What do corn snakes eat in the wild and as pets?

 

Content

• What do corn snakes eat in the wild?
• How often should a corn snake eat?
• What Should You Feed Your Pet Corn Snake?
• What should you feed a baby corn snake?
• How to choose the right size bait
• How to Feed a Pet Corn Snake
• What if your pet corn snake stops eating?
• Feeding the Corn Snake.

If you want to keep a snake as a pet, the corn snake is a great choice. These snakes can be found in North America and are available for purchase in a variety of colors. Corn snakes are generally easy to control and are usually quite docile.

The fact that they rarely ever bite and are usually quite active and curious makes them great pets for adults and children alike. One thing you need to know before buying a corn snake as a pet is what to feed them. In this guide, we'll go over what these snakes eat in the wild, what you should feed them as pets, and more.

What do corn snakes eat in the wild?

What a corn snake eats in the wild can vary depending on the food available and the season. The common prey corn snakes hunt in the wild are:

• Mice
• Sesame
• mice
• Other small mammals.
• Bird eggs.

It is possible for a corn snake to eat other corn snakes on occasion. However, as a corn snake grows larger and stronger in the wild, the type of prey it eats will change. For example, a baby may start eating lizards and small frogs, which are relatively easy to catch and swallow.

As he matures and becomes stronger, his tastes expand to larger and more challenging prey such as bats, mice, rats, birds, and eggs.

How often should a corn snake eat?

Corn snakes wild corn snakes eat prey whenever they can find it. This means they often eat every few days. However, a pet corn snake will depend on you to provide it with timely and adequate food, as it cannot go out and hunt on its own.

What Should You Feed Your Pet Corn Snake?

Domesticated corn snakes will, of course, eat the same creatures that wild corn snakes eat, but they cannot hunt their own prey. Most snake owners don't want to go out and feed small mammals to their snakes, and it's not a good idea anyway because you have no way of knowing what diseases or bacteria these creatures might have. Is.

A good option for pet corn snakes are frozen mice, even frozen mice, as your baby corn snake gets bigger. It is important to remember that corn snakes are carnivores and need protein in their diet to stay healthy, active and growing. These snakes eat protein exclusively, and that's what you should feed them at every meal to keep them growing.

A heavy, shallow dish will work for serving water to your corn snake, but it needs to be fresh at all times.

Some corn snakes will eat lizards, but they can be hard to find as commercial food, and you don't want to feed them to lizards from the wild because of potential parasites.

What should you feed a baby corn snake?

Baby corn snakes can be fed to small rodents until they grow up. Always make sure the mice are dead, as baby corn snakes can be attacked by their prey. You can thaw rats to make them appear alive, but never feed your baby corn snakes live rats. It is never a good idea to microwave your corn snake prey.

How to choose the right size bait

Pink rats are the youngest rats, then fuzzy rats, then adult rats.

Among these three major varieties, you'll find peach fuzz, small and large pink mice, and regular fuzz as well as options. For adult mice, options usually range from small to extra large.

It's important to note that the size of mice will vary depending on where you buy them.

It's also important to remember that large mice can prove very difficult to swallow for your young corn snake, so choose wisely. Measure your snake before you go feeding it, and talk to your rat supplier about what size they would recommend based on your snake's measurements.

How to Feed a Pet Corn Snake

Because baby corn snakes in the wild fend for themselves because their mothers do not teach them to catch food, many snake owners are surprised that their baby corn snakes do not know how to eat the prey they are given.

One reason for this is that in the wild, prey will move this way and that to get away from the snake, which kicks in instincts. Also, since the food isn't deceiving, the snake probably won't realize it's food.

Treat your snake by dangling a rat in front of it and moving it around so it appears alive and kicking. Use tweezers to do this for your own safety, as the snake doesn't know the difference between your fingers and its food.

What if your pet corn snake stops eating?

If your pet corn snake refuses to eat or suddenly stops eating, there are a few reasons experts attribute it to:

• Fear of relapse, insecurity, and anxiety issues.
• The atmosphere is not good. It is either too hot and humid or too cold for the snake to be comfortable and want to feed.
• Your snake is not well. This could be from an illness he is preparing to shed, or an injury he has suffered.
• The food may not be right. In this case, you can try switching food suppliers.
• If correcting all of the above doesn't improve your snake's appetite, it's time to make an appointment with your local exotics vet.

There are a few places where you can get the right food for your pet corn snake. First, you need to do your research and find a local supplier that has frozen rats or mice that your snake will eat. Whether it's a pack of frozen mice ordered online or from your local pet store, make sure the food is responsibly sourced.

Feeding the Corn Snake

That concludes our guide to what corn snakes eat in the wild and as pets. If you're considering getting a pet corn snake, you can't be too eager to feed it the protein it needs. Make sure you feed him the right size mouse for his size, and never feed him a mouse if it's still frozen. A corn snake can make a good pet for a long time if handled, fed and cared for properly.