Pet corn snake care?

Question

I am thinking about getting a pet corn snake. I have researched them but i still have a few questions for any owners. If you use pre killed mice, where do you get them? because the pet store doesn't carry them where i live. Should i get a 20 gallon or 30 gallon tank? Should i get an overhead heater or a heated rug? Overall, how is your experience with them? If you would like to add any other advice, that would be most appreciated. Thank you :-)

Answer 1

Well you can get the f/t mice from pet-smart or on line.

Tank size a 20 gal. is good but the bigger the better.

you should have a UTH and a over head heater.

they are nice easy to care for snakes.

Hope this helps.

If there is anyway I can help you any further e-mail me.

Answer 2

Right now I'm getting my frozen mice from Petsmart - they have small containers of them in a freezer which in my local store is near the fish.

But, in the future I'm going to be ordering them in bulk from suppliers off the internet, it's A LOT cheaper(<$.30 per mouse/rat). There are just SO many of these suppliers I'm going to ask that you google them yourself to find out which would be best.

For a tank, a 20 gallon is fine, but if you can afford it bigger is always better. Personally, I prefer heating lights, but some like undertank heaters and some use both. They all work, so it's just personal preference.

Answer 3

I've enjoyed having my corn snakes.  The best thing about them is that they can live together.  I currently have four of them in a 40 gallon long tank and they often ball up together during the day.  They come in so many colors that you can get a little rainbow of them.  Corn snakes are very easy to tame and while they're not exactly happy to be held by humans, they're very tolerant of it.  

I definitely recommend pre-killed mice because they can't hurt the snake.  When getting your snake, I'd be sure to ask if he/she eats pre-killed mice already, because some babies can be very stubborn if they're not used to them.  You can get them at many sites online.

30 gallon is better than 20, if you can do it.  They're quite the little nocturnal explorers and tend to like horizontal and vertical space to wander.

I use a 75 watt basking light for heat, and they do fine.  

The only other thing I'd suggest is having a seperate container (like a carrying cage/critter keeper) to feed them in.  If you feed them in a different container, they are less likely to snap at you when you reach for them in their usual tank.  Also, if you feed them in their usual tank, they might ingest some of the bedding, which they won't do in a carrying cage.  Eating bedding can kill them if they get it stuck in their intestines.  Lastly, if you get more than one corn snake, feeding them seperately prevents them from accidently eating each other.  (If they were to grab onto the same mouse, it can happen.)

Answer 4

you can order frozen mice in bulk online, I would use a 30 gallon tank so you don't need to upgrade

Answer 5

Here is a complete care sheet for you, and hope this helps:

The Corn Snake

The Corn Snake has to be the best beginner pet snake there is to own. Available in a range of different colour morphs makes choosing exciting. They are easy to care, maintain, feed and like to be handled.

What does a Corn Snake look like?

This common snake grows to an adult size of approx. 2.5 - 5 feet. They are available in a range of different colours and morphs, but all of the corns have a "V" shape on their head. Some of the colours you can purchase are as follows; Albino, Black, Candy Cane, Fluorescent, Motley, Snow and many more - too many to list!

If you want to own a snake for the first time, this is the ideal "Pet Snake". They have a calm natured, can be handled and easy to maintain and feed.

Where are Corn Snakes from?

They range from southeast America and northeast Canada.

As with all snakes, they need a high temperature during the day to allow their food to digest. If this is not provided, the snake will regurgitate the meal back up to prevent this from rotting in their stomach. A temperature of 30C (85F) should be provided during the day with a drop down to 25C (75F) at night. The easiest way to provide heat is to place a heat mat under 1/3 of the tank and use a low wattage bulb during the day to stimulate the day time hours. The cool end must be provided with a water dish so the snake can maintain its own temperature.

Available in different morphs and colours.

Are Corn Snakes easy to keep?

Yes, this is the "Pet Snake" to own!

You can make the vivarium for your pet snake as simple or as natural as you want. A simply way for many snake breeders is to place them in plastic containers with a heat mat at one end and a water dish at the other. Simply use clean paper towel as a substrate and provide a hide. This is a very cheap way if you want to keep many different morphs or are planning on breeding the snakes.

If you would like a natural set-up this too is very simple. Purchase a Vivarium (Contact us for sizes and prices), use a substrate like Fine Orchid Bark, Corn Cob or Cage Carpet. You need to place a Heat Mat inside 1/3 of the viv and use a small wattage bulb during the day. Provide a water bowl that should be changed daily, most snakes will curl inside the bowl when ready for shedding. Provide hides throughout the viv and maybe some climbing branches, as they will climb if given the chance. You can even purchase a background drop, like used in aquariums to give it that last finishing touch.

Feeding Corn Snakes is very easy, defrost rodents can be purchased from us. The size of the food and amounts depend on the size of the snake. All hatchlings should be fed on baby pinkies (baby mice) every 3 days or so. As they grow, this can be increased to two pinkies every 10 days, then slowly increase the size of the food. It is best to make a log of when your snake eats and sheds its skin, as this will show good records if you ever decide to sell it on or if the snake is ill.

By the way the minimum you should have for a corn snake (because they grow to six foot) have the 3 ft tank ready.

Again hope this helps and good luck with your new baby corn snake...

Answer 6

petsmart and petco both sell frozen feeders.  

i would go with the 30 gallon tank.  a 40 gallon breeder tank would be perfect though, that's a great size for an adult corn snake.  an under tank heater on one side of the tank (look on the back of the box of the UTH for the correct size).  i wouldn't use an over head heat or light source for mine (i have 2 kings and i only use a UTH on them).  the best substrate is aspen bedding (by zoo med).  put about 1" in the bottom of the tank and put the hide box on the side over the UTH.  then add more substrate in the tank, enough so that your snake can burrow itself totally in the stuff.  i don't put a hide on the cool side of my tank because the snake goes under the substrate anyway (i put a hide on the hot side so that the snake can be "on top of the substrate" but still hidden under the hide).  on the cool side put the water bowl.  then put in a log (pet store to ensure that it is not toxic for your snake).  that way your snake will have something to help him/her shed.

good luck!! enjoy your new pet!