Corn Snake Care Sheet

Corn Snake Overview

Docile and even-tempered, corn snakes make excellent pets for beginner snake hobbyists.  

Corn snakes are named thanks to the spotted pattern of their belly scales, which resembles maize—an ancestor of modern-day corn. Corn snakes come in an assortment of color morphs and patterns, including orange, red, brown, white, black, and yellow. 

Corn snakes can live for 20+ years with proper care, so owning a corn snake is a rewarding and long-term commitment. 

Corn Snake Handling

Most corn snakes are tolerant of proper handling. But, like all snakes, they may strike if they feel ill, stressed, or threatened.  

On occasion, snakes may mistake human hands as a food source. This sometimes happens during shedding periods, when the clear scales that cover the snake’s eyes (eye caps) become loose and impair their vision. Always approach a snake calmly and quietly, and try to minimize handling when they are shedding. Corn snakes are not venomous. 

As solitary creatures, corn snakes prefer to be housed alone. 

All reptiles are potential carriers of infectious diseases including Salmonella bacteria, which is zoonotic (transmittable to people) disease.  Pet parents should always wash their hands before and after handling their snake or its habitat’s contents. 

Corn Snake Shedding

Young corn snakes shed about once a month as they grow, while healthy adults usually shed only a few times a year. When corn snakes get ready to shed, their eye color turns cloudy blue or green, and their skin develops a whitish sheen. 

Snakes may become irritable while shedding, so avoid handling them during these periods. 

Corn Snake Characteristics

Difficulty of Care	Beginner
Average Life Span	Up to 20+ years with proper care
Average Adult Size	4 - 6 feet long
Diet	Carnivorous
Minimum Habitat Size	10+ gallons for juveniles; 30 - 40+ gallons for adults

Corn Snake Supply Checklist

To keep a corn snake happy and healthy, keep these supplies on hand:

• Appropriately sized habitat (10+ gallons for juveniles; 30–40+ gallons for adults) 

• Substrate 

• Moss 

• Water dish 

• Hideaway box 

• Climbing décor 

• Plants 

• Heat emitter 

• Heat fixture 

• UV bulb 

• UV fixture 

• Under-tank heater 

• Thermostat 

• Feeding tongs 

• Thermometers 

• Humidity gauge 

• Frozen rodents 

Corn Snake Habitat

Choosing the Right Enclosure 

Young corn snakes need a tank that’s at least 10 gallons. As the snake enters adulthood, increase their habitat size to accommodate their growth. All enclosures should be well-ventilated and have a secure, screened lid to prevent the snake from escaping. 

Corn snakes enter adulthood within 2 to 3 years. An adult corn snake should be housed in a breeder tank that’s 40 gallons or larger. Corn snakes are active, slender, and curious reptiles and are excellent escape artists. Enclosures must have a secure, locking lid to prevent escapes. Always provide the largest habitat possible. 

Recommended Products: 

• Tanks for Juvenile Corn Snakes (10+ gallons):

• REPTI ZOO Tempered Glass Front Opening with Double Hinge Door Terrarium, Black, 18-gal 

• OiiBO Glass Reptile Tank Terrarium, 15-gal 

• REPTI ZOO Knock-down Double Top Cover Glass Terrarium, 18-gal 
   

• Tanks for Adult Corn Snakes (40+ gallons):

• REPTI ZOO Double Hinge Glass Reptile Terrarium, 50-gal 

• TRIXIE Glass Reptile Terrarium, 50-gal 

• REPTI ZOO Tempered Glass Front Opening with Double Hinge Door Terrarium, 42-gal  

Setting Up Your Habitat 

Corn snakes are solitary animals and should be housed alone. Keeping more than one corn snake in the same habitat can encourage stress, aggression, and competition between tankmates. Never keep different species of animals in the same habitat. 

Temperature 

Check your corn snake’s habitat daily. Two thermometers—one in the warm area and one in the cool area—should be placed in the enclosure so that both zones can be checked at once. A digital point-and-shoot thermometer can also be used to read habitat temperatures instantly. 

Corn snakes need a thermal gradient in their enclosure so they can warm up and cool down as needed. The recommended temperature for the warm end of a corn snake’s habitat is 85 F, while the cooler end should be kept in the low 70s F.  

Recommended Products: 

• ExoTerra LED Reptile Thermometer 

• Zoo Med Digital Thermometer  

• Zoo Med ReptiTemp Digital Infrared Thermometer 

Lighting & Heat Support 

Install an under-tank heater and/or over-the-tank basking lamp with a heat bulb to supply radiant heat in the snake’s habitat. The wattage needed for the heat bulb will vary depending on the size of the enclosure, the distance of the bulb from the snake, and the ambient temperature of the room where the enclosure is kept. Adjust the wattage of the bulb to maintain the recommended temperature gradient within the tank. If an under-tank heating pad is used, it must be connected to a thermostat to prevent the snake from getting burned. 

Note: Some light bulbs provide not only light to the tank but also heat and/or ultraviolet (UV) light. Always check light sources before placing them in a snake’s habitat.

Recommended Products: 

• Light Fixtures & Hoods:

• Fluker's Clamp Lamp with Dimmer 

• Zilla Fixture Low Profile Dual G9 Reptile Terrarium Lamp Fixture 

• Zoo Med Deluxe Porcelain Clamp Lamp 

• Zilla Mini Halogen & UVB Combo Fixture for Reptile Terrariums  

• Heat Support:

• Zilla Heat Mats Reptile Terrarium Heater (must be paired with a thermostat, such as the Zoo Med ReptiTemp Digital Reptile Terrarium Thermostat) 

• Fluker's Ceramic Reptile Heat Emitter 

• Zilla Ceramic Heat Emitter Reptile Terrarium 

UV Light 

Studies show that daily exposure to UVA/UVB light can improve snakes’ immune system function and promote normal behavior. Be sure to provide your corn snake with 8-12 hours of UV light daily to imitate natural sunlight. Replace lights every 6 months since the potency wanes over time. 

Recommended Products: 

• UV Light Emitters:

• Exo Terra Natural Daylight Reptile Lamp 

• Zoo Med ReptiSun 5.0 UVB Compact Fluorescent Mini Reptile Lamp, 13-Watt 

• Fluker's Sun Glow Coil Tropical Reptile Bulb  

White lights should not be left on continuously, because they will disrupt the snake’s natural sleep cycle and negatively affect its health. At night, switch to a nocturnal or infrared light, like the Exo Terra Infrared Basking Reptile Spot Lamp or Zoo Med Nocturnal Infrared Reptile Terrarium Heat to ensure the snake can rest. 

Humidity 

Corn snakes need humidity in their environment to support their respiratory systems, encourage healthy shed cycles, and stay hydrated. The ideal humidity range for a corn snake’s habitat is 40% to 60%. During shedding cycles, increase the enclosure’s humidity to around 70%. A hygrometer (humidity gauge) should be used to measure the enclosure’s humidity. 

Recommended Products: 

• ExoTerra LED Reptile Hygrometer 

• Fluker's Thermo-Hygrometer, Digital 

• Fluker's Relative Humidity Hygrometer 

Substrate 

Paper-based bedding, reptile carpet, cypress much, coconut husk, and Aspen wood shavings are all suitable choices for substrate. Pine and cedar bedding should not be used, because these have oils that can irritate corn snakes’ skin and cause health issues. 

If Aspen is used as a substrate, be sure to replace it weekly  to prevent the bedding from getting wet or soiled. If wood shavings, mulch, or coconut husk bedding is used, the snake should be fed in a separate enclosure without loose substrate. Otherwise, the snake may accidentally consume bedding particles that are indigestible which can cause gastrointestinal obstruction. 

Recommended Products: 

• Frisco Unscented Non-Clumping Recycled Paper Cat Litter, 25-lb bag 

• Zoo Med Forest Floor Natural Cypress Mulch Reptile Bedding 

• Zoo Med Aspen Snake Bedding 

• Exo Terra Coco Husk Tropical Terrarium Reptile Substrate 

• Exo Terra Plantation Soil Brick Tropical Terrarium Reptile Substrate  

Décor & Accessories 

Hideout box: Pet parents should provide their corn snakes with at least two hideout boxes—one kept on the warmer side of the enclosure and one on the cooler side. Aside from offering privacy, hideout boxes can help corn snakes regulate their body temperature, since these boxes provide space away from their enclosure’s direct basking area. 

Pet parents should monitor their snake's behavior to be sure they are not hiding all the time, as they won’t have a chance to benefit from UV exposure. 

Synthetic or natural wood hiding logs are recommended. Hiding logs should always be large enough for the snake to fit inside comfortably, increase the size of their hideout boxes as their corn snake grows.  

Recommended Products: 

• Zoo Med Natural Cork Round Habitat Decor, Medium 

• Zilla Bark Bends Habitat Decor Reptile Hideout, Large  

• Zoo Med Habba Hut Reptile Hideout, Large   

Climbing branches: Although they’re primarily terrestrial reptiles, many corn snakes are climbers. Climbing branches can be installed to enrich the snake’s environment and encourage exercise. 

Recommended Products: 

• Galapagos Walking Wood Grapevine Branch Reptile Terrarium Accessory 
• Zoo Med Premium Sand Blasted Grapevine Artificial Plant 
• Zoo Med African Mopani Wood Terrarium Decor, 12-in 

Moss: Moist sphagnum moss can be added to the inside of a hideout box on the warm side of a corn snake’s enclosure to create a humidity hide. Moss holds moisture well and can aid in healthy shedding. Moss should be replaced often to prevent mold from forming. 

Recommended Products:  

• Galapagos Sphagnum Reptile, Amphibian & Insect Terrarium Moss  

Plants and terrarium background: Adding artificial plants and a terrarium background to a snake’s enclosure can enrich their environment and add some aesthetic flair. 

Corn Snake Cleaning & Maintenance

A corn snake's habitat needs to be cleaned and disinfected at least once a week with either a commercially available habitat cleaner or a 3% bleach solution. Pet parents should always wash their hands before and after handling their snake or its habitat’s contents, since all reptiles are potential carriers of infectious diseases. 

Recommended Products: 

• Absolutely Clean Reptile Cage Cleaner 

• Zilla Reptile Terrarium Cleaner 

To clean a corn snake’s habitat:

1. Move the snake to a secure environment. Remove any old substrate, décor, and accessories from the habitat. 

2. Scrub the empty tank and any furnishings with a reptile habitat cleaner or 3% bleach solution. The bleach solution should stay on the habitat for at least 10 minutes so all surfaces are properly disinfected. If using a commercial habitat cleaner, follow the manufacturer's instructions. 

3. Rinse the habitat and accessories thoroughly with water, removing any trace amounts or residual smells left by the cleaning agent or bleach solution.  

4. Allow the habitat and its contents to dry completely before placing new substrate and clean accessories into the habitat. 

5. Return the snake to the clean habitat. 

Corn Snake Diet & Nutrition

Corn snakes feed on whole, thawed frozen rodents, such as mice and rats. Because corn snakes are primarily diurnal (active during the day), meals should be offered during the day. Use feeding tongs, not fingers, to offer meals. Corn snakes should always have access to fresh, clean water.

A nutritious and well-balanced corn snake diet consists of: 

• Appropriately sized frozen rodents 

  • Prey should be around the same size as the snake’s width at mid-body. For example, if the snake’s midsection is 1” in diameter, its prey should also be no wider than 1”. 

• A corn snake’s ideal feeding schedule will depend on its age, size, and activity level. Juvenile corn snakes should be fed once a week, while adults only need to be fed every 1-2 weeks. Baby snakes can be fed every other day. 

• Begin juvenile snakes on a diet of “pinkies,” or young and nearly hairless mice. As the snake grows into adulthood, it can be transitioned to a diet of larger mice and small rats. 

Recommended Products: 

• MiceDirect Frozen Mice & Rat Feeders Snake Food – Small Mice Pinkies (½-in to 1-in body length, 1-g to 1.99-g weight)  

• MiceDirect Frozen Mice & Rat Feeders Snake Food – Small Mice Fuzzies (½-in to 1-in body length, 3-g to 3.99-g weight) 

• MiceDirect Frozen Mice & Rat Feeders Snake Food – Mice Hoppers (1 ½-in to 2-in body length, 7-g to 12.99-g weight) 

Fresh, clean water should always be available and replaced daily. Reptiles absorb water through their skin to stay hydrated, so water dishes should be large and shallow enough for the snake to soak in if needed. If they aren’t soaking on their own, soak your corn snake for 10-15 minutes, 2-3 times a week. 

Recommended Products: 

• Exo Terra Reptile Water Dish 

• Zoo Med Repti Rock Water Reptile Bowl 

• Zoo Med Repti Rock Food/Water Dish Reptile Bowl, Large  

Feeding Guidelines 

Do not feed your corn snake live prey. If still alive, rodents can become aggressive and injure snakes, including causing life-threatening infections.

Ideally, feeding sessions should take place in a separate enclosure.  This is so the snake will not associate their enclosure and their parent’s hand with feeding. Instead of their fingers, pet parents should use long feeding tongs to offer food to their snake. 

Recommended Products: 

• Zoo Med High Quality Feeding Tongs 

• Symton Symtongs Reptile Food Tongs 

Due to their slow metabolisms, corn snakes can go weeks or months without eating. However, they often become ill if they don’t eat for extended periods. If a snake misses more than a couple of feeding sessions, consult a veterinarian, especially if the snake isn’t shedding at the time. 

How to Thaw Frozen Prey 

To thaw frozen prey, take these steps: 

1. Remove the needed number of food items from the bag. 

2. Put the frozen food in a sealed plastic bag and place it in a thawing container filled with cold water. The thawing container should only be used for thawing your reptile’s frozen meals. 

3. Keep the food in the water until it thaws. Discard the cold water. 

4. Refill the thawing container with warm water. 

5. Place the thawed prey, still in the sealed plastic bag, in the warm water. Allow it to soak for 10-15 minutes before discarding the water. 

6. Just before feeding, run nearly hot water over the thawed food to warm it above room temperature. 

7. Remove the thawed food from the container and plastic bag.  

8. Using feeding tongs, offer the food to the pet right away. 

Pet parents should never use a microwave to thaw or warm frozen rodents, and never offer food that's still frozen to a pet. Frozen food that is not consumed should never be re-frozen for future use, as this encourages bacteria to form in the food.  

Avoid preparing frozen rodents in the same area that you use to prepare food. If this is unavoidable, be sure to disinfect the area thoroughly after use.  

Corn Snake Grooming & Care

Shedding: Corn snakes shed their skin regularly, and a healthy snake will usually shed their skin in one, complete piece. Humidity levels in your snake’s tank should be kept around 70% to encourage a proper shed.  

A snake’s eye caps, also called its spectacles, should come off with the rest of its shed skin. Consult with your veterinarian if you notice the eye caps do not fall off. Do not try to remove them yourself.  

Corn snakes may lose interest in eating while shedding. Irritability is also a common behavior during a shed.

Corn snakes can soak themselves in shallow, open dishes of water to help shed their skin. Damp paper towels and moistened sphagnum moss can also be placed in the snake’s enclosure to encourage healthy shedding. Misting your corn snake daily can also support proper hydration. 

All reptiles are potential carriers of infectious diseases. Always wash your hands before and after handling a snake or a habitat’s contents. 

Due to their slow metabolisms, corn snakes can go weeks and even months without eating. However, they often become ill if they don’t eat for extended periods. If a snake misses more than a couple of feeding sessions, the pet parent should consult a veterinarian, especially if the snake isn’t shedding at the time. 

Corn Snake Veterinary Care

Annual Care

Bring your corn snake to the veterinarian for a checkup once a year. They can be transported using a ventilated plastic lidded bin, with or without a snake bag. Bring pictures of their enclosure, diet, heaters, lights (including exact specifications from the packaging), etc., so your veterinarian can assess your snake’s care as part of the exam.

Signs of a Healthy Corn Snake

• Clean, clear eyes

• Intact skin with no ulcerations or stuck shed

• Clean vent

• No swellings or bumps

• Regular flicking of their tongue

• Relaxed demeanor

When to Call a Vet

• Cloudy eyes or eyes that appear to have something stuck to the surface

• Blisters, ulcerations, stuck shed, or other lesions on the skin

• Discharge around the vent

• Tumors

• Lethargy

• Loss of appetite

• Sudden inability to move a section of their body

Common Illnesses in Corn Snakes

• Dysecdysis (stuck shed, retained eye spectacles)

• Respiratory infections

• Oral infections

• Cloacal prolapse

• GI obstruction or constipation

• Dystocia (stuck eggs)

• Internal or external parasites

• Trauma—especially bite wounds if feeding live prey

• Burns

• Inclusion body disease

Click here for a downloadable PDF of this corn snake care sheet!