Corn Snake Pantherophis guttatus
Fast details
Longevity: 20-25 years
Temperature in basking space: 90f (32c)
Humidity: 40-50% (a damp conceal should at all times be obtainable)
Dietary: Carnivorous
Disposition: Docile
Cleansing: Spot clear day by day, full clear approx. each 6 weeks (except residing in a longtime bioactive enclosure)
INTRODUCTION
The Corn Snake is a species of non-venomous colubrid rat snake, which originates from the South-eastern States from Virginia to Maryland, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.
There are additionally a couple of remoted populations present in Kentucky. It may be discovered inhabiting all kinds of landscapes within the wild together with overgrown fields, barns, disused farm constructing, woodland and meadows. They’re crepuscular, that means that they’re most
energetic in the course of the nightfall and daybreak hours, however will be discovered basking in the course of the day and are
typically energetic in a single day. Corn Snakes are sometimes discovered camouflaged amongst the leaves and terrain on the bottom and can hunt their major prey of mice and different small rodents.
Being an opportunistic feeder, they may also take different snakes, small birds, eggs, lizards and amphibians.
Corn Snakes are normally round 8-12inches as hatchlings, then attain grownup lengths of round 4-5ft at approx. 3 years of age. They stay for approx. 20-25 years in captivity with correct care, however within the wild they solely are inclined to stay for 10-15 years.
Their breeding season within the wild normally happens in March after their winter brumation, with the females laying clutches of roughly 20 eggs… smaller females have a tendency to put barely much less and bigger females might typically lay as much as 30. Feminine snakes can lay clutches of infertile eggs as soon as they attain maturity with out mating.
Corn snakes are undoubtedly the perfect species of snake for newbie reptile keepers. With their docile temperament, good feeding and ease of care, they tick all of the containers for anybody seeking to enterprise into the world of snake retaining. Hatchlings could also be slightly skittish to start with, however frequent, light dealing with will normally quickly tame them.
HOUSING
Hatchling snakes are greatest stored in small, simplistic enclosures resembling a 3ltr Braplast tub or small Faunarium. As soon as they’ve outgrown this, they are often moved as much as a bigger Faunarium or small vivarium (approx. 2ft lengthy) till they’re prepared for his or her grownup
enclosure. Corn Snakes are escape artists so no matter enclosure you select on your
pet, might want to have very small air flow holes and so on and shut firmly to stop escapes. For an grownup corn snake, a vivarium of 4ft x 2ft x 2ft is good to supply sufficient area to permit for pure behaviours to be displayed.
Glass or picket vivariums can be utilized efficiently, offering that they’ve enough air flow and the right warmth sources are used to keep up the right temperatures.
Right temperature gradients inside the vivarium are to be maintained utilizing the suitable, guarded warmth sources, thermometers and thermostats. Two hides inside the
vivarium (one within the sizzling facet and one within the cool facet) ensures your corn snake will really feel snug and protected inside his/her surroundings. Loads of totally different sized branches
needs to be supplied as they do wish to climb. You should use both synthetic or stay crops, nonetheless a stay, bioactive arrange will want extra planning and preparation than its synthetic counterpart.
TEMPERATURES
A sizzling spot aka basking space of 90f (32c) needs to be supplied in a single facet of the vivarium, with cooler temperatures being maintained on the different finish of round 70f (21c) in the course of the
day. Night time-time temperatures needs to be allowed to drop to round 68f (20c) within the sizzling finish. Having these cold and warm areas inside the vivarium will enable your pet to
‘thermoregulate’, selecting to maneuver freely out and in of the warmth. Permitting the temperatures to drop at night time may also present your pet with a transparent day and night time cycle, encouraging their pure behaviours. Warmth bulbs and warmth mats can be utilized to attain
the mandatory temperatures, nonetheless they have to be guarded and used along with an acceptable thermostat. Thermostats make sure that warmth sources attain and keep the really helpful temperatures inside the cold and warm areas, thus permitting your pet to
metabolise accurately. Guarding of the warmth sources is an primarily vital (and sometimes missed) side of a vivarium arrange offering security on your pet. Unguarded warmth
sources and ones which aren’t thermostatically managed when your reptile will likely be in shut contact with them, result in many vets seeing and treating pets with burns which
may have simply been prevented. Rocks or giant items of slate located safely and firmly inside the vivarium are a good way of offering a pure warmth supply in a single day, as they maintain the warmth and it slowly dissipates in a single day.
UVB
With this species of snake being crepuscular, they’re naturally subjected to decrease ranges of UVB at nightfall and daybreak. A 2.0 or ‘zone 1’ strip bulb can be utilized with a reflector inside
the vivarium, to make sure that your pet can profit from the identical ranges of UVB they might naturally be subjected to within the wild. Many wild animals see very otherwise to people,
many utilizing UVB to assist their imaginative and prescient and searching of prey. Research have discovered snakes to be dichromatic, that means they will see two major colors, blue and inexperienced. Along with
their color imaginative and prescient, many snakes have developed a sensitivity to UV mild, permitting them to see in low mild situations. Offering your snake with UVB will undoubtedly profit
his/her normal wellbeing in captivity. In fact, it’s strongly really helpful to make use of the perfect UVB available on the market on the present time, as per your reptile specialists advise.
Relying on the kind of bulb you select to make use of, it is going to want altering frequently each 6-12 months as it is going to cease emitting UVB after a sure time scale even when it nonetheless produces seen mild.
SUBSTRATE
Impaction is a reasonably frequent downside seen inside captive reptiles. An impaction is brought about when an animal swallows one thing which turns into caught within the intestine, inflicting an obstruction. The most typical offender for inflicting this typically, deadly downside in reptiles
are the pale colored beech chips. It is strongly recommended with the intention to considerably lower
the danger of impaction with this species, to keep away from utilizing particulate substrates altogether while your pet is younger, then once they’ve gained dimension you possibly can go for an aspen or
lignocel substrate. Chunky orchid bark chips can be utilized if you wish to go for a darkish
colored substrate to match your décor. Paper towel or newspaper will be rapidly and
simply modified and is undoubtedly essentially the most hygienic method wherein to maintain a hatchling or
juvenile reptile. Newspaper and paper towel are additionally your best option of substrate ought to
you ever have a convalescing or quarantined reptile, as every little thing is disposed of and changed. It is usually straightforward when utilizing all these substrates to maintain an eye fixed out for issues resembling mites.
HUMIDITY
Corn Snakes require a humidity of round 40-50% which is normally regular room humidity within the UK. They do nonetheless want a damp conceal. There are several types of moulded resin humid hides obtainable available on the market however you possibly can simply make one if you want utilizing an previous plastic margarine or ice cream tub with a gap lower within the entrance. An opaque container will
be greatest so your snake can’t be seen when it’s hiding and make sure the gap is bigger than your snake on the fattest a part of its physique. The moulded resin hides are way more aesthetic when making a extra naturalistic themed surroundings on your pet.
HYGIENE
Common cleansing or the enclosure is in fact an important side which is able to guarantee your pets well being. Day by day ‘spot cleansing’ of the enclosure will likely be essential to take away any faeces and so on. Full cleansing of the enclosure the place the substrate is eliminated,
and the ornament is completely cleaned, also needs to occur frequently, except you select to arrange a bioactive enclosure. When cleansing the décor or glass, use a
reptile appropriate disinfectant resembling F10 which accommodates no dyes or perfumes. Guarantee contemporary clear water is at all times obtainable to your pet. Meals bowls and water dishes needs to be disinfected and wiped day by day.
FEEDING
Hatchling corn snakes will be fed each 5-7 days while adults ought to ideally be fed each
7-10 days. The final rule is to supply a meals merchandise across the identical dimension as your snake at
the fattest a part of its physique. As your snake grows its girth will naturally enhance and also you’ll have a good suggestion when to improve the meals dimension, nonetheless, if not sure as to the right dimension of meals to feed your snake as they develop, don’t hesitate to get in contact for recommendation.
Dietary supplements should not wanted as your snake consumes a complete meals prey merchandise they usually get all of the vitamin they want in that one feed. Frozen snake meals can both be positioned in a plastic bag after which put in heat/sizzling (not boiling) water to defrost, or positioned in a
container at room temperature till it’s completely thawed. By placing the meals in a
plastic bag if defrosting in heat water, you retain the meals dry and don’t wash off any of its scent with water, making it extra naturally interesting on your snake. Lengthy feeding
tongs are really helpful for feeding the defrosted meals to your snake. Retaining a log of your snakes feeding, shedding and weight is nice practise to not solely enable you to discover patterns in your pets feeding habits, however to additionally assist your vet must you ever have to take your pet with suspected sickness.
HYDRATION
A supply of contemporary, clear consuming water ought to at all times be supplied and bowls needs to be disinfected and refreshed day by day. Faucet water, filtered water and spring water will be supplied.
Offering your snake with a bowl sufficiently big in order that it will probably absolutely submerge is a good suggestion, as snakes typically wish to soak of their water bowl. The humid conceal you present additionally aids with hydration, as your snake will soak up water by way of the comfortable pores and skin between every scale.
SUPPLEMENTS
As beforehand talked about, dietary supplements should not want for corn snakes.
HANDLING
Once you first get your pet residence it is very important go away them to settle in with no dealing with for the primary week, or a minimum of till after their first feed. As soon as your pet has eaten, you will have to depart him/her do digest that feed for approx. 48 hours, as dealing with a
snake with undigested meals of their abdomen and a drop in physique temperature can result in regurgitation. If you find yourself able to deal with your pet be assured and gently decide them up from round two thirds the way in which down their physique after which as soon as raised, assist the
entrance finish of their physique. Make sure you maintain your fingers loosely round your snake as they do
not wish to really feel restricted and have a tendency to attempt to get away if gripped too tightly. They are going to take pleasure in gripping maintain of and wrapping themselves round your fingers when younger, then will
discover and climb and wrap round your arms as soon as older. They’re normally a mild and docile species, solely biting if scared or of they accidently mis-strike throughout feeding.
VETERINARY CARE
An annual vet examine is really helpful so {that a} certified, reptile specialist vet can provide your pet a radical examination. A weekly well being examine needs to be accomplished at residence to
make sure that not one of the following are noticed:
Unresponsiveness/lethargy
Boring, sunken eyes
Discharge or bubbles from the nostrils
Redness, swelling, scabs or discharge from in or across the mouth
Lack of ability to shut their mouth correctly or holding their mouth unusually
Gasping, popping or wheezing when respiration
Redness, swelling, lumps or open wounds anyplace on the physique
Grime or discharge across the vent
If any of the above are seen, both contact us right here at Riverview Reptiles for advise or contact a reptile specialist veterinarian for a session.
We encourage all pet keepers to practise the accountable pet possession obligations as per the Animal Welfare Act 2006
When you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact!
