Can I add rocks to my Corn Snakes Cage?

Question

Silly Question but i found rocks from the beach in 2006...i just bought my Corn Snake...Should I put the rock in the cage with him? Or will he eat it? Its a medium size one and i have a big one.

Answer 1

It's never a good idea to use anything from outdoors for your reptiles.  Mites, molds, fungi, etc. can be in the tiny crevices and end up causing your pet trouble.

For shedding purposes, I always recommend checking out the ceramic limbs at your local pet store.  These are available in a great variety of shapes and colors.  They are easily disinfected, and most snakes enjoy climbing.

If you're darned and determined to use that rock?  Soak it in a 1 part bleach to 6 parts water solution for an hour.  Rinse, and then scrub clean with a tooth brush and iodine free salt.  Rinse very well, and allow to dry completely.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for an hour (just as you would your wooden hides/perches).  This should make it tank/pet safe - if it survives the cleaning process.

I hope this has been of help.

Answer 2

Of course you can,. just be sure its stable. i disagree with the above poster, its MUCH better to use items from the outdoors. you just need to properly prepare them. boil the rocks, and make sure they are stable. branches can be soaked in a 1-10 bleach to water solution,. then soaked in water. pet store items are overpriced, poorly constructed, often hinder a proper naturalistic enclosure, and above all, look crappy.

Answer 3

Yes, you can. Before introducing the rock thouh, make sure you boil it for a good 30-45 minutes or bake it at 350F in your oven. That will take care of parasites that may be present in the pores of the rock. Repeat again every other week to keep your rock clean and your pet safe.

Your corn will not eat the rocks. They don't smell like food nor have the rigth temperatures to be considered food.