Corn Snake in Focus

Corn Snakes can be your best friend. People love them for their beauty and docile temperament. Some people even sleep and eat with them which just show that Corn Snakes are indeed a great companion. They can definitely meet your basic psychological needs in pretty much the way humans do. They can make you feel socially content, with the result of feeling better about life in general. Isn’t that amazing?

The Corn Snakes are very interesting in both personality and aesthetics and can really be a great pet but it is recommended that you research first before getting one because owning one is not something that you can just assume or overlooked.

The next section will give you an overview of the Corn Snakes and some of its interesting facts. It will also guide you on the decision of owning one as having this type of pet is something really cool!

Facts about Corn Snakes

Pantherophisguttatus or the Corn Snake is recognized by its corn kernel-like scales. They come in combinations of yellow, orange, brown, and black, and its belly looks similar to Indian corn. They are a rodent-eating species native to the Southeastern and Central United States.

The Corn Snake did not just earn its name from its appearance. Southern farmers used to store harvested corn in a crib – a wood frame or log building. Rats and mice came there to eat the corn, and the corn snakes came to eat the rats and mice that gathered there. The snakes were able to stay and hide on the logs while enjoying the rodents that came to eat the corn.

With proper care, a corn snake may live for 20 years even in captivity. They are also start reproducing around 10 to 12 years, sometimes even longer. They hatch at 8 to 12 inches long and adults range from 2.5 to 5 feet long. In the wild, they eat lizards, rodents and birds, while in captivity they can live on a diet of mice and small rats.

The Corn Snake is also referred to as the Red Rat Snake or Jungle Corn Snake, and it is a constrictor-type. Since they are not venomous, the corn snake wraps its body around its prey or enemy before biting. While pure corn snakes are not venomous, hybrids created in captivity or in the wild may be venomous and their venom may even be toxic enough to cause death.

Potential and starting keepers alike are fascinated by their colors and patterns. At the same time, corn snakes are relatively easy to care for as they are a hardy species – they don’t get sick easily – and can tolerate handling by its keepers. They are also very docile which makes them a good snake for the amateur snake keeper. However, because they can live long, you may want to consider the future if you want to take care of a corn snake. Keeping a corn snake is a long-term commitment.

Getting Ready to Commit

While corn snakes make great snakes to keep as pets, one must still make sure they are ready to commit to taking care of one. Like usual house pets, snakes are not accessories – they are living, breathing animals. Each one has its own personality, and it takes time to get to know your pet snake. Once you have chosen to keep it, it will take some time for it to get used to you.

That is why it’s very important to research first all the information about Corn Snakes before deciding to own one. It’s something that you have to do. The first thing that you need to consider about snakes is they are not dogs or cats or fish or birds or guinea pig or any other animal. They are something different. They are snakes.  A snake is an animal that has to be respected, for it to respect you back. Think of it as some sort of (deadly) weapon in Martial Arts. If you don’t respect your weapon, it may harm you. “It’s a double-edged sword,” either it could defend you or kill you. It is the same with snakes or any other animals as well. You can’t just train it to behave the way that you want it to behave. You have to respect its behavior. If it doesn’t like to be handled then don’t handle it. If it bites you, you can’t punish it.

It’s also very important to figure out the reason why you want it. If you just want a snake because it looks awesome and it will project you as someone who is fearless or it’s like an awesome fashion statement, don’t do it. Just go buy necklace or a pair of shoes or something. A snake is a living animal. It’s not some just an accessory. You have to care for it, and love it and nurture it and look after it and everything else. They are a living creature and you can’t just buy one just because you have an epic vision of you lying in your bed being in all sexy with your pet snake.

Next thing you should need to figure out is the age you want to buy. Baby snakes are referred to as hatchlings. The younger that you start handling a snake generally the better temperament they will have for the rest of their lives. You should also consider their feeding habit, where to buy a reputable one, and also their shedding routines and schedule. There’s obviously a lot more about owning a Corn Snakes.

Snakes don’t easily get used to being transferred so take this into consideration when thinking of buying one – are you the type to move around, or are you living in a permanent home? Do you have enough space for an aquarium large enough to accommodate it? Can your budget handle the addition to your household? Consider the possible changes in your lifestyle and carefully assess the risks, pros, and cons. These will be discussed in this book so keep reading to see if the Corn Snake is the right pet for you!

Quick Facts

Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus

Size as they hatch from their eggs: 8 to 12 inches.

Maximum adult size: 6 feet in length

Average size: 2 to 6 feet

Birth Date: Unknown

Wild Diet: Lizards, rodents, and birds.

Museum Diet: Mice and small rats.

Life Span in the Wild: 10 to 20 years

Life Span in Captivity: 20 to 25 years

Habitat:  Pine forests, rocky outcrops, grasslands, hills and around farms and grain stores

Distribution and Range: North, Southeastern, and Central America.