How to Take Care of a Corn Snake or Want to Buy a Corn Snake

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Open Mind
To make sure owning a snake is something you REALLY want to do

Step 1

Do some research on Corn Snakes. They don't get big and heavy like a python and they aren't poisonous like "pit-vipers" aka copperheads, rattlesnakes. etc. Corn snakes can start at 9 or 14 inches and can grow to about 2 to 5 ft. The life span of a corn snakes is usually 10 years. They have special care needs and range at different prices. Look up local pet stores that have snakes. Also join reptile forums that give personal experience and advice on snake care.
Step 2

pet store

Once you've done some research, go to the pet stores that have corn snakes. Look around at the different sizes and colors. Ask one of the pet store employees if they could take the snake out of the tank and maybe you'll find the interest to even hold it! ***It's important to feel comfortable holding a snake before purchasing one. It's always better to buy a captive-bred snake than a wild caught snake.
Step 3

Also when shopping for your corn snake, make sure that it's healthy. If your holding the snake, look closely at it's scales, are there any scales that are lifted up? or are there any black specks,known as mites, on the snakes body or around it's eyes and nose? These are signs that the snake is unhealthy and you should carry on to pet store that takes care of it's animals!
Step 4

Once you think you've found the snake you would like to purchase, go out and buy the materials. If your interested in purchasing a hatchling/baby corn snake, then it may be reasonable to buy a 10 gallon tank for your corn. I personally went ahead and bought the 20 gallon tank for my corn because I knew that she would be able to grow into it and still have enough room.
Step 5

Once you have your tank the next thing to get is the substrate or what kind of bedding your snake will be moving around in. Substrates I recommend are "Reptile Bark", "aspen bedding","pine bark chips", also if you want to save money you can use newspaper. It's important not to get substrates that the corn can ingest and cause it to become ill. Also it's important to scoop up substrate that's soiled and replace it with new substrate. Also clean the snake's cage thoroughly once a month.
Step 6

Heating Pad to but on the side of the tank or under the tank

It's also important to have proper heating with the corn snake's habitat. You can purchase heating pads to put under the tank or on the side of the tank. **NEVER USE HEAT ROCKS BECAUSE THEY GET WAY TOO HOT AND CAN HARM THE SNAKE!** The tank should have a warm side and a cool side. The temperature should be around 75-85 degrees Farhenhiet. Also it's important the snake has lighting, use an incandescent bulb to put over the snake tank (make sure it's on top of the tank screen). You can buy a aquatic thermometer to stick in the tank to check the tank's temperature.
Step 7

Pinky Mouse

When it comes to feeding your snake, it depends on it's size and what it was previously fed before you bought it. When I bought my corn the pet store fed her every sunday because she was a couple of months old. She was eating pinky mice at the time. When snakes are hatchlings they need to be fed about every 3 to 5 days. Then as they mature you can extend the days between feedings. Make sure you look up alot of information about Feeding corn snakes and what kind of mice to feed them, alive or frozen. I preferred frozen mice because you can but a couple at a time and keep them frozen. Some people raise their own mice and other feed them live mice. **Live mice can be dangerous to your snake. If an owner drops a mouse and the snakes not hungry then the mouse is going to try to bit up and get the snake before the snake gets him!!
Step 8

Decorated tank

When deciding what to put in your snake's tank make sure you have:
* Two hiding spots, one one the hot side and one on the cool side. Examples are: Caves, Logs, Upside down flower pots, anything that the snake can coil it's whole body in really snug.
*Have a water fresh water bowl on the cool side of the tank so. Make sure it's deep enough for the snake to fit it's whole body in
*Have a dish to drop food in for the snake

If you can decorate you're snake's tank by buying little plastic vines and branches you're snake can play on. I don't recommend using branches or leaves from outdoors because they can carry insects or bacteria that may be harmful for your snake.
Step 9

Last but not least, let your snake enjoy it's new home!!! Don't be so quick to pick it up every five minutes let it look around and see where it's habitat.
** Also be aware that since snakes are nocturnal they may stay buried under their substrate during the day. However during the night, say around 9 or 10 o'clock you'll probably see more action from them. Also If you happen to wake up around 2 am, don't be surprised to see your snake hanging out on a vine or soaking up the heat from the lamp.