Corn Snakes As Pets

There are a couple reasons for a corn snake to not eat. But here I will list the three most likely to be happening listed in order.

Shedding
One of them being he/she might be shedding, when a corn snake is shedding he/she will not eat or if he/she does there is a possibility he will regurgitate the food. Also while he is shedding if he does eat the food it may make him sick because he is working so hard to get off the execs skin, and may not digest it correctly.

Breeding
Another reason that he may not be eating is that it is breeding time. During breeding corn snakes will eat as much as they can and then should not eat again till spring. So even if you don't breed your snakes instinctively they may not eat.

Not Hungry
The last and most obvious is that your corn snake may not be hungry. Rare in Corn snakes but totally possible. Most of the times if this is the reason its because he probably didn't finish digesting his last meal.

Handling corn snakes is very easy and should not scare you. First try to let him climb out but if he is unwilling then you will need to reach in there and pick him up from underneath (First make yourself visible to him so he doesn't think that your prey.) Grab the mid part of the body. Make sure not to grab his face/head. Never poke towards it head. They are not a puppy and will bite you due to instinct if he feels threatened. Let the snake crawl through your hand freely. The snake may sense your warmness and crawl up your arm into your sleeves. This is fine stay calm and let him find his way out.

Setting up a Tank for Corn Snakes
Setting up a tank for corn snakes is a fairly easy process as long as you have the right materials and 30 minutes.

Bedding
The first part of setting up a tank for corn snakes is the bedding. Some common materials used as bedding are bark chips and mulch. Substrate should never be made out of jagged rock pieces, printed paper towels, or cedar shavings, as they can affect the snake's lungs and cause skin blisters. Aspen Snake Bedding is the material I have found the best for my snake.

Water Dish
The next most important part of setting up a tank for corn snakes is the water dish. The water dish should be big enough so that your snake can bathe in it but not take up the whole tank. The water dish should be placed on the non heated half of the cage so that it does not evaporate.

Décor/Hide Spots
Live plants
Live plant are an important part in any terrarium. They make the snake happier and it looks like their natural environment.

Wood
Mopani wood is important in setting up a tank for corn snakes. It acts as a habitat enhancer and as a hide spot. Snakes like to hide in it, under it, and around it. Considering it is fairly cheap it is perfect for setting up a cage for corn snakes.

Lighting
Uvb/Uv lights are important to setting up a cage for corn snakes. Although corn snakes don't have to have exact lighting it make them live longer and be stronger. Uvb/Uv lights are pretty cheap and are important to any snake cage.

So now you know what you need to set up a tank for your corn snake.

There are some things you should know about feeding your pet corn snake to make sure you keep him healthy.

What (and How Often) to Feed Your Pet Corn Snake
Corn snakes are not picky eaters and they are pretty much always hungry.Corn snakes should eat mice - either frozen or live - depending on how they've been raised. A hatchling (baby) corn snake should eat one "pinkie" mouse per feeding and should progress to an adult sized mouse once it reaches full maturity.

The general rule is to feed your corn snake a mouse that is the same size around as the fattest part of your corn snake (circumference) or smaller. A hatchling should eat one pinkie per week and should eat two pinkies per week once he has reached this circumference. This will eventually be replaced with a "fuzzy" sized mouse then progress to a "hopper" and eventually a full adult sized mouse. This feeding schedule should remain one feeding per week and you adjust the amount/size per the snakes size.

Do not overfeed your corn snake because it can lower life expectancy and make them regurgitate.

How to Feed Your Corn Snake
You will first need to thaw the frozen mouse to room temperature in luke-warm water. Once you've done so take it out of the packaging and present it to your snake preferably using tongs. Just set it in his habitat for him and close the cage. I suggest watching while he eats to make sure he doesn't have any problems eating and that he doesn't regurgitate the mouse.

The Importance of Water for Your Snake
It is very important to keep fresh water available for your snake. They will need to drink a lot of water after they eat and this will aid in their ability to digest their food.

Provide a Hiding Spot for Your Snake
After your snake eats he will need a place to hide (hide box). This will help him feel safe from predators and will keep him calm. Without a hiding place he can become stressed out and could regurgitate his food.

Heated Spot for Your Snake
Corn snakes also have a hot spot in the cage and a room temperature spot. Having a hot spot in the cage will help your corn snake digest the meal, and stay healthy.

Limit Handling After Feeding
It is not a good idea to handle your corn snake for 1-2 days after feeding him because it can cause him to regurgitate his food.

I hope this helps you learn what and how to feed your corn snake and some other hints for caring for your snake during his feeding.