Corn Snake

[Edcase]

I am considering possibly getting a corn snake at some point; but firstly would like to know whether they are similar to keep as garters, as in the temperatures they require, substrate and food etc, also is there another type of snake that is simple to keep and does not mind being handled etc. I only have considered the corn because of the many various colours and morphs which make them look really attractive and...Well cool :)

I also have another question about a vivarium that I plan to create from an old wardrobe which I have no need for...well in the sense of what it is supposed to be used for. The size of it is 59" High, 29 1/2" length and 18" deep, I was planning only to use about 30" of the height and use the rest as storage. Would this be a good enough size for keeping a snake in such as a corn, obviously I would need to create ventilation and change other things but I was concerned about whether the size would be too big or small or even if it is a bad idea all together.

Anyway that’s all, thanks for any help you can give :)

[Stefan-A]

Temperatures and substrate, yes (room temperature). Their diet is limited to rodents (occasionally lizards and birds in the wild). Baird's rat snake is an alternative to corns. The down side to the different rat snakes, is that they aren't as active as garters.

The viv sounds okay, but I think it could be a bit wider. Then again, some people keep them in even smaller enclosures.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

corn snakes are really pretty not as active as i would like, you should get a milksnake if you want something similar thats more active, my hybrid is great beacause its body looks like corn and its face looks like a milk and behaves like a milk
and stefan nothings as active as a garter

[adamanteus]

Just a personal opinion here, joe..... Corn Snakes are undeniably beautiful, but they are also the single most boring snake in the world!;)

[zooplan]

On one hand I don´t know where are more different morphs, in ball pythons or corn snakes, but both species are aktive like a chair by day.
On the other hand it should be the right species for are colorful colection.
Its a fact that they are easier to keep because they don´t need food so often and produce less feces.

[tikichick]

If you prefer a longer, slender build and bright color morphs that don't cost an arm and a leg, the corn snake fits the bill. BP morphs can be very expensive, so if you're wanting something different from an aesthetic point of view, go for the corns. If you want something different in shape, size and overall appearance, go for the shorter, stouter ball pythons.

I don't have corns, but I have several friends who do. Some are really sweet and others are little terrors. Most balls are docile from the get go. Corns seem to need a little more hands-on time.

The reason I don't have corns (besides the fact that no one's given me one yet, lol) is the non-feeders are so difficult to get feeding. If you get a baby, make sure it's feeding well on its own or be ready for a challenge.

Of what I've encountered, bp's are the most mellow, corns are beautiful and fairly active, milksnakes are even more active, and ringed pythons are downright aggressive (just got my first tag from one last week, lol).

[Edcase]

Just a personal opinion here, joe..... Corn Snakes are undeniably beautiful, but they are also the single most boring snake in the world!;)

Really..well i dont really want a boring snake lol. I want something that doesnt mind being handled but is reasonably easy to keep. Ive also been told about Great plains rat snake??

Tikichick would keeping a BP in the tank i said in my first post be ok?? or would the width need to be bigger. What types of size vivariums do you have?

[Stefan-A]

Ive also been told about Great plains rat snake??
It's a former subspecies of the corn snake. Very similar, except that it's not as colourful.

[lampy]

I keep corns and they are a pretty easy snake to look after. Generally they are kinda reclusive, but it does kinda vary as some I know are quite inquisitive. Most are pretty easy to handle only 1 I know is definately aggressive and ondce they are used to it handlings easy and they generally accept it without a major fuss or musking.

[tikichick]

Tikichick would keeping a BP in the tank i said in my first post be ok?? or would the width need to be bigger. What types of size vivariums do you have?

A baby ball can start off in an enclosure the size you mentioned. The main things you'll need room for is a tight hide box and a water bowl big enough for it to soak in. If you get a male, they'll grow to a little over 3 feet. A female gets around 5 feet. They get really thick around the middle, so as they grow, the size of the hide box has to get wider and wider. So eventually you'll need something larger, but that's a good size for a little bp.

I've got my little bp, Fiji, in a 20 gallon with aspen for substrate (I put newspaper on top of it for feeding time), a ceramic hide, a little log, and a water bowl. I'm using a larger water bowl now, so it's not in these pics that I took when I first set up the tank.

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/newtank/bridge.jpg

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/newtank/exploring.jpg

Eatin' on newspaper. They're rodent eaters.

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/tailtongue.jpg

One of my fave things about bp's is they yawn for no reason (and of course after eating, too).

http://www.lakehousemedia.com/hidden/herps/fiji/yawn600x450.jpg

The only critters that have musked me are garters and kingsnakes. I haven't experienced that with corns or balls... yet, lol :p

I don't know how active you like your snakes to be... I like Fiji's laid back style. I can sit on the couch and watch tv and let him crawl on me and he'll usually explore a bit and then settle down and just hang out. Most of the corns I've handled have been actively trying to escape me the whole time, esp. the younger ones. It's like a corn snake would be equivalent to a feisty Jack Russell Terrier and a ball python would be a lumbering Labrador Retriever, lol.

[drache]

I think a lot of it is individual personality
I'd not considered a corn 'til recently, when a friend of Mikhaila's got an anery corn for his birthday
that particular one is a lovely snake with an inquisitive personality almost like a garter
it hangs out on the vine and checks out everything - seems to enjoy being handled too
now I'm considering - it's not made it to my list though

[lampy]

Yup they can be determined once they are out. They dont letcha just sit and watch tv they do like to go explore, especially the back of your setee or chair!

[Edcase]

Hmm the ball python does sound like a nice snake to have. I think that will be top of my list at the moment but it wont be for a while that i get one as i need to save up (christmas just been and gone so money is short at mo:) so ill have some time to do research on the different types. Its really good to have you all help out though with your own experiences, makes it much easier to get a picture of the different types.

[Lori P]

On one hand I don´t know where are more different morphs, in ball pythons or corn snakes, but both species are aktive like a chair by day.

LOL Udo!! I love that-- active as a chair. Yep, that's a ball python for you. At night, mine will sloooooooooowly come out, meander about the tank for a short while, then sloooooooooowly go back in their hides. And THAT'S about the excitement level. :)

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

milks are still my favortie medium-large active snake they are active and also verry pretty and well tempered hondurans can get 4'-6' when adults and the they come in a lot of fairly-low priced morphs there are ticolor which have white black and orange-red and there are tangerine which have orange-red and black (my personal favorite) and there are manny beatiful morphs of those

[Serpentine99]

Got my first corn today. amel i beileve is the morph. hes an adult male and i got him at a steal price. The dude at the store said it was given to him by a school teacher who couldnt keep it in the classroom because it was so mean, and no one will buy him. I said i would gladly take him because the box he had him in wasnt exactly regulation size for a baby corn, let alone a 3and a half footer! when i was handling him he seemed fine and i put him in the cage then i got him out to show our neighbor and gave me a nice strike. i actually appluaded him, hes fine once you have him out but i guess in his cage he feels cornered. im gonna try the latex gloves thing soon.

[Zephyr]

BTW, on the argument FOR corns, they have a brilliant feeding response. :D

[tikichick]

Latex gloves or a small snake hook would work :)

[Serpentine99]

well i dont mind him biting me, i mind him biting others, so ill go with latex gloves so he can hopefully be trained to not bite any hands wandering in his cage

[Edcase]

I prefer being biten then musked on lol...i know its perhaps strange

[Sputnik]

Until I got the garters I loved our cornsnakes. They are pretty, pleasant to handle and easy to look after. But my god, are they boring now! The garters dance for us, watch us, are active all day long, while the most we see of the three corns these days is a little head poking out of the hide once or twice a day. I feel a little guilty taking them out in the day so I get to see them as obviously they just want to sleep. Despite being active when taken out it just seems a bit mean handling a nocturnal animal in the day.

They are very mild mannered though and I would recommend them over garters for someone who'd like their smaller , snake unexperienced children to handle them, just because they move so much slower and being constrictors, hold on tightly to you.

[Edcase]

My brother has a great plains rat snake. Ive not really been able to see it all that much but it seems to like being handled when i do. Does anyone have experience with these snakes??

[Elliot]

I prefer being biten then musked on lol...i know its perhaps strange

I agree with that, only my big female draws blood and then the bite area gets all swollen and puffy for a couple minutes after she latches on.

[Sputnik]

My brother has a great plains rat snake. Ive not really been able to see it all that much but it seems to like being handled when i do. Does anyone have experience with these snakes??

My daughter had one and she was really happy with her. Took her out and spent ages with her every day. Then one day the daft snake packed its bags and moved out without saying goodbye! :( Hasn't even sent a postcard.

[Edcase]

Oh no thats sad to hear Rosina :( Ive been lookin at these snakes all over the net and they seem to be a nice snake to have. Ive also been looking at the other rat snakes that are about. I think that it has gone to the top of the list now...for now anyway

[tikichick]

Have you ever seen gray-banded kingsnakes (http://forums.kingsnake.com/forum.php?catid=72)? They're next on my list ;)

[Edcase]

Just been checking out the grey banded king tiki, interesting stuff. Im gonna have to check them out a bit more on the net...i love research lol

[Lori P]

I really like those grey banded kings too! Really nice looking. But alas, I am out of room until I can get some shelves built... and for some reason, hubby isn't jumping to the task... keeps giving me this long suffering look. Doesn't he know that's his job description??? It's in the fine print: build whatever the wife wants; fences, pens, shelters, a huge barn, shelves for snake enclosures...

Not my fault he didn't read it before he signed it!!! :D

[tikichick]

It's the "honey do" list, lol.

[me_luv_moe]

my mom baught me a corn snake when i was eight. They eat alot, and i agree they are boring. I have a garter now* named moe

[anji1971]

I guess the words "By the way honey, I run an animal rescue," just didn't quite sink in with him??:D

[Lori P]

I think he's been in denial!! LOL Well, you know, it started with just dogs and cats... I saved the 1000 lb animals (and everything else) till after we were well married.:D

[anji1971]

Well, that is the best way -- hook 'em first, and then let all the little (or not so little) surprises out!! Nothing drives home the fact that he's committed more than waking up to a couple horses or donkeys in the front yard one morning!!:D