Introduction

Corn snakes are beautiful snakes that come in a wide-variety of color morphs. Some things to think about before buying a corn snake; they need lighting, they eat mice, and when they are full grown they need a 40 gallon breeding tank or larger. They are fairly easy animals to keep, although they do have their special needs just like any other pet.

 

CAGE

A baby corn snake needs a 10 gallon tank or bigger, and an adult corn snake needs a 40 gallon breeder or larger. Corn snakes are escape artists, which means you will want to have a tank that comes with a latching lid or clips to hold the top down. Corn snakes love to escape from their habitats, so make sure to check your tank every once in a while to make sure that there are no holes in the mesh- remember, they can fit through the tiniest of holes!

Corn snakes need some sort of substrate on the bottom of their cage, whether it be newspaper, paper towel, fine aspen chips, or Kaytee Clean & Cozy bedding.

Their cage does not have to be cleaned weekly or monthly like most caged animals, but only when they go to the bathroom in it. If they have newspaper or paper towel, that is easily replaced, but it is more of a hassle than bedding. With bedding all you have to do is scoop out the poop when they go, and then you will be good.

Corns can often be housed together as long as they are around the same size, same sex, and both have mellow temperaments.

 

DÉCOR/CAGE ACESSORIES

Your snake’s cage should have at least 1 hide in it so that they can feel safe. If they don’t have a hide they can easily become stressed or scared. They should also have other cage accessories, like pet-safe wood, climbing branches, and other varieties of decorations/hides to keep them busy, so they don't get bored.

Corn Snakes should also have a water bowl, which should be cleaned every couple days, or whenever your snake defecates in it- whichever comes first.

 

LIGHTING & HEAT

Your snake should have a heat lamp over the mesh top of the cage. Like other reptiles, snakes are ectothermic, which means that they can only get warmth from absorbing it from another heat source. Depending on the cage size, the watt of the reptile-safe bulb should be anywhere from 65W (10 gallon cage) – 75W (40 gallon cage), with the hot-spot of the cage being 85 degrees F, and the cooler side being 70-75 degrees F.

Heat pads and heat rocks are often a very bad idea to use because they can burn your snake’s belly if they get just a tad too hot.

 

FOOD

Corn snakes eat mice their whole lives. When they are young, they start by eating pinky mice. Then they move up to fuzzies, then hoppers, and then adult mice. Some huge corn snakes eat small rats if they get big enough, but that is unusual. A rule of thumb is, if the mouse is a little bigger than the snake’s face, then it is big enough. Try not to feed your corn snake tiny meals or huge meals as underfeeding or overfeeding can be unhealthy. It is ideal to feed your corn snake every 5 to 7 days.

Feeding live rodents to your snake is a bad idea because they can easily hurt your snake by biting or scratching them. Mice and rats are capable of injuring your snake to the extent that a trip to the vet to get sutures will likely be in order. If you want to ensure your snake’s safety, stick to buying frozen mice and thawing them out. You can offer your snake a frozen & thawed mouse by dangling it by the tail next to them with your fingers or tongs, whichever you prefer.

 

SHEDDING

When corn snakes are young, shedding occurs every few weeks to a month. When they get older, the time span lengthens. You will know when your corn snake is about to shed because their colors will become dull and their eyes will become “milky” or “blue”. This is the time that you should mist your snake’s cage with water multiple times a day, keeping the humidity at about 70. The scales stay dull for a few days, and then the color will begin to brighten. And a day or two later, your snake will then shed by rubbing his face against a rough surface and slithering out of his old skin.

 

LENGTH & LIFE SPAN

Corn snakes are long-lived reptiles that can live for 15 - 20 years if cared for correctly. And if fed correctly, they can reach up to 5 feet long by the time they are 4 years old.