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Corn Snake Facts
- Group: Colubrids
- Native Land: North America
- Animal Class: Snake
- Rat Snake: Corn Snakes are a type of rat snake, known for hunting rodents
- Life Span of Captive Corn Snakes: 20 years or more
- Corn Snake Diet: Rodents - live prey or frozen feeder rodents
- Feeding Schedule: Once weekly
- Cleaning Schedule: Once or twice weekly
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Perhaps the most popular choice of pet snakes are corn snakes. If handled throughout their lives, they are a lot of fun to play with, curious and lively. A corn snake habitat is easy to create, and how to care for corn snakes is also simple. Corn snakes make a wonderful, delightful pet reptile — perhaps the best pet snake in the world. exoticpets.com: [1]
Housing
Always select a glass aquarium or reptile tank. It's easier to clean. Substrate or bedding can be shredded paper, newspaper, or a variety of others available where reptile supplies are sold. Provide a "hide" which is a corn snake retreat. Also where it will sleep. A terra cotta flower pot is ideal. Corn snakes need warmth. Place a stick-on heating pad underneath the glass aquarium. anapsid.org: [1] If placed in the aquarium, it may become too hot.Handling
When you buy your corn snake at the pet store or reptile breeder, usually when it is a baby snake, handle it first before you bring it home. If it has not been raised to be accustomed to human hands, it may strike out. Then it's not much fun. Make sure your pet snake wants to climb on your hands and fingers. Most do. We are "endothermic" or warmblooded, and reptiles are "ectothermic" or coldblooded. Warm fingers resemble little corn stalks.Feeding Your Corn Snake
First, never feed your snake in its vivarium. It will associate the habitat with food and you as well. It's a great way to get bitten, even if you do not smell like a rodent.
Especially if you start when they are babies, corn snakes do not need live prey. Buy frozen feeder rodents, the smallest size first. These are newborn mice, also known as "pinky mice" or "pinkies." As the corn snake grows, so will the size of the rodents you feed it. "Fuzzies," then "Small Mice," and finally "Adult Mice."
Take the snake and place it in a separate container by itself. Take the defrosted rodent, warm it with warm water and dry it, then drop it into the container with the snake. Many corn snake owners use paper bags for this purpose. It gives the snake a sense of security and privacy while it swallows its prey.
Give the snake some time. Look to see that the rodent is about half way down the snake, then put it back in its vivarium. Do not handle for 24 hours while it digests.
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History of Corn Snakes
Corn snakes originated in the corn fields of early North America. Like the "Indian Corn" we place on our tables at Thanksgiving, early corn was not yellow. It was primarily brown with a few colors mixed in, and was highly nutritious corn.
victoria_reid added a comment November 12, 2009 07:49 PM| ReportEarly corn snakes blended right in with early corn - mostly brown! -
Corn Snake Adaptation
Corn snakes adapted to the mottled brown color of the corn and ate the rodents that attack the crops. That's why they are called "The Farmer's Friend." They hunt on corn stalks, and fit easily down mouse holes. They do not eat corn.
Due to selective breeding, corn snakes these days come in a wide variety of colors.
Like their larger cousins, pythons and boa constrictors, corn snakes are constrictors. They squeeze their prey. They do not inject venom. Corn snakes are not venomous.
victoria_reid added a comment November 12, 2009 01:50 AM| ReportLook how cute these baby corn snakes are! -
Juvenile Corn Snake Habitat
When raised together, baby corn snakes live happily as a group. These six young corn snakes, 1.5 years old, have been together since birth. Note the layout of the corn snake aquarium.
Plenty of space in the habitat equals plenty of growth and strength. The "kids" are also provided with many textures to explore and to keep them interested. In zoological terms, these are called "enrichments." At the left of their sizable tank, there is a plush Teddy Bear and a terra cotta flower pot. These are situated over a reptile heating pad, stuck to the bottom of the tank. With their thick bedding or substrate, the little snakes have choices. They can stay at an even 75 degrees F on the left with Teddy and the pot (stick-on reptile thermometer at the back}, or climb on their vine-like stick (available at a pet store with reptile products) or drink from their reptile water dish or climb a smooth rock (front center). Along with a consistent, nourishing reptile diet, plus a specialized UVB reptile light (not shown in the photo), these youngster snakes are bigger than their more confined counterparts. Juvenile corn snakes, when handled daily, want to be with people. This is the key to positive reptile ownership.
victoria_reid added a comment November 12, 2009 01:51 AM| ReportAmazes me - they actually all fit in the pot! -
How Big Does a Corn Snake Get?
How big do corn snakes get? Ultimately, the adult corn snake is about 5' long and 2" wide at most. With this manageable size, simple care, gentle disposition, and gorgeous colors, the corn snake is a fantastic pet snake. It is easy to raise, easy to handle, and a whole lot of fun!
Here is a photo of a Professional Animal Handler working with adult corn snakes:
victoria_reid added a comment November 12, 2009 07:48 PM| ReportThis gentleman started his Reptile Handler career at age 8. -
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Mahalo Answers for Corn Snakes
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Related Mahalo Pages
How to Care for Corn Snakes | Ball Pythons | Pet Snakes | How to Choose a Pet Snake | Boa Constrictor | How to Care for Crickets | Crickets | Reptile FoodOn Twitter Powered by Twitter
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Just hatched. 6 normal corn snakes het for albino.
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But even non-poisonous strikers are pretty threatening en-masse. Covering the guy with corn or rat snakes would have been more effective.
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RT @FourSale: (@randomrachel) 2 beautiful corn snakes for sale including full set up,minus heat mat. northamptonshire area £200 ono
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@timmybrownlee oh yeah corn fields..rain forest ..land of 10000 lakes...amazon..mosquitoes ..big snakes...ice fishing .. Piranhas .
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