Corn snakes a.k.a Pantherophis guttatus
Intro to Corn Snakes
Corn snakes are one of the most popular pet snakes because they are generally docile and come in a variety of color and pattern mutations. These American snakes are found in the East coast of the United States. They are primarily ground-dwelling, but they are also found climbing trees. Corn snakes are extremely manageable for keepers of all experience levels as they max out at 48-72 inches depending on sex and are extremely hardy.
Corn Snake Care
Keeping corn snakes is fairly easy. You’ll need a basking spot of 85-90°F, ambient temperature os 75-80°F, and 40-50% humidity. This can be easily achieved with an Under Tank Heater or Basking Lamp, a proper Water Bowl, and substrate (Aspen or Coco). Add a hide and decorate their enclosure as you please, decorations like foliage help with enrichment.
Breeders commonly keep their Corn Snakes in Rack Systems. Where they start off in “Pencil Bins” or 6 qt tubs, then graduating to 32 qt tubs. As pets, however, Corns can do well in tanks or pvc enclosures. Baby Corn snakes can start in a 10 gallon tank. Adults can live in a 40 gallon tank to a 4×2 enclosure.
Corn Snakes For Sale in the Pet Trade
Corn snakes are bred readily in captivity as they are extremely prolific and can double clutch during their breeding season. You can find these common snakes at almost any reptile show or reptile shop for sale in a variety of color morphs like Albino, Tessera, Okeetee, Palmetto, and Snow. To breed these, it helps for them to go through a brumation cycle of about 2-3 months at ~60°F. After brumation, it is important to get your animal back on food. Once these animals are re-established, you may begin pairing!