Quick facts
- Scientific name: Pantherophis guttatus
- Adult size: about 3–5 feet
- Lifespan: 15–20 years, sometimes longer
- Difficulty: beginner
Enclosure
Babies feel safest in a small tub or terrarium. Move up as they grow.
An adult needs at least a 40-gallon-size enclosure. Bigger is better; 4 × 2 × 2 feet is a great goal. Corn snakes are escape artists, so use a locking lid.
- Two hides: one on the warm side, one on the cool side
- Branches or décor to climb
- A water bowl
Temperature
Give your snake a warm side and a cool side so it can pick.
Run every heat source through a thermostat. Check temps with a digital thermometer, not a stick-on dial.
- Warm side: about 85–90°F
- Cool side: about 72–78°F
- Night: a drop into the low 70s or upper 60s is fine
Lighting & UVB
Corn snakes can live without UVB, but low-level UVB is a nice extra. Keep a steady day/night cycle of about 12 hours.
Humidity
Aim for about 40–60%. A little higher helps when your snake is about to shed.
Substrate
Aspen shavings, cypress mulch, coconut husk or paper all work. Spot-clean waste as you see it.
- Never use cedar
- Avoid pine and scented beddings
Diet & feeding
Feed frozen/thawed mice. Pick a mouse about as wide as the widest part of your snake.
Babies usually eat every 5–7 days. Adults eat every 10–14 days. Never leave a live rodent alone with your snake.
Water
Keep a bowl of clean water in the enclosure at all times. Change it every few days, or right away if it's dirty.
Handling
Give a new snake about a week to settle in before handling.
Wait 48 hours after a meal before you pick it up. Support its body and let it move through your hands.
Common problems & the vet
Skipping a meal around a shed, or in winter, is often normal. Weight loss is not.
If something seems off, see a reptile-savvy vet. Don't wait it out.
- Stuck shed: usually low humidity
- Mites: tiny black dots on the snake or in the water bowl
- Wheezing, bubbles at the nose or open-mouth breathing: respiratory infection
- Throwing up a meal: usually food that's too big, handling too soon or temps too low
Questions about your setup? Stop by and ask us.
