Corn Snakes: the Complete Beginner’s Guide for Caring for These Docile Pet Snakes (2024)

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As they say, the early snake catches the mouse! You’ll find few reptile pets as fascinating yet easygoing as corn snakes. From proper housing to ideal feeding routines, this guide shares my decades of know-how on keeping healthy, docile corn snakes.

Whether you’re a first-timer or seasoned herper, you’ll discover tips on these snakes’ behaviors, care standards, and costs—knowledge to give your new scaly friend a lifetime of belly rubs.

Corn Snake Overview

Depending on their age and size, corn snakes range between 30-48 inches long with orange blotches bordered in black on brownish or grayish backgrounds.

Found throughout mainland Florida and the Keys, these non-venomous snakes aren’t dangerous to people or pets, though they may bite if provoked.

They can be distinguished from similar species like mole kingsnakes by their spear-shaped head pattern and lack of dark stripes down the back.

Those new to snake ownership should properly set up an enclosure with ideal temperature gradients before acquiring a corn snake, which can make for a docile, handleable pet if cared for correctly.

Coexisting with wild snakes simply requires avoiding direct contact and learning proper identification.

Housing Your Corn Snake

When keeping corn snakes as pets, you must set up an appropriate enclosure with suitable substrates and maintain proper temperature and humidity levels.

Provide a secure glass tank or other escape-proof habitat, outfit it with hiding spots, climbing branches, and clean bedding, and use thermometers and hygrometers to monitor conditions.

Getting housing right from the start ensures your snake stays healthy and content in its home.

Enclosure

You’ll need to house your corn snake in a secure, properly sized enclosure with all of the necessary furnishings.

Ensure the enclosure has a tight-fitting lid to prevent escape.

Include hides, branches, and water dish for enrichment.

Use a heat lamp to create a temperature gradient.

Monitor humidity levels with a hygrometer.

Substrate

When choosing a substrate for your corn snake’s enclosure, you’ll want to select a material that:

• Retains heat and humidity
• Allows your snake to burrow comfortably

Consider options like cypress mulch, orchid bark, or a soil and sand mixture. Avoid substrates like cedar shavings.

Substrate	Pros	Cons
Cypress mulch	Holds humidity well, natural feel	Can mold if too wet
Orchid bark	Good drainage, easy to clean	Doesn’t hold humidity very long
Soil/sand mix	Allows for burrowing	Can be messy over time

When selecting the optimal substrate for your corn snake, you should also consider:

• Humidity management
• Shedding
• Cleaning needs
• Enrichment

Temperature & Humidity

Before setting up your corn snake enclosure, you’ll need to ensure proper temperature and humidity ranges are maintained.

Use a thermometer and hygrometer to monitor gradients, providing heat lamps for warm zones and moisture for shedding.

Seek veterinary guidance if observing signs of respiratory infection.

Feeding Your Corn Snake

Frequently, you’re feeding younger cornsnakes every 5-7 days, while adults can be fed weekly or bi-weekly.

• Prey should be no wider than 1.5x the snake’s width. Overly large meals can cause health issues.
• Offer varied prey like mice, small rats, and quail for balanced nutrition.
• Adults eat less frequently depending on size and metabolism.
• Ensure access to fresh, clean water at all times.

When handling after feeding:

• Wait at least 2 days to allow proper digestion.
• Wash hands thoroughly, as scent of prey on hands may cause defensive bites.
• Avoid sudden movements that could regurgitate meal.

Gentle handling assists proper digestion for a healthy, thriving corn snake. Monitor prey size and feed according to age and size.

Corn Snake Handling & Behavior

You’ll usually want to gently lift cornsnakes with one hand placed near the head and the other near the tail when handling them for short periods to prevent stress or biting.

Limit handling duration to 10-15 minutes at a time to prevent temperature drops that could compromise their health.

Observe the snake’s body language and avoid handling if they display a defensive S-shaped neck posture.

Thoroughly wash hands after feeding before interactions to prevent accidental bites triggered by the scent of food.

As captivity bred pets, cornsnakes exhibit docile behavior with humans, but may bite under duress or mistaken hunger.

Carefully support a cornsnake’s body when lifting it, avoiding fast movements that could trigger defensive reactions.

With routine gentle handling, these mild-mannered snakes become comfortable with human interaction.

Common Health Issues

Many common health issues for corn snakes can be prevented with proper husbandry and close monitoring. As their owner, you’re responsible for providing the right environment and nutrition to keep your snake healthy.

By staying informed on their care needs and behavior, you can catch issues early and get veterinary help if needed. Building an understanding of their requirements for belonging and safety will strengthen your bond with these docile pets.

With attentive preventative care, your corn snake can remain active and healthy for years to come.

Selecting Your Corn Snake

When choosing your corn snake, carefully consider:

• The size of enclosure you can provide
• Appropriate substrates for burrowing
• Plants for hiding

Monitor the temperature gradient across the enclosure, ensuring the snake always has access to:

• Warmer areas
• Cooler areas

Selecting the right environment and closely tending to your snake’s needs will lead to a healthy, long-lived pet.

Choosing Enclosure Size

When picking out an enclosure, you’ll want to make sure it’s long enough for your corn snake to fully stretch out.

Size	Minimum Enclosure Length	Minimum Enclosure Width
2 ft snake	2 ft	1 ft
3 ft snake	3 ft	1 ft
4 ft snake	4 ft	1.5 ft

Selecting Appropriate Substrate

Your corn snake’s substrate should be:

• Non-toxic
• Hold some humidity
• Allow for burrowing

Aim for 35-60% humidity to aid healthy shedding.

Provide several inches of loose substrate for burrowing enrichment.

Prioritize substrate safety and frequently spot clean waste.

Choose materials like cypress mulch that meet corn snakes’ needs.

Monitoring Temperature Gradient

You must provide your corn snake with a proper temperature gradient by using thermometers to monitor the warm and cool ends of the enclosure, maintaining about 85°F on the warm end and 75°F on the cool end.

Costs of Owning a Corn Snake

Before making the commitment, it’s crucial to understand the costs of properly caring for a corn snake over its 10-15 year lifespan.

The initial setup including a suitable vivarium and heating supplies can range from $200-300.

Then, anticipate about $40 monthly for routine care like substrate, frozen feeder mice/rats, utilities for heating and lighting, and enclosure accessories.

You must also budget for occasional vet bills to keep your snake healthy, which run around $75 per visit plus treatments.

Overall, corn snakes are relatively affordable pets but do require an investment in proper habitat conditions and veterinary care over their decade-plus lifetime.

With realistic expectations about these recurring expenses, you can make an informed decision about taking on these personable snakes.

Are Corn Snakes Good Pets?

They make wonderful pets for beginner and experienced snake owners alike due to their generally docile temperaments, manageable sizes, and relatively simple care requirements.

• Docile and tolerant of regular handling when cared for properly.
• Stay small enough to house comfortably compared to large constrictors.
• Can thrive on readily available frozen/thawed rodents.

However, they do require a properly setup habitat with:

• Proper temperatures and humidity gradients
• Places to hide and climb
• Regular cage maintenance

While their care is easier than many snakes, owners still must commit to meeting their needs like any pet. With good husbandry, though, corn snakes tend to stay docile and in good health for years. Their convenient size and typically friendly demeanor make them an excellent starter snake for first-time or busy owners.

Corn Snake Breeds

One will find corn snakes come in a vibrant array of color morphs that have been selectively bred, including albinos, snows, ghosts, and anerythristics.

There are many popular color and pattern variations to choose from when selecting a pet corn snake, such as:

Morph	Description
Albino	Lacking black pigment, resulting in white, pink, or yellow appearance
Hypomelanistic	Reduced black pigment, presenting as brighter red/orange with less defined markings
Anerythristic	Absence of red pigment, appearing gray, brown, black, white, and cream
Lavender	Dilute of anerythristic with purple/blue hues
Pied	Random splotches of color variation due to lack of melanin distribution

When browsing available corn snakes, one may encounter incredible diversity in colors and patterns. Most bred corn snakes average 2-5 feet long when mature. Select the morph that most appeals based on aesthetic preferences.

Finding a Corn Snake Breeder

When finding a corn snake breeder, you should start your search by asking for recommendations from experienced reptile owners, breeders, or veterinarians.

Reputable breeders should provide health guarantees, adhere to ethical breeding and sourcing practices, offer genetically diverse animals, and belong to accreditation programs.

Ask to see the parents and breeding facility. Healthy, active snakes in clean enclosures demonstrate quality care.

Responsible breeders focus on animal welfare over profits. They ask new owners questions to ensure the snake will be properly housed.

Finding an ethical, knowledgeable breeder supports better outcomes for these docile pets and reduces risks of illness or behavioral issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)