Okeetee tessera corn snake3/21/2023 ![]() ![]() That's simply not possible in a 20g tank. 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. 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. When they're well established eaters and growing well they can adapt to most cage sizes. A "juvenile" stage cage setup isn't necessarily required for corn snakes. Once the corn is around 2.5'-3' in length I move it to the adult enclosure. I usually keep juvenile corn snakes in 66qt tubs since they will use the added height. Juveniles should be kept in medium sized tubs, cages, or aquariums. A 10g aquarium would also be a good choice. I start hatchling corn snakes in 6qt tubs. Although most hatchling corn snakes are eager feeders, they can become shy and less likely to eat in a sparsely decorated large cage. Hatchlings are generally started in small enclosures. UVB lighting (I would recommend 3%-6%) can be provided for corn snakes that are not albino or another light sensitive morph and is beneficial to health but not necessary for survival. I have my lights on timers that turn on around 8AM and turn off at 8PM. Corn snakes should have a day / night cycle which can be provided by in-cage lighting or ambient room light. I use LED lighting made for aquariums in my corn snake enclosures. However, because corn snakes are from a relatively temperate environment a night time drop in temperatures can be beneficial. RHPs, CHEs, and DHPs do not emit light so they can be kept on during the night - most reptiles have fairly complex color vision and can see the red light emitted by “night time” heat lamps. Halogen bulbs produce the most complete heating spectrum for reptiles but should not be used with albino or other light sensitive animals. If you want to use an overhead heating element, I recommend using an RHP (radiant heat emitter), a CHE (ceramic heat emitter), or a DHP (deep heat projector). UTH are usually either heat pads (designed for use with reptiles) or heat tape (which is not designed for use with reptiles but is widely used in herpetoculture). UTH (under tank heaters) provide belly heat, UTH work well with nearly all cage types. IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL heating elements should be controlled with a proper thermostat or dimmer. If you need to use additional heating for your corn snake, you have several options. I keep my corn snakes at an ambient temperature that fluctuates between 76-80F throughout the day and they thrive in this environment. I recommend the cool end of the cage to be in the 70-76F range and the warm end to be in the 80-85F range. ![]() Hot spot temperatures should never reach over 90F. A fatal error in keeping corns is keeping them too hot. It’s ideal to create a temperature gradient to allow the snake to choose the temperature it needs at a given moment, although they can also be kept successfully at an ambient temperature. Wild corn snakes primarily feed on rodents, but will also eat small lizards, amphibians, and bird eggs. While corn snakes are not arboreal, they are often found in trees and are adept at climbing. 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. Because of this wide range of habitat types, their captive husbandry practices can be (and should be) flexible. They are extremely versatile and can be found in grasslands, forests, wetlands, and urban areas. Hatchlings can be nippy but usually grow out of it with consistent, gentle handling.Ĭorn Snake Distribution and Natural Habitats:Ĭorn snakes inhabit the southeastern and central portions of the United States. They grow 3-5 feet and are typically docile but active snakes. ![]() Corn snakes are excellent beginner reptiles but are also great for experienced keepers and morph enthusiasts. 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. This is a brief explanation of how I personally keep corn snakes. ![]()
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