What do I need to keep a corn snake?

Creating the perfect corn snake enclosure. #

Correct housing and life-giving equipment are the most important, and unfortunately, most expensive part of keeping corn snakes in captivity. An appropriately sized enclosure (the size of which will be determined by the size of the snake) and a thermostatically controlled heat source are the two main pieces of equipment you will need. We advise an under-substrate heat source for hatchling corn snakes; we have found this more beneficial for the animal and more evenly used than any form of overhead heat. For juveniles and adults, we switch to an overhead heat source, preferably a light emitting bulb. Corn snakes will also benefit from a decrease in temperature during the evening, this allows the animal to metabolise correctly and become active during the night.

Equipment #

The equipment needed to maintain a corn snake in captivity are as follows:
• Appropriate size enclosure
• Thermostatically controlled under-substrate heat source (hatchlings)
• Thermostatically controlled overhead heat source (juvenile/adult)
• 2-5% UV lighting (Ferguson zone 1) for juveniles and adults
• Quality draining substrate
• Hides small enough for the snake to feel on all sides of its body
• Climbing branches and rocks
• Simulated tunnels and burrows

The placement of the heat source is paramount to the health and welfare of the corn snake, without the correct positioning and the resulting temperature gradient, corn snakes can quickly become compromised and potentially ill. A temperature gradient is the creation of a hotspot within the vivarium that decreases in temperature the further you move away from it. This environment will allow the corn snake opportunity to thermoregulate and control its body temperature. The thermostat probe (that controls the output of heat by measuring the temperature) should be placed near to the basking or hotspot. As previously stated, corn snakes (and indeed all snakes) are ectothermic and depend on external heat sources for their metabolic energy. Being a primarily crepuscular species and being active during any time of the morning or evening, corn snakes will benefit from a constant day time temperature and ornaments or decorations that will absorb and retain heat. This way, once the lights have gone out there is still a hotspot for the snake to reach its optimum temperature.
Mistakes are often made at this point in the building of the enclosure as some keepers and businesses advice is to place the probe on the opposite side from the hotspot. This is incorrect and severely detrimental to the health of your corn snake. The snake will quickly overheat, become dehydrated, refuse feeds, fail sheds and this could potentially lead to the animal’s demise. UV lighting for corn snakes has, since the animals first came into the pet trade, been a subject of contention. Unlike sun worshipping lizards (the European eyed lizard – Timon lepidus and the central bearded dragon – Pogona vitticeps) corn snakes will not suffer from health disorders such as metabolic bone disease if UV lighting is not provided. We have found that the animals do benefit from UV and can often be seen on a branch or out in the open enjoying the light. Their colours seem to brighten, they become more active during the day, and they can fully synthesis vitamin D3 in their skin. We would recommend a 2-5% (Ferguson zone 1) light for the enclosure to ensure the snakes health. As UV is less essential for corn snakes than some other species of reptile, the light itself can be mounted on the roof of the enclosure. Wires should be tightly secured as the snakes will climb on them if they can. We advise using a bulb that will cover 20-50% of the entire length of the vivarium. For example, a 3-foot vivarium will need a UV coil as a minimum or an 18” strip bulb as a maximum, both should be 2-5% (Ferguson zone 1).
As with all of our animals and enclosures, we like to use naturalistic substrates and decorations so to maximise the aesthetic of the set up and enrichment for the animal. Our corn snakes are little different. Our preference for juvenile and adult corn snakes are as follows:
• Earthmix arid
• Biolife desert
• Dried mulch
• Topsoil/sand mixes
• Mosses
• Leaf litter
• Dried grasses
• Live arid plants
We like to use a mix of these substrates to produce a well textured base with different consistencies, topped off with leaf litter, dried grasses/hays to give an enriching environment.
Stout climbing branches, rocks, fake or live plants and hides will benefit the corn snake. These snakes enjoy clutter and the more they have in their enclosure (within reason!) the better. The addition of underground tunnels and burrows to simulate various rodent runs and allow the snake to travel without being seen. Being able to move from one side of the enclosure to the other without being seen will make your snake feel comfortable in their vivarium. Corn snakes are described as a thigmotactic species, meaning that they feel secure when wedged into tight spaces. This is why the addition of hides and clutter are so essential. We find that understanding the snake’s natural habitat and simulating that as closely as we are able is the most effective way to provide a comfortable home and the correct level of husbandry. This will benefit the snake by alleviating any health problems, add enrichment to the enclosure and have an aesthetically pleasing result.

Why not check out our YouTube channel for some cool videos on our reptiles and helpful tips on husbandry!