Corn Snake Care Sheet
Introduction
After many generations of selective breeding, domesticated Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus) are found in a wide variety of different colours and patterns. They are universally recognized for their docile nature, manageable size, and beautiful coloration, making them extremely popular for first time snake keepers and families with young children. Proper care is essential for maintaining the health and well-being of these gentle reptiles. Below are guidelines to help you provide optimal care for your corn snake.
Care sheets are only to be taken as guidelines. Just as with all animals, each reptile will have unique traits and personalities special to the individual animal that may require adaptation in their husbandry and care. The following care sheet will address basic requirements but as the primary caretaker of your pet, we encourage you to take notice of your pet's behaviours and preferences and make adjustments as they grow with you and your family. Please also keep in mind that unlike mammals, most reptiles change their behaviour according to seasonal weather changes even if you keep them indoors all year round. Most reptiles also change their behaviour according to their life stages and should not be expected to behave the same their whole life.
We keep corn snakes in stock at our Toronto store and ship across Canada.
Cheat Sheet
Corn Snake
| Common name | Corn Snake |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Pantherophis guttatus |
| Natural location | Southeastern United States of America |
| Habitat (wild) | Warm and temperate, high tolerance to seasonal variation |
| Captive enclosure | 10-20gal for hatchlings/juveniles, 40-90gal+ for adults |
| Substrate | Aspen, Cypress Mulch, Loose Bark |
| Temperature tolerance | Nighttime: 68-75°F (20-24°C), Cooler: 72-78°F (22-26°C) |
| Basking temperature | 82-88°F (28-31°C) |
| UVB lighting | Optional. Can be beneficial in small amounts |
| Humidity | Approx. 40%-60% |
| Average adult size | 4-5 feet |
| Captive lifespan | 20-30 years |
| Fun fact | Will rattle their tails when really excited |
Housing
Enclosure: Provide a secure enclosure with enough space for your corn snake to stretch out comfortably. A 15-20 gallon tank is suitable for juveniles, while adults will require a larger enclosure, such as a 40-gallon tank or larger. Keep in mind that the larger the enclosure, the more you will have to heat and furnish it to provide adequate husbandry.
Substrate: Choose a substrate that retains moisture without being overly damp, such as cypress mulch, coconut husk, or reptile bark bedding. You can also use aspen shavings if you are able to provide adequate air humidity. Avoid substrates that may cause infections in the eyes, mouth, and vents such as coco fibre or sand.
Heating: Maintain a thermal gradient within the enclosure, with a warm side temperature of 82-88°F (28-31°C) and a cool side temperature of 72-78°F (22-26°C). Use dark heat lamps, heat pads, ceramic heat emitters, or radiant heat to achieve and maintain these temperatures. We recommend heat pads and radiant heat over heat lamps due the high likelihood of heat lamps drying out the enclosure, causing humidity very difficult to maintain. We also highly advise against the use of any overhead light that produces a bright or white light, as this will cause your corn snake to hide more often trying to stay away from bright lights.
Hide spots: One hide spot is often enough but the more the merrier. If only offering one, ensure that it is situated on the warm side. If you have the space, at least two is ideal, one on the warm side and one on the cool side of the enclosure, to allow your corn snake to thermo-regulate and feel secure. Half logs, cork bark, and commercially available hides are suitable options. You may also want to turn your cool side hide into a humid cave.
Humidity: Maintain humidity levels between 40-50% for most of the enclosure if you can. Mist the enclosure as needed and provide a humidity hide filled with damp sphagnum moss to aid in shedding if you are having trouble maintaining humidity in the enclosure as a whole.
Diet
Feeding: Offer appropriately sized prey items every 5-7 days for juveniles and every 7-14 days for adults, with prey items matching the girth of the snake's thickest part. Mice are ideal for the first 2 years and you can transition into rats in their adult years if you find that the mice are not enough for them.
During brumation, Corn Snakes naturally stop eating for a period of time typically lasting anywhere from 2-4 months. This process should be respected as long as they do not lose visible weight. As they age, their feeding frequency typically decreases, with very mature Corn Snakes over 15 years old often eating only once every 2-3 weeks, provided the meal is appropriately sized.
There is strong debate over feeding live versus frozen thawed and there are pros and cons to both. Nutritionally, one is not better than the other assuming you have acquired your feed from a healthy source. Never leave a live rodent unsupervised with your snake and never leave an uneaten frozen or thawed rodent to decompose overnight. To read more about feeding live versus frozen and thawed, see Karen's Corner.
Water: Provide a water dish filled with fresh, clean water at all times. Ensure the water dish is large enough for your corn snake to soak in if desired.
Health & Maintenance
Hygiene: Your Corn Snake will only relieve itself once every 5-10 days on average. Over time, you will learn your snake's bathroom routines. Look out for it regularly and remove all excrements as soon as you see it to prevent the buildup of bacteria and parasites. Remove excrements, shed skin, and uneaten prey items promptly. We recommend a full substrate change once per season, 4 times a year. Wood and plant decor can be washed monthly with hot water and dish soap and put back into place.
Handling: Corn Snakes can be handled quite frequently and will often curl up in your clothes if allowed to do so. Handle your corn snake gently and confidently, supporting its body to prevent discomfort. Avoid handling during the shedding process or after feeding to minimize stress. Wash your hands before and after handling to prevent the spread of bacteria.
Behavioural observation: Monitor your Corn Snake's behaviour for signs of illness or stress, such as decreased appetite, lethargy, or abnormal shedding. Keep in mind that it is normal for healthy adults to lessen their food intake every winter. Most adult corn snakes will go through brumation for anywhere from 2-4 months of semi sleep state. A healthy and well fed corn snake will always have strong muscle tissue and holds itself up well, even when you wake it up from brumation.
Quarantine: Quarantine any new additions to your reptile collection to prevent the spread of diseases.
Common Questions
Are corn snakes good for beginners?
Yes, they are one of the most recommended first snakes. Docile, manageable at 4 to 5 feet, and tolerant of a wide range of conditions. They are commonly kept by families with young children.
What size tank does a corn snake need?
15 to 20 gallons for juveniles, 40 gallons or larger for adults. Bigger enclosures need more heating and more furnishing to get right, so scale up as the snake grows rather than starting oversized.
How often do corn snakes eat?
Every 5 to 7 days as juveniles, every 7 to 14 days as adults. Mice are ideal for the first 2 years, then you can move to rats if mice stop being enough. Very mature snakes over 15 may eat only once every 2 to 3 weeks.
Why has my corn snake stopped eating?
Most likely brumation. Corn snakes naturally stop eating for 2 to 4 months, usually over winter. As long as they are not losing visible weight, respect the process rather than trying to force feeding.
Do corn snakes need a heat lamp?
Heat pads and radiant heat are better. Heat lamps dry the enclosure out and make humidity hard to hold. Avoid bright white overhead light, as it will make your snake hide more.
How long do corn snakes live?
20 to 30 years in captivity.
All Reptiles, all the time.
Corn snakes in stock now
We carry corn snakes, along with the substrate, enclosures, heating and hides covered in this guide, at 1911 Kennedy Rd. Unit 99 in Toronto. Staff can walk you through a full setup in person.
