Those of you who know me have seen my ball python. I love him but like any reptile lover I am addicted and want more. I would like to ask people who own both corn snakes and ball pythons which they like better. I am not sure if I want to get another ball, king, corn, red tail boa, or something that I have not thought about. They have to be pretty hearty because I do not fuss with humidity and stuff. Whatever it is I will probably handle it all the time. I am a college student and have college parties. I often put my ball in the hood of my sweatshirt during parties and he just keeps his head on my shoulder while I have fun. So whatever I own I want it to be fully comfortable with being handled.

I have ball pythons, corns, and kings. It depends on what you want. Corns are great handling snakes and are very forgiving with regard to temp and humidity as they are native to this country as opposed to the tropics. On the other hand they are not nearly as laid back as the python and are not going to be content to just be put in your hood while you do something else. They are very active and will be all over the place. If you don't watch them they will be gone and very quickly! Kings are also active snakes and in my experience are just a tad bit more nippy than corns but can still be handled and settle down.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

Then you don't want a corn snake. If you get it from a baby, that is. I have two and they're both skittish as heck. As always, I'm a ball python person. That's why I have three of them. But I also have a Columbian boa constrictor imperator, who is between 20 and 24 inches. He wraps around my hair and stays put. I took him to work and he didn't budge for 3 hours.



Hope I helped a little!

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1.1 Python regius - Monty Python & Kana
1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata - Caine
0.2 Boa constrictor imperator - Scion & Rhiannon
1.0 Elaphe bairdi - Enka
0.1 Elaphe taeniura vaillanti - Sora

3/30/54-9/29/04
I love you, Mom.

ditto with merlin,,,,my corn loves to be handled and is extremely active (not fast moving) just very inquisitive, he loves to hang out on his branch over my sons bed- see below, but I think if we tried the sweatshirt hood trick he'd be gone on no time


http://img31.photobucket.com/albums/...t=MVC-012S.jpg

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

I would just rather have a lazy snake than one that tries to get away. Only because I am always busy and would rather do something and not worry than take time to play with the snake. My ball (Mitch) usually is good around my neck or on my desk. He is a bit weird because he was rescued and I am not sure how is previous owners treated him. So I am looking for a snake that I can raise myself. I love boas but I need to keep the size of the snake at 6ft maybe 8ft thats pushing it.

Because of you size restrictions, i would definately not go with a red tail boa as you mentioned earlier. I have a female that I got from an expo in chicago. right now she is about 3 feet or so, but would definately out grow you limitations. In my opinion, a ball python is a great snake for you. I have one as well and have also put him in my hood and he(Maliki) seems to be quite contempt there. Around my neck or on my bed, or anywhere really. I too am a ball python person ( when it comes to snakes) as far as low matainence.
boz673

What about any of the rainbow boas? They typically don't get more than six ft, right? What is their demeanor like? How 'bout Dumeril's or any of the moreila pythons???

Also, Hannah! I love that pic! Makes me want to get a ball to help withmy ponytails (which I'm infamous for!) LOL

LOL, Red
Unfortunately, he doesn't hold my mess of hair very well.

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1.1 Python regius - Monty Python & Kana
1.0 Elaphe guttata guttata - Caine
0.2 Boa constrictor imperator - Scion & Rhiannon
1.0 Elaphe bairdi - Enka
0.1 Elaphe taeniura vaillanti - Sora

3/30/54-9/29/04
I love you, Mom.

Gotcha! In all seriousness... later, (like when Matthew is bigger so that we have two of us holding the snake once full grown... God knows Roger would never help me) I would love to have a red tail boa! But, since it's pretty much, just me... that's not on my wish list this time! LOL (I know! A shocker!)

I think some great things have been said regarding your question about getting a new snake. Yes, raising a reptile from a young age is a very rewarding experience, and allows you to shape its temperment. In light of the things that have been said, the first snake that came to my mind is a Hog Island Boa. They are heavy-bodied, beautiful snakes, with a light color, in most cases. But they're cool bc they change color at night. Adults get to be 5 feet long in most cases. They're docile, having excellent temperments, and the best thing is that you get the girth of a bigger snake like a Columbian Red Tail, but you dont have to worry about having 10 feet of it! Their humidity requirements are average. Ive found that hanging a humidity gauge in a room with the animals (depending on the type of cage theyre in) and running a simple humidifier every few days works out pefectly.

The Hog Island is certainly not the only choice, but it stuck out in my mind to mention as being very befitting your requirements. You might want to read April 2004's issue of Reptiles Magazine. Theres a good article involving Hogs.

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"Spread Reptile Awareness!"

"You know you have faith when you realize that thoughts are things; what you feel, you attract; and what you imagine, you become."
-Joseph Murphy, Phd