Cornsnakes are one of the easiest snakes to care for. They are hardy snakes and very rarely bite i have two and they have never bitten me once. When they are babies they eat pinkies ( baby mice with no fur).When about 6 months old approx they should be on small mice for 4 to 6 months. Then try them on medium mice .About 6 months later try them on large mice.This feeding has worked for me and it is only a guide.When we introduced yemi into silkys tank she was a year old we left her in her own tank for a year as silky might have eaten yemi or silky might fall on yemi and squash her. Cornsnakes you can keep easily in a tank as long as it has food, water, heat and somewhere to hide it is a good snake to have for a beginner. We have had silky for five years from a baby and he has always been a bad eater he will eat for a few months then he wont eat for months. At first we would worry but we are now used to it once he didnt eat for six months once . Now we keep a diary on when they feed and when they dont so we can keep tracks. The tank needs a constant heat of between 75 and 85 degrees we use heatmats in our tanks plus a energy saving light bulb for a bit more heat .The light is mainly for us and is only on for 10 to 12 hours a day on a timer .You can get your snake sexed at a vets the vet will sex your snake by using a probe.
Bedding you can use a few materials ie aspin, newspaper, kitchen roll ,i have heard of people using carpet, astro turf personally i use aspin as you can spot clean the dirty area. Make sure the snake has clean water every couple of days and it has enough room so it can bath in the container if it wants. Clean the tank fully a least once a month with a antibacterial animal friendly product.
Feeding my corns are easy because we have had them from babies so i just put the snakes in separate big plastic containers with there mice put in first and they just eat there food with out striking at it.Bones my boa stikes for his food so when i feed him i use tongs. I dont feed any of my snakes in there tanks as so they dont associate me going into there tanks and thinking its feeding time (saves me gettting bit). One tip when feeding your snakes use gloves when handling the mice,when finished handling the mice or rats take off your gloves and the put your snake in the feeding container. This might lesson the chance of you getting bitten because you smell like mice or rats.I feed my snakes pre dead rodents its a lot easier and safer for the snake keep away from giving your snake live food if you can.
I try to take the snakes out there tanks at least once every two to three days to handle them so it will get them social and used to me and there surroundings.
Branches, rocks, stones, plastic plants are great for vivariums as long as you give them a good clean. When we got both yemi and silky we bought them home in a small margarine tub and they could fit in the palm of my hand they were like worms.
We got silky at the vivarium in blackpool a great shop to go and see if your in those parts.Yemi we got in a pet shop in southport always has a great supply of mice and rats. a friendly guy and always ready to help.
My first snake was a royal python we called him flake but we got rid of him as we had to move house and we had no room. I think if we get any more snakes i think i would like another royal.
Cornsnakes rarely get any bigger then 5ft in captivity which is a good length for a placid snake and you can keep several in the same tank if you have a good size tank. Food is the only outlay a week apart from a little electric that you wouldnt even notice.
Cornsnakes are mostly found in forests, rocky hillsides and farmland in america ie :new jersey, florida, north carolina, new mexico etc amongst many more.
Cornsnakes lay eggs and become sexually active about 2 yrs of age the average life span is between 10 to 15 yrs. In the wild they eat small rodents and small birds A lot of people believe that snakes will only grow to the size of the tank this is not true always ask the person you get your snake from how big it will get when it is a adult. You should never use hot rocks in your tank as you cant control the heat.
Snakes shed there skin when there skin becomes tight and worn a new skin is underneath as the snake gets ready to shed the eyes will go a milky blue colour the body will go dull and a slight whiteish colour once the eyes are clear the snake is ready to shed. The snake sheds its skin by pushing against something to help guide the old skin off. The snake starts at the head and the old skin starts peeling off the body inside out ( great to watch ) the shed will either come off in one piece or it will come off in bits. Cornsnakes belong to the genus elaphe =ELAPHE GUTTATA.
Cornsnakes are at there most active at night time.
Above is silky.
Below is yemi.
Below is silky and yemi in there shoe box.
