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What snake next?

M

medusa999

New member
Hi, I'm a long time lurker, first time poster.

I have been the proud owner of a beautiful corn snake for a few months now, and of course have become completely addicted!

If I had my way I would have several of every kind of snake, but I can only really get one more.

I was thinking of getting either a ball python or a hognose, I know they are a bit harder to look after and less forgiving of mistakes than a corn, so I was wondering, which snake would you recomend?

So far i seem to be doing well with my baby, she is becoming tamer every day and is shedding and eating perfectly, and I'd love to see how I get on with something else!
 
ball pythons are seven shades of awsome, but I understand they can be picky eaters? Is it a case of them actually starving themselves, or do they just go off their food now and again?
 
Either. I ended up with a BP earlier this year, and aside from needing higher humidity and being on feeding strike for a while, he's been pretty easy to care for, and I love him to pieces, and I got another one in August. The feeding strike ended, and I think maybe he thought it was mating season. He didn't lose any weight. Humidity is manageable, just keep them on cypress bedding and mist occasionally if the humidity in the house is low.

I am planning to get a hognose next, and if they are well started on f/t pinks, they seem quite easy to care for, and ~so~ cute! I talked to a hognose breeder at Daytona so I think I have a good idea of care. Apparently hatchlings can be tough to start, I wouldn't buy an out-of-egg hatchling, only one that is known to be feeding well. Other than the feeding issue, they are as easy as corn snakes.

Or, get another corn snake. They come in so many morphs, after all.
 
medusa999 said:
ball pythons are seven shades of awsome, but I understand they can be picky eaters? Is it a case of them actually starving themselves, or do they just go off their food now and again?
Click to expand...

Mine was being a non-eater for a while but didn't lose any weight, then started eating again after only a few skipped meals but only wanted mice, and needed several mice to make a decent meal but would only eat if they were really, really hot and dry, so it was quite a hassle for a couple months, but he acted fine, didn't lose weight, seemed healthy. Then one day he took a proper size rat heated really hot and dried off, and since then he hasn't missed a meal, and his feeding response is amazing, he strikes and coils with great enthusiasm. He may do it all over again next year, but I won't worry so much since he came thru this spring without weight loss & eventually got back on track with his rats.
 
I don't own either of those species but have looked into them quite a bit. They are pretty different from each other. It might help everyone give you better advice if we knew what attracts you to each?
 
I own ball pythons (15 of them!) and a western hognose, and they're both great snakes... and neither are hard to take care of, at least not in my experiences. Hoggies are very entertaining little snakes, they stay relatively small, and gosh darnit are they cute. :D On the downside they can be hissy/temperamental at times, you always need to be aware of their venom (even though it can't really hurt a human), and mine is pretty demanding about getting attention. My girl will also eat anything & everything you offer, but I've heard males tend to fast annually.

Ball Pythons are super mellow (okay, they're LAZY), husbandry is simple once you get them set up, they come in a beautiful array of colors & patterns, get to a nice chunky size, and are generally pretty easy to care for. Only downside is their picky eating, but that isn't a problem once you learn to relax about it. On my ball python forum we have continuous "Why won't my snake eat?" threads, and the answer is usually "Unless there's an obvious husbandry or health issue, they just don't feel like it now." You HAVE to be okay with live feedings, though, since there's a good chance you'll have to go live for a BP - and some will have preferences on the type of prey too.

Just remember they can go MONTHS without eating, so there's no reason to stress over a fasting BP... my girl Nerissa went 9 months without food this year, and it took a frozen ASF to get her going again. Now she's taking frozen normal rats every week, which makes her one of my best eaters. She only lost about 200-300 of her 1900 grams during the fast, and gained that back within a month of ending it. So if you can be a non-paranoid keeper, I think ball pythons are the bomb-diggity-bomb. ;)
 
Boas, for God sake! You have so many dwarf variants there and you stick to the one snake who can easily be replaced with furniture! Ball pythons are so static it's disturbing. :smash:
 
I say go with another corn. The two BPs I got have refused to eat f/t prey for me, and it's hard to get BPs to eat f/t period. They WERE supposed to be eating that, but they're not. They may have been before, but one little thing (or big thing) will change a BP. I don't know anything about hognose snakes really, but they are venomous, but rear fanged. However, they can cause some swelling, or more problems if you have a sensitive body. Hogs are also very picky eaters unless they're regularly been eating rodents. Hoggies are frog/toad eaters, not rodent eaters.


So I say just get another corn. Or a smaller species of boa, perhaps. But I'm leaning moreso on another corn.
 
I have heard from a people different people that balls prefer ASF's.

Apparently they are what alot of people use to jumpstart their ball's diet. I have NOT researched this myself it's just what I was told so look at it however you will but I was told that ASF's are what ball's would normally eat in the wild and that's why alot of them prefer them over rats.

I have heard amazing things about balls, there only downfall is their hunger strikes, once you get passed that they are great...it's definately my next snake ;) A Mojave at that!!
 
Thanks everyone for your replies!

I think a ball python might be the way to go, now that I know they arnt impossible to feed if you're prepared to be patent and try around for what they like.

hognoses do seem like lovely snakes, but the fact that they are venomous is a good point. I wouldnt be worried about me, but I have cats as well, and I dont know it they would be so understanding if bitten:rolleyes:

I would get another corn, but I'd want to go all out for an interesting morph like a snow

ahhh decisions decisions!!! :headbang:
 
Brazilian Rainbow Boa. They have high humidity needs, but if you can manage that, you should be good. I, at least, find them easy, beautiful and fun.
 
Kokopelli said:
Boas, for God sake! You have so many dwarf variants there and you stick to the one snake who can easily be replaced with furniture! Ball pythons are so static it's disturbing. :smash:
Click to expand...

Guess that's why I love them... they appeal to my incredibly lazy nature, LOL. :eek:
 
medusa999 said:
Thanks everyone for your replies!

I think a ball python might be the way to go, now that I know they arnt impossible to feed if you're prepared to be patent and try around for what they like.
Click to expand...

I think you'll be very happy with your decision! Lemme know if you need any advice before and/or after getting one... I can even help you find a baby, if need be. ;)
 
Momto3boys said:
I have heard from a people different people that balls prefer ASF's.

Apparently they are what alot of people use to jumpstart their ball's diet.
Click to expand...

Yep, they worked like a charm for my 9-month faster. :uhoh: ASFs are illegal here in California, but I managed to find a bag of frozen while vacationing in San Diego... luckily the frozen was good enough, and she devoured that bag in a matter of weeks. Let's just hope she doesn't go on strike again, or I might have to drive all the way back to San Diego!

I have heard amazing things about balls, there only downfall is their hunger strikes, once you get passed that they are great...it's definately my next snake ;) A Mojave at that!!
Click to expand...

I produced my first Mojave this summer, the only one in a clutch of 6 (other 5 were normals). She is so beautiful, I was in love the minute I saw her... looks just like her handsome daddy. :) They're definitely one of my favorite morphs!
 
medusa999 said:
Thanks everyone for your replies!

I think a ball python might be the way to go, now that I know they arnt impossible to feed if you're prepared to be patent and try around for what they like.

hognoses do seem like lovely snakes, but the fact that they are venomous is a good point. I wouldnt be worried about me, but I have cats as well, and I dont know it they would be so understanding if bitten:rolleyes:

I would get another corn, but I'd want to go all out for an interesting morph like a snow

ahhh decisions decisions!!! :headbang:
Click to expand...
Just want to add... hoggies are "venomous" in the same sense that bees are venomous, and with a much crappier delivery system. They aren't prone to biting to begin with (they prefer to put on a big show) and when they do they have to chew you a bit to get any venom into your, or your kitties', systems.
 
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