I might be getting a corn snake! A few questions

[Shera]

I haven't heard back yet but I found someone offering one for free with enclosure on an online classified. I don't know much about their care though. It is a 2 year old 2' male. Is that about average size for the age? What size prey would I feed it? I have a bunch of frozen weaned rats (~35g and 3" long), would those be too big? I don't know how big it's enclosure is yet, but what size would be good to last it until it's fully grown?

[BHReptiles]

I haven't heard back yet but I found someone offering one for free with enclosure on an online classified. I don't know much about their care though. It is a 2 year old 2' male. Is that about average size for the age? What size prey would I feed it? I have a bunch of frozen weaned rats (~35g and 3" long), would those be too big? I don't know how big it's enclosure is yet, but what size would be good to last it until it's fully grown?

That sounds about right. They grow roughly a foot a year if they are properly cared for. It sounds like he may be a little on the small size, but with weekly feedings he'll bulk up just fine.

As for feeding, those rats will probably be too big. I only feed my breeder females mice around 30g...most get between 20-25. Just like ball pythons, you want to feed them based on their body weight. I use the Munson plan: http://medusa-corns.webs.com/feedingchart.htm I make a few adjustments like I add 10g to the cut off time before bumping prey sizes. So even though I can feed a snake an adult mouse at 170g, I usually wait until 180g. Then, I try to feed them smaller adults. My 300+g breeders can take a larger adult mouse. You can feed the rat equivalent. Use this chart but follow the same weight guidlines: http://medusa-corns.webs.com/feedingchart.htm

An adult corn can live in a 20 gal long by themselves. You're welcome to have a larger cage. Unlike ball pythons, they don't get quite as stressed in a larger enclosure, so if you want to put him in a 40 gal breeder tank, that's fine.