 
If you have no experience with snakes do not get a BP. Yes they are nice snakes. But they can be a pain to look after when they start to do seasonal fasting. Also they are friendly but they can just change for no reason, granted not all the time but if you BP gets to the thickness of a tin of beans do you really want it to bite you when you have no experience. Corn snakes are very resilient and ARE friendly and dont hurt as much when they bite.
 
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