With corn snakes it usually doesn't matter as much. But keeping in is less stressful and easier.

They aren't nearly as picky about anything that balls are.

They're happy with one hide and relatively good temps. Eating is usually not a problem with them..
How old is he? If an adult corn ingests two or three pieces of aspen, he's not going to die. :]

Also, didn't you say you gave your corn snake away?