Garter vs. Corn (round 2 ;)

[Cobra Kai]

Ok…this is a close cage match, so this fight needs to go to the judges. I’ll have to crunch the numbers to see who won.

Again for those who need a refresher, I’m interested in getting the perfect beginner snake for me and my 5 & 2 year-old boys. As far as my herp experience goes, I have much experience with turtles, tortoises, frogs, lizards, & an iguana. More turtles than anything. I currently have my two childhood box turtles for over 25 years now. They will definitely out live me.

But this time in my life, I need easy, simple and low maintenance. And yeah…I want to get my boys into it. You guy & gals gave me a lot of great information to think about and I thank you. It was very enlightening to here others say how some of their snakes like kings are finicky eaters. I can’t deal with that these days. LOW MAINTENANCE IS WHAT I SEEK. I know you guys have posted a lot for me already, so I hope it wouldn’t be too much trouble to vote for my personal situation.

Cheers!

[reptile3]

Wooo hoooo, I was the first to vote!!!

[Aundrea]

Woooooooo hooooooo im second

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Look guys I know that we all like garters a WHOLE lot but we really need to examine this situation from an unbiased point of view.

5 & 2 year-old boys.

LOW MAINTENANCE IS WHAT I SEEK.

These two quotes here are the only thing that one would need to decide. Garters are simply not a good idea for both of those reasons. I am sure you know that 2 year olds are grabby, and that could spell major trouble for a garter snake or even a cornsnake that is not an adult. You will have to be extremely careful around the toddler with any snake... but I definitely think that a cornsnake is the better choice of the two, bar none, hands down, absolutely.

Garter snakes, especially babies are overall a much smaller snake, and small fragile animals and young children do not mix. You will even have to be extremely careful with a baby corn (I would strongly recommend getting a big juvenile or an adult, for the fact that the snake will be larger, and most likely past the defensive biting stage that many baby corns are born with)

Simply put, corns are low maintenance, and garter snakes are not. They need to eat a lot more, they are a lot more active, they are a lot more responsive to quick movements and being touched the wrong way (children tend to do that lol), and they poop a lot. my vote is 110% cornsnake in this situation. Yes I love garter snakes to death, but I never allow small children to mess with my garters and I do not sell or give baby garters to families with young kids as their first snake for all the reasons mentioned above. I will literally turn down a sale because I feel that small snakes are simply too fragile to be at that risk. I am not saying it can't be done, just that it is not in the best interest of the snake and all concerned. you children will probably enjoy being able to touch and interact with a corn. Garters do not tolerate being "pet" like corns will. You can pet a cornsnake... but a garter usually will start zipping around!

[infernalis]

I'm with Shannon on this one....

For the situation, I'd vote Corn snake.

slow, casual and uneventful, perfect for kids.

[GartersRock]

I voted corn snake, for reasons Shannon stated, but I thought them before I saw her post. lol!

[reptile3]

I was wrong... well I am learning!!

[Hornets23]

I'm with you guys. Honestly, I LOVE my garters. We all do. They just plain rock. However, a 2 year old and a 5 year old will probably have trouble with garters. From my experience kids that age like to touch things....hold them and otherwise interact. Lets face it...sometimes its not easy for ME to hang onto the garters when they are being wiggly. Of course some are easier than others but I think a corn would be better. Sure, they hide....but when you want to get it out and see it...you can dig it out. They dont seem to mind at all. They seem to almost enjoy crawling around on you and I havent seen and bursts of speed like you do in garters. Probably a lot more reasonable for a little kid. Like I said before...just get one of each. You can enjoy the garters and the kids will have the corn get a little closer to.

[Cobra Kai]

Like I said before...just get one of each. You can enjoy the garters and the kids will have the corn get a little closer to.

It’s all about compromise. I like it.

[tyflier]

My 4 year old daughter got HER first corn at 2. She still doesn't mess with our garter, but she regularly holds and plays with most of the corns...babies and adults alike. For beginners and kids, I think it only makes sense to get the snake that is going to be most forgiving of mistakes, and be the most able to withstand regular holding and child attention. That's a cornsnake.

I take corns to the preschoools and let the kids play with them. I wouldn't dream of doing that with a garter...