Feed Corn Snake

Feed Corn Snake

Feed 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.