Corn Snake Care Sheet
This Corn Snake (aka. Red Rat Snake) care sheet should be used for guidance only. If you have decided to keep a pet snake please gather as much information as possible from other reliable sources about the species you intend to keep.
Corn Snake
Pantherophis guttatus guttatus
DESCRIPTION
The Corn Snake is native to southern and eastern USA & north east Mexico.
The Corn Snake is a fairly slim constrictor and averages 4 feet in length. Up to a size of 6 feet on rare occasions.
The Corn Snake is a placid species that is easy to handle and care for and will rarely bite. It is mainly terrestrial but is a strong climber and will usually hold on to you when handled.
Corn Snakes will live 10 to 20 years in captivity with the proper care.
The Corn Snake aka. Red Rat Snake is a very popular pet snake which has been bred for generations in a large variety of attractive colour and pattern morphs.
HOUSING
An enclosure measuring appx 36”x15”x18” is a good size for housing a single adult Corn Snake. The enclosure can be a wooden vivarium with sliding glass doors or an aquarium with a well ventilated secure lid. They are also successfully kept in large plastic storage boxes with plenty of ventilation holes drilled in the sides. Whatever type of enclosure you choose you must ensure it is secure. Like most snakes the Corn Snake is a good escape artist.
One or two hides should be provide in the enclosure to give your Corn Snake a sense of security and privacy. These hides can be home made out of ice cream tubs, plastic piping, pieces of bark etc. Use your imagination. The important thing is that the hide should be just large enough for your Corn Snake to fit inside snugly. There are also ready made reptile hides available commercially.
An inch thick covering of aspen bedding or wood chips make good substrates for Corn Snakes, as do paper towels or newspaper (though a less attractive substrate).
Corn snakes will make use of one or two sturdy climbing branches if provided and plastic plants can be used to decorate the enclosure.
A sturdy water bowl placed near the coolest part of the Corn Snakes enclosure is essential and should be large enough for the snake to bathe in if it wishes.
Humidity levels in your Corn Snakes vivarium should be kept in the range of 50 - 60% and the humidity can be raised slightly (10%) just before your Corn Snake is due to shed or slough its skin.
Humidity levels in your Corn Snakes vivarium can be measured with a hygrometer. Basic dial hygrometers can be bought inexpensively from pet shops dealing in exotics and also from garden centres.
HEATING, LIGHTING AND TEMPERATURE
Corn snakes are best kept at daytime temperatures varying from 27 to 31 degrees centigrade at one end of the enclosure and 21 to 25 degrees centigrade at the other, cooler end. A temperature drop of 5 degrees can be allowed at night.
A thermal gradient like this can be achieved by placing a heat mat under only half of the enclosure, leaving the other half cool. Heat mats should be controlled by a thermostat to maintain correct temperatures. Always follow the instructions that come with your heating equipment as these can vary between manufacturer.
Lighting is not essential for the Corn Snake if kept in a well lit room, but can be used to make your Corn Snakes enclosure more attractive if wished.
If you find that extra heat is needed a low wattage bulb fitted to the ceiling of the enclosure can be utilised to increase the ambient temperature. Bulbs above 25 watts should be covered with a bulb guard to protect your Corn Snake from burns.
Any lighting should be turned off at night. An inexpensive timer, bought from a harware shop can be used to do the job for you.
HANDLING
Corn Snakes are easily one of the best snakes for handling and seem to enjoy the exercise. Corn Snakes are easily tamed and have been captive bred through several generations and some juveniles will adjust to being handled immediately. It is best not to handle your Corn Snake for at least 24 hours after feeding.
FEEDING
Corn Snakes can be fed on an appropriately sized mouse, rat or chick once every week. The food offered should be roughly the thickness of the snake at the centre of its length.
Frozen mice and rats can be bought in many different sizes from pet stores that deal in reptiles and can be thawed out for your Corn Snake at feeding time.
Corn Snakes are usually good feeders but their may be times when an adult snake stops feeding for a few weeks. Providing your snake is healthy this is natural and no cause for concern.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE
Your Corn Snakes enclosure should be spot checked for faeces on a daily basis and cleaned out completely with a reptile-safe disinfectant at least monthly. All cage furniture should also be disinfected and the substrate should be changed.
Your snake should be given fresh water at least twice weekly.
BREEDING
If a pair of Corn Snakes are kept together or introduced to each other each spring there is a good chance that they will eventually mate without the need for hibernating (brumation) that is needed for successful mating of many other North American colubrids.
If your female Corn Snake becomes gravid (pregnant) there will be a noticeable bulge and an egg laying container should be put in the vivarium. This can be as simple as a plastic box, the size of your snakes hides, with an entrance hole in the lid. The box floor can be lined with moist sphagnum moss. Your Corn Snakes egg laying box should be placed near the warmest area of your Corn Snakes enclosure. Your snake will probably spend a fair amount of time in this box prior to laying her eggs.
Eggs will be laid approximately 2 months after mating and many female Corn Snakes will cease feeding 2 or 3 weeks before laying. Clutch size will vary depending on the size of the female Corn Snake and you can expect anywhere between 5 and 40 eggs measuring appx. 1 to 1.5 inches.
Once layed the eggs should be incubated at a temperature of 26 to 28 degrees centigrade and humidity levels of 90 to 100%
Your Corn Snakes eggs can be incubated, part-buried, the same way up as when they were laid, in moist vermiculite. (Approximately 1 part water to 2 parts vermiculite in weight).
The eggs should hatch 7 to 10 weeks after laying. Many juvenile Corn Snakes will stay inside the egg for some time after breaking the shell and should be left to emerge in their own time. Corn Snake hatchlings measure about a foot in length and should be removed from the adults enclosure and housed in their own secure, shoe-box size enclosures, lined with paper towels, with a small hide and a bowl of drinking water. Juveniles will usually start feeding after their first shed skin.
