August 13, 2024, 4:07 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Few snakes are as commonly kept as pets in terrariums as the corn snake. It is relatively low-maintenance, making it well-suited for reptile beginners.
Appearance
Corn snakes are particularly striking due to their distinctively beautiful pattern. Their skin features a brownish pattern that can also appear in shades of red. The belly of the corn snake is white with dark spots. The V-shaped marking on the snake’s head is also typical. Corn snakes are medium-sized, which makes them easier to keep. Fully grown specimens reach a maximum length of 130 centimeters and weigh up to one kilogram.
Behavior
The corn snake is known for being extremely calm and peaceful, which is why it is often recommended as an ideal beginner’s snake. This species is crepuscular, meaning it is most active in the early morning and evening. During the day, it usually hides under a pile of leaves or retreats into a cave to rest. Corn snakes are neither aggressive nor venomous. However, they generally do not like to be constantly removed from their terrarium—especially not when they are resting. Using a snake hook or gloves can help avoid any risk and allow the snake to be temporarily relocated for terrarium cleaning.
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Proper Care & Maintenance
A corn snake requires a terrarium of at least 120 × 60 × 120 centimeters. If you want to keep multiple snakes, you need about 20 percent more space per additional snake to create a suitable habitat. Corn snakes also need it consistently warm to hot. Daytime temperatures of 24 to 28 degrees Celsius are suitable for these reptiles. In the evening, the heat lamp can be turned off. Until the next day, a room temperature of around 20 degrees is completely sufficient for the corn snake. To ensure increased humidity in the terrarium, the interior can be regularly sprayed with water. High humidity is especially important during shedding.
Corn snakes eat small birds and rodents. For keeping them as pets, thawed frozen mice or live specimens can be fed. Be sure to use tweezers or gloves for this. If the food has human scents, the corn snake might refuse it.