Care for Baby Cornsnakes

Corn snakes are native to the USA and Mexico. They make great pets for people of all ages. They are docile, hardy, attractive, and are easy to take care of. They can reach up to {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} in length if properly cared for.

Steps

  1. Create the right habitat. For babies, a 10 gallon tank with a heating pad under 1/3 of the tank is perfect. If you choose to house a baby in a larger aquarium, include many more hide boxes to make it feel more secure. Do this several days before getting your snake so that the temperature can regulate.
  2. Place a reptile heat mat underneath the tank covering about 1/3 of the aquarium. The temperature should be about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} during the night and 72-85 degrees during the day. Place a thermometer inside the enclosure so that you can monitor the temperature.
  3. Decide where you will set up your aquarium. For easy access and viewing, place it high enough to look in, but low enough you can reach into it. Do not place tank near a window or other drafty area as this can effect the temperature too much.
  4. Fill the tank with substrate (aspen shavings or similar bedding), at least two hides (one dry and one moist for shedding), and decorative plants.
  5. Include a dish of water containing clean water (preferably bottled). The water should be changed every day.
  6. Purchase your snake and place him gently in the tank.
    • When picking up your snake, scoop him up in the middle of the body. Don't pinch or grab him.
  7. spot clean your tank to remove feces as soon as it appears and do a full clean once every two weeks to a month depending on your snake.

Feeding your snake

  1. Obtain "pinkies," or mice that are a day-week old.
  2. Put frozen prey into warm water and wait for it to fully defrost.
  3. When it is defrosted, pick it up by the tail with tweezers.
  4. Put your snake into his feed-box FEED BOX SHOULD NOT HAVE SHAVINGS OR OTHER SUBSTRATE your snake can ingest substrate and have serious complications
  5. Place the mouse nose-to-nose with the snake, while slightly shaking it with the tweezers to catch the snakes attention.
    • The snake will strike. When it does, let go of the mouse and allow the snake to swallow it.
  6. Feed your snake with one mouse every week. The prey item should be at least as wide as your snakes thickest body section but can be up to 1.5 times bigger. Corn snakes WILL overeat. If the prey item is small compared to your snake feed it two, if it is larger feed it one. You should be able to see a slight bulge in their body.
  7. Do not handle the snake , wait 2-3 days after feeding.

Temperature

  1. Provide a temperature gradient by placing a heat mat under the cage. Corn snakes ONLY need belly heat. Snakes in the wild do not bask they hide most of the day so they do not benefit from a basking lamp like lizards do.
    • The temperature should be 85-90 on the warm end and 70-75 on the cool end.
  2. Know what the Humidity is.
  3. Your snake should have access to a moist hide at all times. Do not raise the humidity of the entire tank as this can cause respiratory infections. Corn snakes are not tropical and do not need raised humidity.

Tips

  • Use a water dish that's a bit heavy so your snake will not tip over the water bowl.
  • Buy frozen mice in bulk because it can save you money.
  • When a corn snake is purchased as a baby, place it in a small vivarium and increase vivarium sizes as the snake grows. If a small baby is placed into a large vivarium straight away, it will become territorial and strike at anyone who goes near it and will most likely bite them.
  • Make sure you wash your hands after feeding or they will bite you.
  • Pick up the snake at the center of it's body so it won't bite.
  • Always use antibacterial hand gel before and after holding your snake to stop bacteria and parasites like salmonella spreading.

Warnings

  • Corn snakes are great snakes for beginners due to their docile nature, but they can still bite
  • Keep only one snake per tank because they may become hostile.
  • Do not feed your snake in its cages as it can cause the snake to associate your hand with food. By doing this, you increase your chances of being bitten. Also, the snake may also ingest some of its substrate by accident.
  • Never feed live food to your snake. The live food can harm your snake and potentially kill it also feeding live animals to snakes in the UK is Illegal

Things You'll Need

  • {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} aquarium
  • Secure screen lid and lock (lock is optional)
  • Substrate (Aspen is best, do not use pine, cedar, or soil/bark as substrates)
  • A water dish that is large enough for the snake to curl up in
  • a way to measure temp, either two temperature gauges or a heat gun.
  • At least two hiding places (one dry one moist), but more is preferred
  • Separate feeding container (i.e., Sterilite tub, 5 gallon aquarium)

Related Articles

You may like

Retrieved from "https://kipkis.com/index.php?title=Care_for_Baby_Cornsnakes&oldid=308795"