Corn Snakes are a species of Rat Snake, which are found wild in central America. There are approximately  100 different types of Rat snake in the world and the Corn Snake is certainly the most gentle one to have as a pet.

They got there name because there are often found in corn fields where there are lots of rats and mice.

The Average lifespan of a cornsnake is 8 – 12 years.

Housing
Vivariums: 
Corn Snakes are not highly active and do not need huge enclosures. A medium sized Vivarium will house your Corn Snake nicely. The vivarium should allow a minimum of 1 square foot of floor space to each foot of snake and be approximately a third of the snake’s length in height.

All snakes need a selection of environmental enrichment such as a place to hide in, branches and rocks to climb on. There are a few different types of substrate you can use such as Aspen and woodchip which needs to be cleaned out as and when needed. 

 Temperature:
Corn Snakes are cold blooded and get heat from their surroundings. The ideal temperature for you snake's vivarium is a temperature gradient of 21-32°C, (making sure that there is a hot end and a cool end.)

Thermometers at each end of the Vivarium can be placed to monitor the temperature range. The overall temperature can be controlled by a thermostat which will keep the tank at a consent temperature. If you use a heat bulb rather than a heat mat a bulb guard must be put in the tank to prevent the snake from burning itself.

 Lighting:
Unlike lizards, corn snakes do not need UV light to survive so no light is actually needed in the vivarium but a strip light on 12 hours a day promotes the natural day/night cycle.

Cleaning:
Corn Snakes are relatively easy to care for, as they defecate rarely, so with regular spot cleaning a full vivarium clean out should only be necessary every 3-5 weeks. When you clean out the housing, disinfect the inside of the vivarium with a weak disinfectant solution or a reptile safe product. 

Feeding and Water
Corn Snakes feed on mice appropriate to the size of their mouth. A prey item should be approximately the same width as one and a half times the size of the corn snakes head.

Hatchling Corn Snakes start on pinky mice, one every 5-6 days and graduate up to an adult mouse every 7-14 days as they grow. You may also feed your Corn Snake on chicks and fertilized quail eggs to provide a variation in diet, although these are not recommended as a staple diet as these will not contain all the beneficial nutrients and minerals that rodents have.

Fresh water should always be available. 

Handling
It is important to handle your corn snake regularly to help build a relationship with him. Saying this it is best not to handle him/her on the same day as you feed it as this could stress the snake and deter it from eating or make it regurgitate its food.

General Care
Signs of a Healthy Corn Snake:

• The snake should be alert, active and not looking lethargic. 
• The snakes eyes, nose and mouth should be clean and discharge free.
• Check that they Have been eating and drinking normally.
• Make sure the snakes body is full and round, rather than triangular looking which could symbolise that the snake is malnourished.

Shopping List

• Vivarium
• Heat Bulb/heat mat
• Thermometers x2 
• Water bowl
• Thermostat
• Substrate
• Pet-Safe Disinfectant
• Environmental enrichment 

We guarantee all animals purchased are healthy and feeding unless noticed at the time of sale. As we cannot be held responsible for their husbandry requirements once they have left us, we only continue this guarantee for 24 hours after purchase. To deter impulse buying we will not give full refunds/exchanges for animals returned for non-health related problems, we reserve the right to charge up to 50% of the purchase price as a handling fee. Please note: this does not mean we will leave you high and dry! We will do our best to help whatever the circumstances.