A hatchling female "Miami" phase corn snake produced by Walter Smith's Captive Creations.
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Introduction This is a brief explanation of how I personally keep corn snakes. It should not be the only resource you rely on when researching corns! It’s just an overview of the basic husbandry requirements that I employ. Corn snakes are excellent beginner reptiles but are also great for experienced keepers and morph enthusiasts. They grow 3-5 feet and are typically docile but active snakes. Hatchlings can be nippy but usually grow out of it with consistent, gentle handling. Corn Snake Distribution and Natural Habitats: Corn snakes inhabit the southeastern and central portions of the United States. They are extremely versatile and can be found in grasslands, forests, wetlands, and urban areas. Because of this wide range of habitat types, their captive husbandry practices can be (and should be) flexible. I live in North Carolina, the quintessential home of the corn snake, and so I try to base my husbandry off of the area I live in and have observed the most corn snakes, primarily on the perimeters between forests and grasslands. While corn snakes are not arboreal, they are often found in trees and are adept at climbing. Wild corn snakes primarily feed on rodents, but will also eat small lizards, amphibians, and bird eggs. |
An adult male "Okeetee" phase corn snake produced by Corn Moon Cornsnakes
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Cage Size
Hatchlings are generally started in small enclosures. Although most hatchling corn snakes are eager feeders, they can become shy and less likely to eat in a sparsely decorated large cage. I start hatchling corn snakes in 6qt tubs. A 10g aquarium would also be a good choice. Juveniles should be kept in medium sized tubs, cages, or aquariums. I usually keep juvenile corn snakes in 66qt tubs since they will use the added height. Once the corn is around 2.5'-3' in length I move it to the adult enclosure. A "juvenile" stage cage setup isn't necessarily required for corn snakes. When they're well established eaters and growing well they can adapt to most cage sizes. The vast majority of corn snake care guides will say a 20g long aquarium is the minimum size for adults, but I couldn't disagree more. I'm of the opinion that all snakes should be able to stretch out fully in their enclosures, and should have enough space to be able to display their natural behaviors. That's simply not possible in a 20g tank. MOST adult corn snakes will thrive in a cage that is 3-4' in length, 2' in width, and 2' in height. I keep my adult corn snakes in 4x2x2 PVC cages (made by Animal Plastics). I prefer front-opening enclosures, but if you want to use an aquarium a 40g breeder tank (for smaller adults) or a 75g tank (for larger adults) work very well for them as long as the lid is very secure (these little guys are serious escape artists!) |
Substrate:
I recommend new arrivals be kept on paper towel for the beginning of the quarantine period for two weeks or so to ensure they settle in well and to make tracking health easier. When you switch to loose substrate, it should be kept at a depth of 1-3” to allow burrowing. Aspen is a cheap, convenient, and easy to clean substrate that works well for hatchlings all the way up to adults. Naturalistic substrate mixes can be very enriching for corn snakes. I would recommend a mix play sand and topsoil and a bit of either coco fiber or peat moss thrown in. The top layers of the substrate should feel fairly dry, but the bottom layers will maintain moisture and will help keep the humidity in the proper range and support microfauna if you decide to go bioactive. There are also several companies offering pre-made bioactive / naturalistic substrates that work well for corn snakes. |
An adult female "Okeetee" phase tessera corn snake produced by Stellar Reptiles
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