Red corn snake

Content

• Quick facts about the Red Corn Snake.
• Do Red Corn Snakes Make Good Pets?
• appearance
• How to Care for Red Corn Snakes
• Habitat, tank conditions and setup.
• Tank
• Lighting
• Heat (temperature and humidity)
• Substrate
• Feeding Your Red Corn Snake
• Keeping Your Red Corn Snake Healthy
• General health problems.
• Lifetime

Corn snakes are one of the most popular pet reptiles because of their beautiful colors, gentle nature, and low maintenance. The red corn snake is especially popular because the red color is vibrant and striking to look at.

Although red corn snakes are considered low-maintenance pets, you still need to know proper care tips when dealing with this delicate creature. Read on for facts and information about keeping a red corn snake as a pet.

Quick facts about the Red Corn Snake.

• Species Name:Pantherophis guttus.
• Common name:Corn snake.
• Level of care:Start
• Lifetime:6-8 in the wild, 15-20 years in capacity.
• Adult Size:8-12 inches.
• Food:Little mice.
• Minimum tank size:20 gallon terrarium.
• Temperature and humidity
• Warm Side: Mid 80s
• Cool Side: Low 70s
• Humidity: 30--50

Do Red Corn Snakes Make Good Pets?

Compared to many snakes, red corn snakes make good pets. These snakes are attractive to look at, and they are also soft and gentle. Additionally, adult corn snakes are not too large to handle regularly. They are especially great for beginners.

appearance

Red corn snakes can also come in different patterns. The pattern just depends on the individual snake. Variation in appearance means that almost all red corn snakes are of the same species.

How to Care for Red Corn Snakes

Caring for a red corn snake is not that difficult if you have the right tools and knowledge in your arsenal. They require specific temperature, humidity and light. Once you have the wall set up, maintenance is very easy.

Habitat, tank conditions and setup.

The hardest part of owning a red corn snake, or any other reptile for that matter, is setting up the habitat properly. These creatures are cold-blooded, meaning they have more extensive habitat requirements than creatures that regulate their body temperature.

Tank

Start by selecting the right vivarium. When it's juvenile, you can choose plastic by the vivarium about the size of a shoe. Adult corn snakes will need a 20-gallon reptile terrarium or larger. Do not put more than one snake in a terrarium, no matter how big it is.

It's important to make sure the terrarium you choose is escape proof. Corn snakes are known to be quite the escape artists, and the last thing you want is a snake on the loose in your home.

Additionally, create an interior that mimics the snake's natural environment. Add some climbing branches and hiding places. Place a bowl of fresh water that is large enough to soak in the snake's tank.

Lighting

Another important aspect of snake tank conditions is lighting. It is important that corn snakes have access to natural light. As long as the snake receives light that mimics its natural cycle outside, you don't need supplemental lighting.

We recommend placing the vivarium in a location where natural light can enter the tank. However, do not place the cage in direct sunlight as this can make the tank too hot.

Heat (temperature and humidity)

One aspect of the terrarium that you will need to carefully monitor is the temperature. There must be a temperature gradient created either by the light or under the tank heating pad.

Keep a warm side that is around 85 degrees and a cooler end (low 70s) toward room temperature. We also recommend placing a pipe or hollow log that runs through the center of the cage to provide both warm and cold hiding places.

As for humidity, shoot for between 30° and 50°, which is typical in most homes. We recommend adding moisture to the wall by simply adding moist moss or a damp paper towel. This is especially true whenever the snake is preparing to shed.

Substrate

On the terrarium floor, add aspen shavings. Aspen shavings are absorbent and soft. Cuttings of cypress also work, but don't use woods like pine or cedar because they are very aromatic.

Tank recommendations

Type of tank.20 gallon glass terrarium.

LightingNatural lighting is fine.

heatingA heating pad on one side of the wall.

Excellent substrate.Aspen bed.

Feeding Your Red Corn Snake

Red corn snakes eat mice, lizards, frogs and birds in the wild. In captivity, we recommend feeding your snake frozen mice.

Diet summary.

Meat.100% food - small/medium sized mice, thawed or live.

Supplements are required.N/A

Keeping Your Red Corn Snake Healthy

Keeping your red corn snake healthy is not a difficult task. As long as you provide it with a safe environment and adequate food, it should be safe. The important thing is to make sure that the humidity and temperature inside the tank is ideal for the snakes.

Too much moisture commonly causes several problems in red corn snakes, such as respiratory infections, scale rot, and mouth infections. At the same time, too little humidity leads to problems such as proper shading.

General health problems.

Here are some common health issues to be aware of:

• bite wound (from hunting)
• Cloacal prolapse
• Constipation
• Dysdesis.
• Parasites
• Respiratory infection.
• Keep the eggs.
• Shrinkage
• Stomatitis

Lifetime

In the wild, corn snakes typically live between 6 and 8 years. Because snakes in captivity experience fewer risks and more care, red corn snakes often live between 15 and 20 years in captivity.

Not only can these snakes live in captivity for long periods of time, they can also reproduce for most of those years. Most corn snakes can reproduce well into their teenage years if they live long enough.