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Corn snake vs ball python

S

sachen

New member
I have leopard gecko and crested gecko. I am looking for a snake. Which in your opinion is better. Also if you only have a corn snake or ball python, say the positives and negatives of the snake. If you have both snakes, say which one is better in your opinion.
 
I have both. I've had my corn for a little longer but I love them both. Both snakes are very good for first time owners. Both are very docile, rarely bite and can't do any significant harm if they do. Both are easy to care for. Feeding once a week, water once a day and a substrate change 1/2 times a month, pretty typical for snakes. Corn snakes will tend to be a little more active and won't sit still while you handle them while ball pythons will curl up in ur lap if you put them there. Both grow to similar lengths although ball pythons get substantially heavier. In terms of first snakes like I said both are great for beginners but I'd say corns are better for a first time snake owner mainly because they are much less picky eaters and are more forgiving of husbandry mistakes. However both are excellent snakes to own and you will love whichever one you choose
 
I only have a cornsnake and she was my first snake. I cannot say enough good things about her!

Corn snakes are very hardy as far as snakes go, and make a great first snake. Also, there is a lot of information about caring for them. The also have less strict humidity and heat needs the BPs, so there is that.

While it is true that BPs are sometimes considered more "lap snakes" than corn snakes, my corn snake will snuggle with me - and other cornsnakes will too as long as you frequently handle them.

Whatever you choose I am sure you will be happy. Snakes really are amazing. Just be sure you do lots of research before you make a decision, as they are a huge commitment.

And welcome to the forum!
 
I've kept snakes since I was about 17. (I'm 57 now). Boa Constrictors, Ball Pythons, and Corn Snakes. (I currently have a corn snake).

I used to catch rat snakes and corn snakes as a kid. That's how I got interested in snakes.

In my opinion as far as keeping a pet goes, I'd rather keep a Corn snake or a Boa over a Ball Python. Don't get me wrong, Ball Pythons are cool snakes but they can be tricky. I've heard stories about Ball Pythons actually starving to death because they sometimes refuse to eat for long periods of time. The only Ball Python I had many years ago never gave me any problems. But you have to do things exactly right. Ball pythons require higher temps than Boas or Corn snakes.

The Corn Snake on the other hand is sometimes referred to as the "Labrador Retriever" of the snake world. Because they are very easy to care for, very friendly, and even seem to like being handled.

Any snake can and will bite but it's been my experience over about 40 years that the Corn Snakes bite less. In fact I bet I could count on one hand the number of times I've been bitten by corn snakes and that includes the wild ones I caught as a kid. The Corn snake I currently have has never bitten anyone.

By contrast, I was bitten several times by my Boas and my Ball Python.

Keeping a pet snake is different than a dog or cat. It's probably different than a Gecko too although I've never had lizards.

I'd highly recommend a Corn Snake for a first snake.
 
ImraanM said:
I have both. I've had my corn for a little longer but I love them both. Both snakes are very good for first time owners. Both are very docile, rarely bite and can't do any significant harm if they do. Both are easy to care for. Feeding once a week, water once a day and a substrate change 1/2 times a month, pretty typical for snakes. Corn snakes will tend to be a little more active and won't sit still while you handle them while ball pythons will curl up in ur lap if you put them there. Both grow to similar lengths although ball pythons get substantially heavier. In terms of first snakes like I said both are great for beginners but I'd say corns are better for a first time snake owner mainly because they are much less picky eaters and are more forgiving of husbandry mistakes. However both are excellent snakes to own and you will love whichever one you choose
Click to expand...

^This, is exactly my thoughts^
 
I have corn snakes and one Kenyan sand boa. My husband is much less enthused about snakes than I am but the beauty of corn snakes are winning him over. He followed me around at a recent Repticon. He looked at all the exhibits and then went off to watch a ball game on his ipad. When I came to collect him from his comfy sofa, he said, I didn't see any snakes here that looked as good as yours. Corn snakes have amazing colors. Several of mine have ragdoll cat personalities. I saw some pretty ball pythons. That seemed to be the largest variety there but I still think a pretty corn will knock your socks off.
 
I keep Corns , Royals , Burms , Boas , Kings , Garters , Rhino and Bamboo Ratsnakes ..

I'd suggest a Royal as they're all generally marvellous temperament . Just make sure you get a guaranteed good feeder and you've no worries .

Mine are all in vivs and have branches as they climb every single evening . Makes me chuckle when I see people who keep them in tiny rubs with one hide and a water bowl and then they say they they STAY hidden in their hides all day !!
 
Why cant I still not edit !?

Both Royals and Corns will make great first snakes . One difference is the handling - Royals will happily stay on your lap whilst you watch TV and Corns will never stop moving and exploring ..
 
Zincubus said:
Why cant I still not edit !?

Both Royals and Corns will make great first snakes . One difference is the handling - Royals will happily stay on your lap whilst you watch TV and Corns will never stop moving and exploring ..
Click to expand...
You have to be a contributing member to be able to edit.

If you click on the orange banner, you can follow the steps to become a contributing member.
 
Contributors pay $25 US a year and get post editing and storage for an additional 200 private messages as perks. And I think also the ability to give bad karma, I think that is limited to the Contributor members?

Helps support this site and does give you a bit more status, in most cases, as a serious member. May or may not be worth it to you or someone else but I think the edit button and the expended storage are worth it to me. Especially since I use this forum to sell through, it's little enough and tax deductible anyway as an advertising cost.
 
I have both. And I personally can't pick a favorite. They're both so sweet.
For ball pythons, my pros would be that theyre super slow moving and sweet. Mine has never struck and is very calm. They also get nice and fat, but aren't super huge.
The only cons I can think of are that some people want a snake that moves more, and they don't always take frozen/thawed. They also require a bit more heat and humidity.
For corn snakes, my pros would be that they are also very sweet, but move around more. They get as long or longer than most ball pythons, but aren't as heavy bodied for sure. They're very inquisitive and easy to keep. They're also very cheap compared to BPs.
Some cons would be that they can be a bit too wiggly for some people as babies, and they're more apt to get scared and poop on you than a baby ball python. However, adults are generally very nice and calm.
I just can't pick a favorite. They're both so great.

Sent from my XT1042 using Tapatalk
 
Also, I forgot to mention that BPs can be finicky eaters, and they will sometimes go off of food for awhile, while corns generally eat like clockwork and readily accept frozen/thawed. Good luck!

Sent from my XT1042 using Tapatalk
 
claire.chapman11 said:
I have both. And I personally can't pick a favorite. They're both so sweet.
For ball pythons, my pros would be that theyre super slow moving and sweet. Mine has never struck and is very calm. They also get nice and fat, but aren't super huge.
The only cons I can think of are that some people want a snake that moves more, and they don't always take frozen/thawed. They also require a bit more heat and humidity.
For corn snakes, my pros would be that they are also very sweet, but move around more. They get as long or longer than most ball pythons, but aren't as heavy bodied for sure. They're very inquisitive and easy to keep. They're also very cheap compared to BPs.
Some cons would be that they can be a bit too wiggly for some people as babies, and they're more apt to get scared and poop on you than a baby ball python. However, adults are generally very nice and calm.
I just can't pick a favorite. They're both so great.

Sent from my XT1042 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Great summing up !
 
claire.chapman11 said:
Also, I forgot to mention that BPs can be finicky eaters, and they will sometimes go off of food for awhile, while corns generally eat like clockwork and readily accept frozen/thawed. Good luck!

Sent from my XT1042 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

You're right of course BUT in my experience they are either GOOD / GREAT feeders or not so good from very young hatchling phase ...

My GOOD feeding hatchlings remained GOOD as they get older .
 
I have both. I love them a lot but for a beginner, I suggest a corn snake. I find ball pythons to be a little more needy. Not to mention the hunger strikes can be frustrating. Some can be very difficult to switch to frozen as well.
 
I keep 20+ species of snakes. NO ball Pythons. I used to keep them going way back to when imports were the only availability.
For a first snake I never would recommend a BP. Now odds are you wont have an issue with a BP but for a first snake especially compared to a corn snake the odds are much higher. With proper care with corns you probably have a 1 % chance of an issue with a well started to adult. With BP's you probably have a 10 % chance of an issue with any age BP.
BP's can go off feed at any time. They can go from FT to live only for no reason. They will lay on a unregulated heat source or wrap around a heat lamp and stay till severely burned. BP's will lay in their water dishes till developing water blisters. BP's develop URI's mush easier than colubrids. Even BP's will eat another BP if kept together (never ok with any snake). Boy I probably have dozens of stories running through my head right now about problem BP's :cry: haha.
So many long time Herpetologists now categorize BP's as an intermediate level snake.
 
For me, this question was a tough one. In the end, the only thing that made my decision to start with a corn over a ball is the price tag. Some of the BP morphs are very expensive, even the normals are not as dirt cheap as a normal corn. The price, and the setup, as it seems corns need a bit less than balls as far as husbandry/housing requirements. BUT ultimately my decision was to get a corn snake FIRST. We will also own a ball python in the future, I'm sure of it. Just not yet. No reason to just pick one :D
 
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