Contrary to the old belief, it is no secret that people keep these frequently mild animals as pets since they are colorful, placid, and reluctant to bite. Among all pet snakes, one of the most popular and sought-after in the United States is the corn snake, also known as Elaphe guttata for certain reasons. They are widely accepted and preferred by both experienced and novice snake keepers because of their vibrant personalities, appropriate size for handling, and easy upkeep. Can a corn snake live in a 10-gallon tank?
At the age of three at most, your snake will surely have more than doubled in length and developed sexual maturity. At this stage, a 20-gallon tank is advised. Nevertheless, a newborn corn snake can live for a few years in a 10-gallon aquarium, but this is no longer convenient for an adult corn snake because they need a small amount of space to move around and climb as well.
The size of the corn snake matters a lot. The fact is that even as juveniles or adults, not all corn snakes grow to the same size, so the size of the tank to utilize is entirely dependent on the size of the corn snake. For instance, a tank that is six to eight inches long by four to six inches broad is required and can be appropriate for some corn snakes that are shorter than four feet in length, while a tank that is ten or twelve inches long may be necessary for larger corn snakes, such as those that are eight or nine feet long or even more. Corn snakes love to climb, so the height of the tank is also very important.
How To Care For Your Corn Snake
A corn snake, in its actual sense, is a small, harmless snake found in North America. Its name was actually derived from the pattern that resembles corn on its skin. Among all pet snakes, corn snakes are among the most well-liked, and with good reason. Corn snakes have earned their proper place on pet lists due to their enormous range of stunning colors and patterns, simplicity of care and breeding, and generally calm personalities. This, in summary, means that they are easy to be with.
For anyone with a strong interest in snakes, consider corn snakes because they make excellent first pets. However, for proper knowledge, it is still important to do extensive research before getting the snake to ensure that it is a good fit and that you are willing to make the commitment, as well as to be sure it is actually what you need. For this reason, we will now look at those things you need to know to be a great pet owner for your corn snake when you finally get one. Keep reading!
Corn Snake Size And Availability
There is one thing you should learn about wildly caught corn snakes: they should not be purchased since they frequently have health problems or parasites. However, corn snakes can be purchased in captivity from a number of sources, including pet shops, reptile expos, online, and, of course, breeders only. But according to some experienced pet snake owners, it is strongly advised to purchase a corn snake that has been captive-bred due to the stunning color and pattern variants that are available. This also provides you with a higher chance of receiving a healthy, parasite-free snake and the information about age, history, and parentage that may be included, and these details are really important as they will help you understand more about their health conditions before purchasing. Corn snakes in general grow to a length of 4 to 5.5 feet after hatching out at 8 to 12 inches in length.
Corn Snake Behavior And Nature
These unassuming snakes are typically gentle in nature and let people handle them without any issues. However, like rattlesnakes, they may vibrate their tails in defense if they feel threatened, both in the wild and in captivity. But before touching a young corn snake needlessly, it is crucial to give it a few weeks to adjust to its surroundings, get used to you, and establish a normal eating schedule. With the exception of the first two to three days following a meal, start touching your corn snake after about four successful meals. Don’t be like a predator; make sure to approach the corn snake from the side rather than the top, then carefully lift it up confidently.
Just like every other snake, corn snakes are frightened by hesitation and are more likely to run away or bite. As was previously said, this species of snake is neither aggressive nor harmful. Although it is common for newborn corn snakes to try to flee, hide, or even defend themselves, they are completely harmless and cannot harm you when you encounter them. The fit of their lid is very crucial because they will press on it with their noses to check for flaws and small openings. A corn snake risks becoming lost or injured if it escapes from its prison and will probably give any guests to your home a good scare, so you should always keep an eye on it.
Corn Snake Food And Water
It is very likely that birds or their eggs may be consumed by adult corn snakes. Animals like crickets should not be offered since corn snakes do not consider them to be food. Corn snakes are carnivorous, and they mostly use scent rather than sight to pursue their prey in the wild. Preferably, pre-killed frozen mice that have been properly thawed should be fed to captive corn snakes, as this serves as one of their main meals. Though their main source of natural food is small rodents, some young corn snakes will also consume lizards or the odd frog.
Corn snakes focus more on their food and are more likely to eat if you put a frozen mouse in an empty container with a few small air holes. However, always try to prevent the snake from overheating by making sure the lid is on snugly and keeping it away from sources of heat. Also, don’t forget that the size of the prey should be raised as the snake grows. Hatchlings are different as they are initially fed on pinkie mice. Though it is possible for the prey item to be slightly or as wide as the snake’s head to ensure they swallow with ease,
Feed adult corn snakes every seven to ten days at most, while you feed newborn corn snakes every five to seven days. A thawing mouse’s skin should be cut into pieces to enable quicker and more thorough digestion. But in a case where your snake starts shedding, which is accompanied by hazy eyes and a dulling of the skin color, reduce feeding frequency as your snake’s appetite may decrease during a shed, then increase it to normal once they are fully recovered.
Make sure that filtered or dechlorinated tap water is always available for your snake, preferably in a weighted bowl to prevent spilling or tipping, and that it should be changed every couple of days to maintain a certain level of hygiene. This should also be so because hydrating your corn snake is another monitored task that is more complex than simply giving it a bowl of tap water because they need water to be extremely alright.
Corn Snake Housing
Since snakes are not social creatures, having cagemates can be very upsetting, so try to keep one corn snake at a time in a cage. There should be a provision for a hiding area as well as a forked branch for climbing at both the colder and warmer ends of the cage because corn snakes love to move about and climb too. Endeavor to check the lid and doors for any flaws or holes to make sure the snake cannot escape. Also, give the snake a hide box that is just big enough for it to snuggle up in, but also note that if it’s too big, it won’t feel as safe.
The use of thermometers within the enclosure when using under-tank heating pads or heat tape is important because they can make it harder to keep track of how hot it is there. Not every form of heating is recommended. The ideal form of heating is an overhead incandescent heat lamp, although you shouldn’t be worried as corn snakes are native to temperate climates; as a matter of fact, they do not require tropical temperatures.
Hygrometer monitoring is also super important and highly recommended for your corn snake enclosure, especially during the drier winter months when you might need to mist the tank more regularly or refill an evaporating water bowl. Make sure that the ambient air in the cage has a relative humidity of between 35 and 60 percent, with the higher end of this range favoring healthy shedding. All these you should bring into reality in order to give your corn snake a decent enclosure that will be favorable.
Corn Snake Temperature And Lighting
It is crucial to maintain a corn snake’s body temperature at a low level; similarly to many other snakes, do not jeopardize its health by overly moistening the tank; it’s not ideal for them. Misting the interior of a snake’s tank is a common error made by most snake owners, and this can lead to negative effects on your corn snake. However, doing so frequently results in hazardous levels of fungus and mold for the snake to be around. Learn to place a thermometer and a conceal box correctly; this is crucial because temperatures can vary significantly within just a few inches.
Final Thought
Except for the baby, a corn snake cannot survive in a 10-gallon aquarium. When choosing a tank for your fully grown corn snake, bear in mind that sizes vary, therefore you should think about tanks 20 gallons and greater to give it comfort by providing enough space.
