So it can come as a surprise to new pet corn snake owners when their snake doesn’t seem to know what to do with their dinner – or to even to realize it is there! Corn snakes that live as zoo captives eat similar meals -- think chicks and rodents. The bigger the snake, the more food you will need to feed it. It is typically wise to feed your snake outside their main enclosure. Girl Guinea Pig Names: Over 200 Great Names For Female Guinea... the environment is not right (too hot/cold, lighting/humidity is wrong), the snake doesn’t feel well (illness, injury, preparing to shed its skin). Your snake may not recognize lifeless prey as food even if you put it right in front of them! Food-wise, corn snakes are carnivores without a doubt. Snakes are carnivorous and need a diet of meat to grow and thrive. Hedgehog Names – 200 Amazing Ideas for Naming Your Prickly Pal. In captivity, corn snakes are generally fed pre-killed prey that has been frozen and thawed out. Corn snakes are not poisonous. This typically includes lizards, frogs, rodents, birds and eggs, but they may also consume other snakes or insects from time to time. Another common name for corn snakes is the “red rat snake.” The corn snake and the rat snake are non-venomous reptile cousins. You should offer your corn snake food every few days, making sure the food size and type is appropriate to the age and size of your corn snake. Corn snakes are daily animals (active during the day). Some estimates indicate the corn snake is the most popular captive-bred pet snake. Live prey can injure a snake. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. That’s why some owners choose to feed a corn snake live prey. Corn snakes are far from picky eaters, and enthusiastically dine on most things that aren't bigger than they are. Leave us a comment to let us know how it goes! Kaplan, M., “Caring for Corn Snakes,” Anapsid, 1994. If you're interested in buying a corn snake, or considering adopting one instead, make sure you're ready to provide the care they'll need for their entire life. Are Male or Female Corn Snakes More Aggressive? To avoid getting bitten by a corn snake, you should never feed a corn snake by hand. They also prevent the spread of diseases and damage to crops, which are usually associated with large populations of rodents. In addition, a corn snake is often found near corn, which attracts their favorite food – rodents. There are different kinds of mice that you can feed to corn snakes, ranging from pinkie/smaller to hopper/bigger. Gripping tools are a much more secure option. While this makes it possible for the snake to consume its prey whole, it also means the snake will be more vulnerable to predators while it is busy swallowing and then digesting the prey. Unfortunately, people often kill corn snakes, because they have similarities in appearance with a venomous snake known as medhed. So, you can’t feed your snake a vegetarian diet. This company offers frozen rats of varying sizes: pinkies, weaned crawlers, and small, medium and large young or mature adult rats. The basking zone should range from 28 to 30 degrees C, and the cool end 20 to 24 degrees C. Monitor temperatures daily using digital thermometers at each end. The type that you feed to your corn snake depends on its current age and size (see table below). In the wild, a hungry corn snake must catch and then subdue a prey by first biting it and then wrapping themselves around it and squeezing. People appreciate these snakes because they control the number of rodents. However, corn snakes can also display some quite unusual morphs, including albino, lavender, snow (actually a pale pink/yellow), and black. Another issue with human food is that much of it is processed. They only need to do this two times each week. A snake’s digestive system, from its teeth to its gut, isn’t set up to do so. The biggest corn snakes (up to 5′) can eat juvenile rats, though. Corns don’t recognize insects as a food source. Some species of snakes eat fish, such as ribbon snakes and garter snakes. Empower Her. Their skin should be smooth without blisters. Your corn snake may struggle to adapt to a diet of pre-killed rodents. Diet - what do corn snakes eat?