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 #1822004


Mrs. froggie
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 I have made my choice.

Okay. I have been doing some research on all three snakes; corn, milk and ball. I have found that I like the ball python the most out of all three. I want a big snake that will wrap around me and hang on, you know what I mean. With the other two snakes, they are always wanted to try to get away and not hang on. I am going to buy (well my mom) a normal, male ball python. I have found a breeder who will be selling at the expo I’m going to on August 31. He is selling male BP for $25 each. The guy owns a site called J&J Reptiles. Right now he is breedeing corns, milks and balls.
I thank you all that have helped me.

Just thought I’d share,

Emma.
08/06/08  05:40pm

 #1822030


Bekers71
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1822004


 I have made my choice.

Nice to hear you picked some thing you like. I don’t really care for pythons. Pythons are just too short and big around for my taste. But I do love boas. Boas seem to be more "cuddly" and not as thick around. I have 2 Nicaraguan Boas, dwarf boas, and they are so cool to have. They will only get to be around 5 foot and about as big around as a softball.

Make sure you read up on the care of pythons. They are so much more different than corns and milks. Heating, humidity and even feeding is different. From what I understand, they can be super picky eaters.

Good luck!



08/06/08  06:00pm

 #1822064


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: Bekers71   In reference to Message Id: 1822030


 I have made my choice.

Hmm.. I am still deciding though. I like corns and have always wanted one. So, I don’t know what I want to get. A BP is not very colorful (the one I plan on getting) and they need larger prey items.

I don’t know... I may end up buying a candy cane corn, just like I’v always wanted...... But I don’t know.....

I have already been doing research on corns for about two months now, so I know everything I need to know. Plus, they don’t gte as fat around as balls, and they are way nicer, and less likly to bite you.

I think I will go with the corn.......... ?
08/06/08  06:31pm

 #1822232


Yasha
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1822064


 I have made my choice.

I can understand your indecision at a time like this, but I have to say don’t look to us to make the decision for you if that’s what you are doing.
It is a big decision you are trying to make and ultimatley it is your future snakes life that is resting on it.

If this is your first snake I would strongly reccomend you go with the corn. My first reptile of any kind was a male snow corn and that was over 2 years ago. I still have him, and hes nearly 5 feet and eating like a monster, plus I have a normal striped female (I plan to breed them in 2 years) and a leopard gecko.
While there is much debate over the ball pythons classification as a "beginner" snake, I would like to point out that they are notorious for being picky eaters. Corns very rarley pick at their food and most corns are born picky eaters so they either die very soon after birth, or the breeder would most likely cull or not sell an animal like that anyway, before you had the opportunity to buy it. If a corn goes off food it is either going into it’s semi-burmation in the fall or there is something very wrong with it’s enclosure.
With balls it can be very sudden and seemingly without warning and so it is very difficult to pin point exactly why it has stopped feeding. There are a multitude of things it could be with them...

Yes a ball is the easiest and most lenient of the pythons, but that is nowhere near as lenient as a corn snake is. As well balls require a higher humidity and temperature then corn snakes and if these two things get tweaked it may cause them to go off their food for a week or two. A burmese python is far more picky about humidity and temps, but a ball is a distant cousin and they Can inherit that "python pickyness" about certain things. Not very often, but it can happen.
A ball is a beginner snake, but it is best left as a second snake. Get comfortable with a corn, get comfortable with the care and maintenance of snakes in general and get used to mucking with humidty with a snake species that will not mind in the slightest if it’s tank fluctuates a bit while you get used to giving it everything it needs from you. Then, after you do that for a while and you feel you are ready for something a bit more challenging, pick up a ball because they are a beginner snake, not a starter/first snake.

These are just my opinions based on what I know of snakes and what I have read and heard from people online in the last three years. I don’t own a ball python but I know a lot about them because I considered getting one a while back, but decided on a second corn instead. Thanks for taking the time to read all this. I’m sure your new snake, whatever you decide on, will thank you for it.
08/06/08  09:14pm

 #1822258


Rojo
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   Message To: Yasha   In reference to Message Id: 1822232


 I have made my choice.

BP are awesome i love the high contrast albinos
08/06/08  09:31pm

 #1822272


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: Rojo   In reference to Message Id: 1822258


 I have made my choice.

I am going to get a corn for my first snake. They are way eaiser to take care of and come in alot of colors, plus they feed on smaller prey. My mom said that a BP prey is to big for her, she hates mice and rats. She said that a corn is fine, because it eats smaller prey. I am looking into buying a candy candy cane or a butter. Which ever I like best when I see it.

Thanks again,

Emma.
08/06/08  09:40pm

 #1822426


Yasha
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1822272


 I have made my choice.

Sorry to say but Corns feed on similair size prey as balls do. My male corn is about 2.5 years old and he eats hamsters, which are a fairly large prey item. True they start off on a lot smalle prey, pinky mice, but when they are a few years old they can eat small rats and even gerbils which are fairly large in size, same as a ball python. You might want to mention this to your mother if she has issues with large mice. Just curious, are you going to be feeding live or F/T?
08/07/08  12:02am

 #1822869


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: Yasha   In reference to Message Id: 1822426


 I have made my choice.

I know that when they get older, they feed on hoppers and larger prey. My mom sai that the corn looks more friendly than a ball. Plus, she said that the corn was my first choice, so she wantes me to stick with it. She likes the coloration of corns better too. I wil be feeding F/T.



08/07/08  01:11pm

 #1822909


Yasha
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1822869


 I have made my choice.

Okay good just as long as you know that, eventually, the feeding issue will need to be rendered moot, as you can’t sacrifice your snakes health because your mother is squeemish. If you think that is a very good possability, don’t get a snake at all, because there are very few snakes for beginners that will not eat anything larger than a hopper. I was feeding adult breeder mice to my first snake when he was just barely a year old, and that comes quicker than you think. And always remember with corns it is far better to feed 1 larger prey item then 5 or 6 smaller prey items, they are less likey to regurge.

Okay well F/T is easy, just keep them in a plastic bag and then wrap it n a brown lunch bag and put it in the back of the freezer so your mom won’t have to see them. My mom didn’t want mice in her freezer at first, but she quickly got over them, and I’m sure your mom will too.
08/07/08  01:43pm

 #1823012


The_Thunderer
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   Message To: Yasha   In reference to Message Id: 1822909


 I have made my choice.

LOL. I completely understand the indecisiveness as well. You don’t know how many times I’ve bought a snake saying, "This is the last one!" Then, wishing I had bought another. LOL.

Whatever you choose, I don’t think you could go wrong. However, I think I shared with you, the reason I don’t have a ball is exactly because of their propensity to get finicky about food and to go off their food all together. THAT would drive ME bonkers. LOL.

Hope those days until the expo go QUICK for you!


Fred
08/07/08  03:42pm

 #1823035


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: The_Thunderer   In reference to Message Id: 1823012


 I have made my choice.

My mom is find with me feeding what ever size prey thye need to eat. She is alos fine with dead mice in the freezer, I keep some in their somtimes; my water dragon loves them. I know for sure I am getting a corn snake, now I am just wondering if I should get a BP too. A lady on another forum (GF) is going to sell me a 40 gallon bow front tank if I want it. A ball could and can fit in that perfect. So, I don’t know. I may just stick with two corns.... I don’t know yet.

Thank you for all the help.
08/07/08  03:57pm

 #1823067


S*A*M
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1823035


 I have made my choice.

thought you put a corn on hold from lisa and was picking it up :S
08/07/08  04:22pm

 #1823110


Emeraldman
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   Message To: S*A*M   In reference to Message Id: 1823067


 I have made my choice.

I would definately suggest a cornsnake. Even though my experience with them was miserable.

I would say, go out and get yourself a yearling corn in the morph you like. http://www.vmsherp.com/ has a few yearlings for sale, look at the bottom of the cornsnake page. The reason I suggest a yearling is for three reasons. They will eat much better. I started with babies, and unfortunately two of the three would not eat for me and died. Babies are finnicky, and it’s much more stressful on you and the snake to take care of them. It’s not something that’s really hard, but if you’re going to start with a snake, you might as well get one that you KNOW eats, and has been taken care of. Second, it’s harder for a snake that’s got the girth of a quarter to get out of its cage, as opposed to one with the girth of a pencil. My last of the three baby corns that I purchased, got out a month after I brought it home. Lesson learned, buy a ONE-PIECE top for your cage. Mine folded in the middle, and the corn got out between the seams of the two halves. Lastly, if you get a yearling, you can bet it will be tolerant of humans, and not get freaked out when you put your hand in. Bigger snakes are just plain funner to handle, too. You can see the character in a yearling, whereas a baby, only time will tell. A python is not a bad choice, but I can tell you right now a cornsnake will probably be less stressful. It’ll get 4 or 5 feet long, and it will wrap around you. Look up pictures on google of adult corns. They can become very friendly. I know a breeder here from Grand Rapids (his name is Corey), and many of his yearlings are very VERY friendly. I should have spent my $60 and just gotten a yearling, but I was thinking quantity was better than quality, and got three babies. Wrong. Get a yearling, breed when your ready, and it’s a win-win. And have fun with whatever you get. =]

-Trav
08/07/08  04:57pm

 #1823174


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: Emeraldman   In reference to Message Id: 1823110


 I have made my choice.

Well, I was going to have it shipped, but mom said no at the last second.

I am getting a candy cane at the reptile expo for $25. I may even buy another corn (a butter) for $35. I have a perfect tub for a corn. All I need is another UTH. The tub is 24" long, 17" deep and 7" tall. It has a locking lid, perfect.

Do you think that tub is perfect size for a corn?

Thank you,

Emma.
08/07/08  06:20pm

 #1823186


Bekers71
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   Message To: Mrs. froggie   In reference to Message Id: 1823174


 I have made my choice.

That size tub should be fine for at least the first year. Possibly a little longer.

As far as the feeding issue. You never have to feed corns any thing other than mice. An adult corn can live very healthy on 1 adult mouse every 7-10 days. I have plenty of adults that eat once a week and they maintain good weights and muscle tone. Things such as hamsters, gerbils and even rats are not recommended, except as an occasional treat. They contain far more fat than a mouse and can lead to obesity which in turn leads to a shorter life span.



08/07/08  06:32pm

 #1824587


Mrs. froggie
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   Message To: Bekers71   In reference to Message Id: 1823186


 I have made my choice.

Bekers,

Thank you for replying.

That’s is very good to know. I will be feeding F/T only, no live prey.

Thanks again.
08/08/08  11:05pm


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