deans-exotics

Introduction: This care sheet is not everything you need to know and if you are getting a corn snake then i advise that you do more research, i.e. it does not contain any information on breeding as i have never bred corn snakes. other keepers and breeders may agree or disagree with what i have written.

Housing: Hatchling corns are best raised in 5 litre rubs (plastic storage containers), with air holes for ventilation, or you can put them in a small vivarium measuring 24"x12"x12". The boxes or vivarium can be heated with a heat mat. The heat mat should only heat 25% to 33% of the floor space. The snake must have access to cool areas in the tub or vivarium to thermo regulate. Adult corn snakes can live in the large plastic boxes or vivariums.
A 30" x 15" x 15" vivarium is suitable for one adult corn snake but the bigger the better.

Heating: Corn snakes need to move backward and forward between hotter and cooler areas of their cage to heat up and cool down this is called thermo regulation.
Corn snakes do best with a heat mat under the vivarium or tub. It is necessary that the snake have access to cool areas. Thermostats must be used to prevent vivarium or tub overheating. This is normally only a problem in the hottest months. the vivarium should be heated to 22o to 24o Celcius in the cool end and around 30o Celcius in the warm end the temperature should be lowered a couple of degrees at night.

Substrate: This can be kitchen towel, newspaper or aspen shavings. aspen shavings look good but one soiled they must be replaced i also like to scatter
a little spagnum moss around the vivarium as it looks good.

Lighting: Corn snakes do not need any type of light but you may wish to put in a light so you can see your corn snake, but make sure it dosen't heat up to much
or it could overheat the vivarium. 

Water: Clean water should be provided in a dish large enough for the snake to bathe in (This often helps the snakes shed their skins). Some snakes like to bathe in the water dish while others may not go near it except to drink. The water dish should be sterilized on a regular basis. 

Hiding places: Corn snakes need at least two hiding places, one in the warm side and one in the cold. you can put one in the middle and put some damp spagnum moss
in it and the corn snake will readily use this whilst it is shedding its skin.

Feeding: Corn snakes will feed on rodents for the whole of their life. hatchling snakes feed on pinkies and adult snakes will take adult mice or small rats. Live food should never be fed to your corn snake as live mice like to chew and will injure or even kill your corn snake.  Frozen rodents are bought from most reptile shops or any good pet shop. Frozen rodents should be defrosted thoroughly before being offered to the snake.
Some snakes like rodents defrosted in warm water (i don't defrost in warm water as it can cause bacteria blooms on the rodent) i just defrost them at room temperature.
To prevent the human smell being passed on to the rodent use feeing tongs.

to be added