What Is the Minimum Cage Size for a Corn Snake?

Corn snakes (Elaphe guttata) are one of the most popular reptile pets, partly because they stay relatively small, even as adults. Babies are six to 14 inches long when they hatch and adults are typically three to four feet long, rarely exceeding five feet in length.

Hatchlings and juveniles

House hatchlings and juveniles in an enclosure at least the size of a standard 10-gallon aquarium, which is generally 20x12x12 inches.

Adults

House adult corn snakes in an enclosure the size of a standard 20-gallon aquarium (24x13x17 inches) or larger.

Requirements

Choose an enclosure that is long enough to provide a temperature gradient, with one side considerably warmer than the other. To stay healthy, corn snakes must move between warmer and cooler areas of the cage to regulate their body temperature and properly digest food.

Guidelines

When possible, choose an enclosure that provides enough space for the snake to stretch its full body length. The cage should be large enough to provide at least two shelters for the snake to coil under, one on each end of the enclosure.

Prevent Escape

Securely fasten the lid to the cage, no matter how tall the enclosure is. Corn snakes can shimmy up aquarium edges without the aid of branches.

Warning

Reptiles can carry salmonella, bacteria that can cause serious illness in humans. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing hands thoroughly after handling reptiles, cleaning any surfaces a snake touched, and not allowing reptiles in kitchens or near food to reduce the risk of contracting salmonellosis.

References

• "Snakes of the United States and Canada"; Carl H. Ernst and Evelyn M. Ernst; 2003
• Care Sheet for Corn Snakes by Petra Spiess
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Reptiles and Salmonella