Corn snakes are a nonvenomous, semi-arboreal species of snake native to the south-eastern United States, parts of Mexico, and the Cayman Islands. They are found in the temperate forest biome, preferring wooded groves, rocky hillsides, meadowland, as well as barns.
Corn snakes are long, slender snakes with oval heads and round pupils. Exact color and pattern depends on locality and morph, but generally, a wild-type (“normal”) corn snake will be orange or brownish-yellow with large, black-edged red or brown blotches down its back. There are two alternating rows of smaller blotches on each side. The belly often has a black and white checkered pattern, but this is dependent on the specific morph and genes that individual carries. We produce a large variety of morphs and patterns here at Shropshire Exotics.
When newly hatched, corn snakes can measure anywhere between 10-15” (25-38 cm). The first ten days they will start to go through their first shed and keeping them hydrated is vital. Once this is completed the first feed should be offered with care and patience as this may not be obvious to them at first. With hatchlings being so small, their only options of defence are to coil in to an “S” shape to be able to strike coinciding with tail rattling. This is expected until they become more acclimated to a human and will subside with more regular handling. A hatchling strike is nothing to fear and simply feels like the rough side of a piece of Velcro, you will more than likely react due to the surprise rather than the pain. They will eventually grow to be about 3-5’ (.9-1.5 m) as adults. As small as 2′ and as large as 6′ is possible. There is no significant size difference between the sexes.
Corn snakes are crepuscular, which means that although they are active at night, their peak hours are around dawn and dusk. In the wild, these hours are spent hunting prey like small mammals, frogs, fish, and even birds on occasion. Because they don’t have hands to help them subdue prey, corn snakes use their teeth and powerful constricting muscles to squeeze prey until it passes out. However, this is a grey area within captivity and should not be attempted unless under the strict supervision and advice of a qualified vet or herpetologist. Most regularly used type of feed is humanely euthanised frozen then thawed prey items such as mice, chicks and to some extent, rats.
Because of their simple (but still necessary) care requirements, docile but active personality, and exceptional hardiness, corn snakes can make excellent snakes for first-timers. Captive corn snakes usually reach adulthood around 1.5-2 years old, and with good care they can live long lives — 15-25 years. Some have lived as long as 30!