Snakes

Preparing tank for Corn Snake

For adult, at least 20 gallon tank is needed. One important thing which we need to keep in mind is that it must have tight lead otherwise a determined corn snake can open the lead to find its way out.

Place a heat pad underneath the tank which occupies around half of the tank which will leave the other half portion cool, so that the snake can adjust the body temperature as needed. To make natural environments for it, we need to provide some kind of place for it to hide or more you can say for sleeping and resting. Infact, it should be provided with both cold and warm place so that it can hide according to the suitable temperature. If possible, mysterious kind of branches should be provided for climbing. But before it is placed, it needs to be debugged by soaking in chlorine/water solution, and then rinsed thoroughly. Then it should be soaked in clean water, then left to dry in the sun. There is no compulsion of typical kind of lighting. For carpeting, "pine chips" or "Astroturf" or "cypress mulch" or "reptile-bark" can be used but make sure that they are nicely washed and dried. Hot rocks must never be used as its temperature fluctuates a lot and the snake might get burned also from it. To measure the temperature, self purchased thermometer can be place about 2 inches above the bottom of the both side. Maintain approximately 85 degrees to 88 degrees Fahrenheit on the hot side and about 5

Degrees to 10 degrees on the cold side.

A big vessel of water is a must for the tank in order for the snake to drink, bath and to make the tank humid. To develop immune system and for perfect digestion, snakes need to be kept in warm temperature. So there should be appropriate warm place provided.

What, when and how to feed Ð''Corn Snake' Snakes generally eat frogs, mice, birds, lizards etc. Although people feed snake once a week, a healthy snake can be feed once in every 10 days unless you want it to grow faster. As far as possible, feed them only with dead prey. Suppose the snake is not hungry, and if a live prey is offered to them, then snake might become the prey itself. We can even find frozen food for snakes now a day. Hold the dead prey by the tail and shake it (make the snake feel that the dead prey is still alive) in front of the snake and let it strike. Like other reptiles, corn snake also like to rest in warm place after eating for digestion process. A bowl of clean water should be provided all the time as corn snakes are good water drinker.

Shedding

Usually when snakes get big and old, their outer skin worn out they get tight. So they take that old skin out as a new fresh skin is already developed inside. We can tell the snake is going to breed as its eyes will turn into milky blue and the color of the body starts to fade away. Once the eyes are cleared, we can say that it is ready to breed. In order to make this process easy and in next 24 hours, soak the snake in warmish water.

Veterinary Care

Examine the snake in the nearest veterinary for reptiles or check the past reports whether the snake is free from all diseases and bacteria, protozoa and worms before you take it home, as its bacteria can infect humans along with other animals in the house resulting their death.

Personal Experience