Corn Snake vs Ball Python

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Corn snake is #1 beginning species.

Corns are definitely easy, but I don't think any easier than Kings or BPs

[Andy_G]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Corns are definitely easy, but I don't think any easier than Kings or BPs

Kings habitually try to eat fingers, balls habitually fast. Therefore I would disagree.

[craigafrechette]

Originally Posted by Andy_G

Kings habitually try to eat fingers, balls habitually fast. Therefore I would disagree.

Kings outgrow their bitey behavior very quickly. And as long as a potential new keeper does PROPER research and understands that BPs can go on food strikes there's nothing difficult. 90% of new keeper questions are food strike related. So, if you're PREPARED, there's nothing to worry about.

I've kept corns, Kings, BPs, hognose and Borneo STP. I wouldn't recommend a hognose or a Borneo as a first snake, but Kings, corns and balls all make great first snakes.

I no longer keep corns (they honestly bore me) but ill always have Kings and BPs.

[Andy_G]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Kings outgrow their bitey behavior very quickly. And as long as a potential new keeper does PROPER research and understands that BPs can go on food strikes there's nothing difficult. 90% of new keeper questions are food strike related. So, if you're PREPARED, there's nothing to worry about.

I've kept corns, Kings, BPs, hognose and Borneo STP. I wouldn't recommend a hognose or a Borneo as a first snake, but Kings, corns and balls all make great first snakes.

I no longer keep corns (they honestly bore me) but ill always have Kings and BPs.

Not to say that you're wrong, but I still have a contrasting opinion.

- I've kept a few common kings (over 30 individuals total between the californian, eastern, speckled, mbk, florida subspecies) and almost every single one of them that I had were very food driven and would bite and chew randomly. A few breeders here even have trouble pairing their animals no matter what they do because of this drive. Food response bites have nothing to do with age of an animal and in fact this response can strengthen with age and size, not dissipate. I am not talking about defensive behaviour. A heck of a lot of them musk as babies though, which is worse to me than a bite, but yes that usually doesn't last.

- Even if a new keeper is prepared to have a snake that fasts, it's still going to be more stressful in comparison to something that eats regularly. We all know newbie keepers can/do freak out and fuss when everything is normal no matter how much research they have done.

[Aaron_S]

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

Corns are definitely easy, but I don't think any easier than Kings or BPs

I'll go into greater detail.

Corns have this:

Ease of care
Easy to handle from a baby
Small size
Inexpensive
Array of colours and patterns
Easy to Find
Forgiving of husbandry mistakes

Kings have most of these. The nippy phase may go away with kings but it could turn off a new keeper easily. Also, we have to discern what type of king are we talking about? Gray bandeds? Cali kings? Floridas? Lots of variables.

I breed ball pythons and still don't think they are the number one or on the same level of corn snakes. They get a little larger, require a little more husbandry than corns and a little less forgiving of mistakes. Cost a bit more for the colours and patterns still but overall the selection is the same or better than corns. Plus the fasting.

I just believe a corn snake is more bulletproof when discussing a beginner reptile. Especially for children.


Now my exception to this rule is if you're an adult who's deadset and passionate about say a brazillian rainbow boa. Then I say go for the passion because you'll work harder to keep the animal properly due to the passion.