Hey from the ball python side of the forums! :D (got a legit question for the corns)

[Trey Yeoman]

I currently am the owner of my baby girl, Queen Elizabeth... I am sure someone has heard of her I am her BIGGEST fan!

I have recently been interested in purchasing a second addition to my love collection... (which is as of right now only 1)... and I have been looking at ball python morphs... I do not want another normal ball (which is what Queen Elizabeth is) I want something "exotic"... but they all cost (starting) 150 (normally 300 ish) for anything that I would want... (I am not into 5k for a hypo lavender this and that) but recently I have been looking at corn snakes... I have a friend that has them... and she has five of them... all sizes and ages... and they are all nice enough.. some more than others...
my real question is this:

What is the tank set up like for a corn snake?
My ball python requires SO MUCH MAINTENANCE... like... temperature gradient and heating pad and humidity and all that jazz... are corn snakes just... a hide... water bowl... and bedding and then basic snake room temps? I would have a lamp above the tank... for ambient heat... would the corn snake need a heating pad? Multiple hides and security like a ball python? Their food prey would always be small right? Like even at full growth... still a medium or large rat, right?
please correct and inform me!
Peace

Trey Yeoman

[shelliebear]

Corn snakes are a little easier to care for, in my opnion.
Their humidity does not need to be up so high all the time, as they come from areas of the US that can get relatively cold and have low humidity.
My corn snake has not once had a bad shed and I keep her humidity at about 10-15% when she sheds.
As for temperature gradients, I keep the room around 70-80 degrees, and put a lamp over her hot spot (waiting for another thermostat to plug her UTH into). When the UTH is on I keep it at about 85 degrees or lower.
They don't NEED a hide, but I give Cheesecake one. A lot of them like to burrow into Aspen shavings or dirt.
I don't know that an adult corn snake would be able to take on a medium rat--perhaps a small rat at best? Mine is still little, but I've seen adults. They are long but not that wide, so they can't handle huge food like BP's or anacondas or anything. (but you knew that )
I don't think they would need multiple hides. One would do it. Water bowl is needed, but doesn't need to be large enough for them to soak in--I don't see mine soaking very often.
The one hassle you WILL find at first if you buy a baby is finding small enough pinkies. My corn snake had to eat extra small pinkies at first. Petco didn't sell them, so I had to buy them from my breeder I got the snake from. =x Not a huge hassle but a bit of a pain.
They are really tiny. You won't be able to hold a baby as easy as you would a big ball python--they are skinny, they are squirmy, they are FAST. I'd recommend holding them over a tub if you do handle them so if they wriggle out of your hands, they will land safely in the tub, not on the floor and scurry away.
They are little so if you put them in a tub, it cannot have ANY holes or spaces--they WILL get out. A ball python probably couldn't get out of a 1 cm hole but a baby corn snake can and will...
Other than that, they are awesome. They are beautiful, mild-tempered, sweet, and pretty easy to care for. Everyone says BP's make a great first pet, but for the area I live in, it's pretty difficult--the humidity is always low, it gets COLD here, etc.
I find corn snakes to be easier to care for.
The morphs are also less expensive and still absolutely gorgeous. Most are under 100$.
I love corn snakes. I would suggest going to stores and looking for babies--so you can see just how teeny they are.
But I think you'd love owning one.
Good luck! Let me know if you choose to get one--and I want photos!

[wendhend]

What is the tank set up like for a corn snake?
My ball python requires SO MUCH MAINTENANCE... like... temperature gradient and heating pad and humidity and all that jazz... are corn snakes just... a hide... water bowl... and bedding and then basic snake room temps? I would have a lamp above the tank... for ambient heat... would the corn snake need a heating pad? Multiple hides and security like a ball python? Their food prey would always be small right? Like even at full growth... still a medium or large rat, right?
please correct and inform me!
Peace

Trey Yeoman

Corn snakes are really easy to care for. They are ground dwellers and do best with an under tank heater. Heat lamps are not necessary. 83 degrees for the hot spot is considered ideal. I would provide them with at least one hide on the warm side. If they want to hide on the cold side they tend to burrow under their aspen or squeeze under their water dish. They almost always take frozen / thawed prey and should never need anything larger than an adult mouse, or else they can get too fat. There are countless affordable morphs and many bright colors available. It might be hard to choose just one!

[Trey Yeoman]

Thank you both!!! I will indeed look into it... I am really into axanthic morphs... and lavender... but yar... the only real "problem" would be their squirmy ness... and my friend says that her corns always get into her bags and pockets and things like that... to clarify on the squirminess it would be like... i have dogs... and with my queen elizabeth... she weighs 2.8 pounds... and its about 4 feet... so i can hold her and not worry about her "scurrying away" (even though she can be fast when she wants 2)... but if the little guy got away from me.. he could be lost in my room forever... and i have dogs... which would pose a threat... obviously... they are jack russels... so... hmmm.... the afford ability and low maintinence makes me lean towards a corn instead of another ball... i have a 10 gallon tank... with two hides... a water bowl... and i use newspaper as substrate... i would have to get shavings for a corn... and downsize the water bowl... and take away a hide...? or would having two hides be "okay" but not "needed"?

and you can BET i will have pictures of whatever new friend I bring into my home

[wendhend]

Thank you both!!! I will indeed look into it... I am really into axanthic morphs... and lavender... but yar... the only real "problem" would be their squirmy ness... and my friend says that her corns always get into her bags and pockets and things like that... to clarify on the squirminess it would be like... i have dogs... and with my queen elizabeth... she weighs 2.8 pounds... and its about 4 feet... so i can hold her and not worry about her "scurrying away" (even though she can be fast when she wants 2)... but if the little guy got away from me.. he could be lost in my room forever... and i have dogs... which would pose a threat... obviously... they are jack russels... so... hmmm.... the afford ability and low maintinence makes me lean towards a corn instead of another ball... i have a 10 gallon tank... with two hides... a water bowl... and i use newspaper as substrate... i would have to get shavings for a corn... and downsize the water bowl... and take away a hide...? or would having two hides be "okay" but not "needed"?

Two hides would be fine, as well as any size of water dish. They can do fine on newspaper, but I think they prefer aspen shavings, as they do like to burrow. A 10 gallon tank should be fine for the first couple of years, but you will ultimately need a 20 gallon long size for an adult. Make sure you get something with a very secure lid. Dogs can actually be helpful if your corn snake escapes. Ours has been. She will bark and alert us when she locates an escaped corn and has never tried to harm one.... so far. Cats will just kill them silently, though.

[Shenzi Sixaxis]

What is the tank set up like for a corn snake?
My ball python requires SO MUCH MAINTENANCE... like... temperature gradient and heating pad and humidity and all that jazz...

Amen to that.

I would have a lamp above the tank... for ambient heat... would the corn snake need a heating pad? Multiple hides and security like a ball python? Their food prey would always be small right? Like even at full growth... still a medium or large rat, right?
please correct and inform me!
Peace

Trey Yeoman

Go with a heating pad, same as a BP. Belly heat is best. Corns like it a bit cooler though, at about 85F.
Multiple hides and security, yeah. Although my corns occasionally like to chill in the middle of their habitat.
Pure CORNS (unlike hybrids like creamsicles) stay pretty small. Large mice will likely be the biggest prey size you'll need, MAYBE a SMALL rat for a big male. However, corns love food, so multiple mouse items are easy to feed (though I prefer to feed rats to my corns).

Thank you both!!! I will indeed look into it... I am really into axanthic morphs... and lavender... but yar... the only real "problem" would be their squirmy ness... and my friend says that her corns always get into her bags and pockets and things like that... to clarify on the squirminess it would be like... i have dogs... and with my queen elizabeth... she weighs 2.8 pounds... and its about 4 feet... so i can hold her and not worry about her "scurrying away" (even though she can be fast when she wants 2)... but if the little guy got away from me.. he could be lost in my room forever... and i have dogs... which would pose a threat... obviously... they are jack russels... so... hmmm.... the afford ability and low maintinence makes me lean towards a corn instead of another ball... i have a 10 gallon tank... with two hides... a water bowl... and i use newspaper as substrate... i would have to get shavings for a corn... and downsize the water bowl... and take away a hide...? or would having two hides be "okay" but not "needed"?

and you can BET i will have pictures of whatever new friend I bring into my home

Squirminess? Yeah, can be an issue. Don't buy a little baby; spend the extra money to get one that's already about three feet. Corns vs BPs in terms of handling are really different. Corns aren't super flighty though, so unless you're a 90 year old lady who's skin and bones, a yearling or older/bigger corn isn't going to get away from you real easy.

Until you get to know your corn, two or more hides are a MUST. They don't stress real easy, but insecurity will screw you over with them. The hides should really be identical as well, as corns like to pick a favorite hide and stay there no matter what.
Besides, since corns aren't massive worms like BPs, having more than one hide is an easy task.



Just my 2 cents.

[Lolo76]

I think everyone else covered the issue, but I'll add a few things...

- Most of my snakes (colubrids & pythons alike) only have one hide, with the exception of a few who had lots of space; I use tubs/racks, so the enclosures alone provide enough security & warmth. But if you're using larger glass tanks, then two hides are generally a good idea.

- While corns are easier to maintain in the long-run, keep in mind that they poop/pee more often than a ball python! I only have to clean my BP tubs once a week, at the most, but the corns will sometimes require 2-3 cleanings weekly (especially the little snakes). They also tend to tip or dirty their water dishes quite often, probably because they're more active than your typical BP. I use either Carefresh or newspaper bedding with them, and find advantages/disadvantages to each; so I base it on what they prefer, usually giving Carefresh only to those who like burrowing.

- They are MUCH easier to feed than a BP, since most corns will eat anything & any time you offer. Out of my 8 corns, only one refuses frozen mice... the rest would take a frozen cat if I offered, LOL. And no, they don't generally require anything larger than an adult mouse; once every 5-7 days as juveniles, and every 7-14 days as adults. Some have a tendency to become overweight, so cut back on frequency if you notice they're getting "hips" (a bulge near the tail) or folds. I have one rescued 13 year-old whose former owner overfed her, and she weighs in at a whopping 1150g - nearly twice the weight of an average adult!!! I've had her on a diet of 1 mouse every 2-3 weeks, but she's eaten a few small/medium rats when I had BP leftovers.

I think that about does it for now, so good luck!

[girlundertherainbow]

corns have got to be about the easiest snake. Especially being in the south, they don't require much heat. Mine all have one UTH each. 2 of mine are on papertowels .. with a hide each. All have bowls big enough to fully submerge in because they will. And all have branches to climb on. My last corn is in a bigger tank as she's over 4ft, and on aspen ..the smaller corns will be on aspen when they're bigger too. They all burrow, whether under the towels or aspen.
Some of my corns are not too squirmy. One is VERY calm and laid back when out, one is pretty squirmy and hissy but NEVER bites..just irritated with handling at all lol. The newest is a BIG corn and is squirmy for awhile but calms down.

[Rorschach]

I keep my corn in 20 gallon long tank. Heat lamp on one side, none on the other. Hide on each side. Kept on 3 inches or so of cypress mulch, sometimes aspen. Hot side is heat with a 75w red bulb, temps usually in the mid to high 80's. Room temp is always in the mid 70's with a humidifier running half the day.

Corns are pretty easy to care for and eat like champs. They are a great choice for a pet because of the ease of care and the cost of corns compared to other snakes in minimal for a huge variety of awesome morphs. Good luck

[JohnNJ]

I just recently purchased some corns for the same reasons you mentioned.

One thing corn people don't tell you up front is that baby colubrids will regurge (puke up their food) for a variety of reasons including food too large, going in to shed, temps too cold or too hot, stress, etc.

It's gross to look at but you will not need to see the mess to know it happened. Your nose will quickly let you know.

It happens so often that they have a regurge protocol to follow because the younger snakes can die if they do it more than once or twice.

Spend a few extra dollars and buy an older corn and stay away from any that are less than 10 grams.