Care Sheet for Corn SnakesAverage Rating Given To This Care Sheet Is 2.00 (1=lowest, 5=highest) Last Updated: 07/04/2009 |
Main Category: | Snakes |
Sub Category: | Corn Snakes |
Care Sheet Submitted By: | Jaeyke |
Years Experience: | 3 to 5 Years |
Species: | Corn Snakes (Elaphe Guttata Guttata) |
Other Species or Phases this Care Sheet May Cover: | N/A |
Sexing and Characteristics: | Grows between 3-5 feet, rarely grows to 6 feet. Can come in a range of colours and patterns such as Snow, Blizzard, Normal, Butter, etc. Is a member of the rat snake family, and comes from southeastern United States.
Sexing: In younger snakes you can "pop" out the hemipenes. Another way to sex them is by probing them. This method is to insert a lubricated metal rod called a probe into the cloaca. If it goes down 3-4 scale lengths, it’s a female. If it exceeds five or six it is most definetly a male. Do use caution when using either of these methods as you may harm the snake.
A less invasive way is by looking at the base of the tail. If it tapers only slightly, it’s most likely a male. If there is a larger taper, almost as if there is a plateau on your snake, it’s probably a female. |
Mostly Active During: | None |
Substrate and Water Needs: | Paper Towels are a good option, as well as terrarium liner. I use aspen or cypress mulch because of is aesthetic value, and it gives the snake a place to burrow. Do not use sand, walnut shells, gravel, potting soil or rocks. Pine and cedar wood chips are toxic to snakes and most other animals.
Provide a water bowl big enough and deep enough to soak in. These snakes are not aquatic, so they shpuld not have a wet terrarium, just a bowl to drink and bathe in. |
Lighting and UVB: | No lighting is needed, but I provide a day/night cycle by letting a bit of light to enter the enclosure. |
Temperatures and Humidity: | Keep temperatures between the high 70’s to mid 80’s. Drop into the low and mid 70’s at night. |
Heating and Equipment: | I use a heating pad by zoo-med, connected to a lamp dimmer for temperature conrol as these do get to 100 degrees! One day mine accidentally climbed well into the 120’s. To check temps, use a digital probe thermometer, as these are quite accurate. |
Caging Provided: | A 10-15 gallon will house a hatchling or juvenile. When adult move into something atleast 3 feet x 1 foot x 6 inches, such as a rubbermaid tub. I splurged and bought mine a 40 gallon breeder. Give atleast 1 hiding spot, as well as some decor that will aid your snake in shedding, and that he/she will enjoy. Branches, rocks and fake plants look nice and make the snake feel at home. |
Diet: | Carnivorous |
Description of Diet: | Rodent based diet. Start off feeding Pinkies, and move up as your snake grows.Try to feed prey items the size of the thickest part of your snake. An adult should be feeding on med.-large adult mice. |
Supplements, Nutrition and Usage: | None Needed. |
Maintenance: | These are beginner snakes. Water should be changed daily, fed every week to half a week, cage spot cleaned after he does his business, and substrate changed every month. Look out for diseases and parasites, and make should the snake gets enough exercise. |
Some Words on this Species: | Docile snakes. Common in the pet trade, and probably tthe best first pet herp around. Easy, to look after, many different pattern and color variations, and generally a great species. Remember to do your research first, and make sure you really want a snake, or any other animal for that matter. |
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