Ball Python or Corn Snake? 1st timer

[Biffy Pyro]

I've been researching getting a snake (i met my friend's the other day and it was awesome) and on my friends suggestion I looked up Corn snakes and Ball pythons. Both are apparently good for noobs but some of the care sheets don't seem to agree for balls. Do they need a basking lamp? what is the ideal viv size and which is the better snake for noobs, I think I want the ball python but is this a good idea?

cheers

p.s. the only experience i have with any reptiles is looking after my flatmate's leo while he's away

[bobby]

IMHO

A newbie can look after a ball python no problem although many will say they are unsuitable due to feeding issues.

If you are prepared for some feeding issues there is no problem with getting a ball python.

As longs as you have the right temperatures it doesn't really matter how you get them as long as you use gaurds on your heat sources where appropriate

[SaZzY]

what bobby said. i started off with corns then got the python,both fairly easy to keep but my pythons feeding issues are heartbreaking sometimes

[Biffy Pyro]

Originally Posted by bobby

If you are prepared for some feeding issues there is no problem with getting a ball python.

cheers

not really bothered about feeding issues, some of the care sheets said that they could fast for up to a year for no apparent reason and to just keep trying to feed them once a week and there should be no problem as long as they're not loosing weight. are there any other issues i should be aware of, and do balls actually need a basking lamp because some of the sites say they do and some don't, v. important because i have electricity conscious flatmates. they won't mind a heating mat running but they would object to a mat + lamp

[My plague]

Originally Posted by Biffy Pyro

cheers

not really bothered about feeding issues, some of the care sheets said that they could fast for up to a year for no apparent reason and to just keep trying to feed them once a week and there should be no problem as long as they're not loosing weight. are there any other issues i should be aware of, and do balls actually need a basking lamp because some of the sites say they do and some don't, v. important because i have electricity conscious flatmates. they won't mind a heating mat running but they would object to a mat + lamp

Just a mat (with stat) is fine alone
My royal has stopped eating at the mo, bloody things

[My plague]

And personally I'd go for a royal, they're much betterer than worms with a crayola fetish
But I have 2 and love em

[bobby]

If you go for a wooden vivarium as everyone will recommend, you wont need a bulb going but if you use an aquarium you will probably need another heat source (such as a bulb or ceramic heater).

Go for a wooden vivarium

[Biffy Pyro]

Originally Posted by My plague

they're much betterer than worms with a crayola fetish

ROFL

as for the viv, i was going to go for a RUB at first and them build a wooden viv later

[bobby]

RUBS cool too, and I know im an insomniac

[Debbie1962]

Allthough I have lots of lizard experienced I knew little about snakes but chose a royal as my first snake. I was unsure about the feeding issues but was assured that most CB animals should be fine. I fell in love with my royal straight away and have had no issues as yet with feeding allthough I've only had her 9 months and she's still young but I feel confident now to cope with any feeding issue in the future. I loved her so much I went and bought and albino royal recently lol.

For rubs I have used a heat mat with no problems and for vivs a ceramic. As they are nocturnal by nature I prefer non light emitting heat sources.