Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata guttata)


General Information

Also called the red ratsnake, corn snakes can be found primarily in the Southeastern United States. They commonly live in wooded areas, abandoned buildings, and trash piles. There are several common color variants of the corn snake, due for the most part to extensive selective breeding in captivity. Corn snakes often reach approximately 4 feet in length.

Care

Corn snakes make excellent pets due to the fact that they are easy to care for and are almost always docile and friendly toward humans. Many corn snakes are fairly shy, so a hiding box is essential, in addition to substrate and water dish, in the housing arrangement. Many individuals also enjoy a climbing stick. Adullts typically eat live or pre-killed rodents with no trouble and some even eat chicks, but it is not uncommon for hatchlings to refuse to eat anything but lizards or lizard-scented "pinky" mice.


Information is based on the personal experience of the author and on:
Mehrtens, John M. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., 1987.