A Info to Caring for Pet Corn Snakes

Taking its establish from the corn granaries, which attracted mice after which mouse predators, the corn snake makes an outstanding pet snake. It is often docile, comparatively easy to handle, and would not get very large; it’s an superior different, significantly for amateur snake householders. 

These reptiles are moreover favorites of even expert keepers on account of array of beautiful colors and patterns that selective, captive breeding has produced. Fastidiously related to rat snakes (as cousins inside the genus Elaphe), corn snakes are usually often known as pink rat snakes. They are native to the southeastern United States, largely land-dwelling, and vigorous primarily at dusk and dawn.

Corn Snake Habits and Temperament

These low-key snakes allow people to take care of them and are often docile. Nonetheless after they actually really feel threatened, significantly inside the wild, they could vibrate their tails as a safety mechanism, very similar to rattlesnakes.

Like most snakes, corn and rat snakes are unequalled escape artists. They could push on the lid with their noses looking out for weaknesses and tiny openings, so the match of the lid is important. If a snake will get out of its cage it’s going to presumably get misplaced or injury. An escaped snake might be probably to supply your loved ones friends an important scare. 

Housing the Corn Snake

A 20-gallon prolonged glass tank (a longer and shallower mannequin of the standard 20-gallon tank) makes a good-sized enclosure for a corn snake. You will have to make use of a secure-fitting lid which may be clamped down from the best.

To essentially really feel safe, corn snakes need places to cowl. Current a canopy discipline (any closed-in container like an upside-down cardboard discipline) that is merely large adequate for the snake to curve up in; whether or not it’s too large the snake will not be going to essentially really feel as protected. Objects of bark might current hiding spots to your snake in the event that they’re atop a substrate that permits burrowing beneath the bark. Ideally, there must be an accessible hiding place in every the cooler and warmer ends of the enclosure. Moreover, current a forked division for climbing.

Heat

Sustaining your corn snake’s residence on the appropriate temperature is vital. An overhead incandescent heat lamp is the favored methodology of heating, nevertheless corn snakes are from temperate climates, so they do not need tropical temperatures. Maintain an ambient temperature of 80 to 85 ranges Fahrenheit. A basking web site must be 85 to 88 ranges. At night, the temperature must drop solely as little as 75 ranges. Beneath-tank heating pads or heat tape might be utilized, nevertheless they may make it troublesome to watch how scorching the enclosure is, so use thermometers inside.

Humidity

Fortuitously, corn snakes favor the humidity current in a typical household. Between 35% and 60% is an environment friendly range for the ambient air inside the enclosure: the higher end of this range will promote healthful shedding. Monitor your corn snake enclosure with a hygrometer, significantly inside the dryer winter months; you would possibly should mist the tank or refill an evaporating water bowl additional steadily.

Substrate

These snakes choose to burrow and conceal, so using a layer of free substrate (floor lining) on the underside of the enclosure is important. Numerous provides might be utilized as a bottom layer for the enclosure. Inkless newspaper is the utilitarian different since it’s vitally easy to wash up, nevertheless its look in the cage leaves a little bit of to be desired. Indoor/outdoors carpeting (akin to Astroturf) might be utilized, and if you reduce two gadgets, you presumably can rotate them by swapping the clear one out for the dirty one at cleaning time; wash and completely dry the soiled piece sooner than using it. 

For the best layer, aspen shavings might be utilized. The chips that are soiled with feces can merely be scooped out; clear and refresh shavings as wished. Switch the snake to a separate container for feeding so that the shavings aren’t inadvertently ingested. Do not use pine or cedar shavings on account of the aromatic oils might trigger irritation and respiratory factors in your reptile pet. Sand, soil, and corncob are moreover not good choices as substrates for corn snakes.

Meals and Water

Corn snakes are carnivores. Throughout the wild, they stalk their prey primarily by odor reasonably than sight. Captive corn snakes must be fed pre-killed frozen mice that are accurately thawed. Hatchlings ought to start on pinkie mice for feedings, and the dimensions of the prey must be elevated as a result of the snake grows. The prey merchandise may be as in depth or a little bit of wider than the snake’s head.

It is best to feed rising snakes twice per week; adults need solely be fed one appropriately sized prey merchandise every week or two. Your snake’s urge for meals may decline throughout the time of a shed, so reduce feeding frequency in case your snake is about to start out out shedding, evidenced by cloudy eyes and dulling of the pores and pores and skin coloration.

As corn snakes drink water by absorbing it by their mouths, a water dish might be important; it’s crucial to take care of the water meticulously clear. Snakes usually use their water to help them in defecation; when this happens, dump the dish, and clear and refill immediately. A heavy shallow dish quite a lot of inches in diameter makes an important water provide. Likelihood is you may even uncover your snake soaking inside the dish, considerably sooner than a shed. Use non-chlorinated water at any time when doable.

Widespread Properly being and Habits Points

Mouth rot, or infectious stomatitis, is a bacterial an an infection of the mouth that often causes saliva bubbles along with irritation in and throughout the mouth. If left untreated, this ailment might trigger an an infection inside the bone, and the snake’s tooth may be misplaced. A toothless snake can be unable to eat precisely.

As with most snake breeds, corn snakes are susceptible to fungal sickness and respiratory infections. Fungal an an infection is marked by discoloration of the pores and pores and skin. A sign of respiratory an an infection is open-mouth respiration or wheezing. All of these effectively being factors require treatment by an distinctive animal veterinarian who has expertise in reptiles.

Choosing Your Corn Snake

When choosing a snake, a captive-bred specimen is the one possibility. One shouldn’t be troublesome to hunt out since corn snakes breed fairly readily in captivity. Seek for a snake that doesn’t have any retained pores and pores and skin from a shed. Choose a snake with clear eyes, no cuts or scrapes, and no mites or ticks. Moreover, a transparent cloacal vent, an alert head, and a mouth with a pink tongue and a small amount of clear saliva are all good indicators of effectively being.

Associated Species to the Corn Snake

As a consequence of its brownish-orange coloring, the corn snake is often mistaken for the venomous copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix), nevertheless the 2 species share few attributes apart from coloration. Copperheads have sideways hourglass markings on the once more; from the facet, they seem like a line of Hershey Kisses candies.

For individuals who’re involved with completely different snakes very similar to the corn snake, check out: 

In every other case, check out completely different kinds of reptiles and amphibians which may be your pet!