| As exotic pets go, corn snakes make a good choice | | | | and disinfect the entire tank every 3-5 weeks, using |
| for beginners. They come in a variety of colors, are | | | | a reptile-safe solution. |
| docile by nature and enjoy being handled, as well as | | | | You should provide objects for your snake to hide in, |
| being fairly easy to care for. Here are some tips on | | | | and to climb on, as it would in the wild. For hiding |
| how to keep a pet corn snake healthy. | | | | places, you could use small cardboard boxes or toilet |
| To be a responsible pet owner, you will need to be | | | | roll tubes, or shop-bought hides, which have the |
| prepared to commit time and energy to caring for | | | | advantage of being cleanable so they can be reused. |
| your snake. Corn snakes can live for around 18 years, | | | | For climbing, branches and rocks can be purchased, or |
| so bear this in mind before you buy one. Reptiles | | | | you could use ones from the garden if you sterilise |
| have very different needs to cats or dogs, and you | | | | them first to kill any harmful bugs. Plastic plants can |
| will need to make sure you have the right equipment | | | | be used, as some real plants may be harmful. |
| to provide your snake with a suitable place to live. | | | | Corn snakes ideally need a temperature gradient of |
| You will need to take into account how big your | | | | 21-30C, providing both warm and cool areas in the |
| snake could grow. Corn snakes can reach 4-6ft long | | | | tank, so they can thermo-regulate by moving to |
| when mature. They aren't especially active creatures, | | | | different areas. To do this, use a |
| but will need a reasonably sized vivarium or aquarium | | | | thermostatically-regulated heat mat under a third of |
| with a secure lid. As a guide, for each foot of snake, | | | | the floor space. |
| provide at least 1 square foot of floor space. The | | | | Corn snakes in captivity can be fed mainly on mice, |
| height of the tank should be around a third of the | | | | depending on their size. Hatchlings can eat "pinkies" |
| snake's length. If you buy your snake as a hatchling, | | | | (baby mice), one every 5-6 days. As you snake |
| give it a proportionately smaller enclosure to begin | | | | grows, it can start to have a larger mouse every 1-2 |
| with so as to avoid causing it stress. | | | | weeks. Larger snakes may need two mice per feed. |
| For the substrate there are various products on sale | | | | It's important to use frozen mice, thawed to room |
| in exotic pet shops, such as aspen shavings or | | | | temperature, as live rodents could injure your pet. |
| Astroturf, or you could use paper towels. Make sure | | | | With proper care and attention exotic pets such as |
| you remove any soiled substrate when necessary | | | | corn snakes can be fascinating and rewarding animals. |