A corn snake needs a vivarium at least as long as it is, with a basking spot of about 28–30 °C at one end. Once grown, it eats one thawed adult mouse every 7 to 14 days.
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Corn snake
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Enclosure size
RSPCA’s rule allows at least a third of the snake’s length for the width and height, so a 150 cm corn snake needs at least 150 x 50 x 50 cm. RVC recommends at least 48 x 24 x 24 in (122 x 61 x 61 cm), to let the snake stretch.
A full-size snake needs the length of one and the width and height of the other. Aqueon’s 55 gallon is 48¼ in long but only 12¾ in from front to back, and of its glass tanks only the 210 gallon covers both minimums. Measure the enclosure, not the label: see why gallons don’t tell you the floor size.
Keep corn snakes on their own: they live solitary lives in the wild.
Heat and light
- Basking spot: 28–30 °C (RSPCA) or about 30 °C (RVC).
- Cool end: 20–24 °C (RSPCA).
- Night: 16–20 °C with the heat off (RSPCA), or not below about 24 °C (RVC).
- UVB: a low output 2–7% tube, UVI 1.0 in the basking zone, 0.7 at most for albinos (RSPCA), or a low level of UV (RVC).
The sources disagree at night. RSPCA turns the heat off in a normal home so the vivarium can drop to 16–20 °C, while RVC sets the thermostat so it doesn’t fall below about 24 °C.
A thermostat goes on every heat source, and heat lamps need a guard in case the bulb shatters. For a smaller enclosure, such as a hatchling’s, RSPCA uses a heat mat under one side instead, on an on/off thermostat with the probe in the hot end, set at 30 °C. See heat lamp vs heat mat.
Fit a low output 2–7% UVB tube, between one-half and one-third of the vivarium’s length, as far into the hot end as possible. Albino corn snakes need less UVB, a UV index of 0.7 at most in the basking zone. See UVB strength explained.
Substrate, humidity and water
RSPCA keeps the humidity around 40–50%, and RVC at 50–60%. For a healthy snake, RSPCA uses a clean mix of 60% soil, 30% sand and 10% leaves, and not sand alone, which could irritate the skin.
Everyday diet
Corn snakes eat dead mice. A hatchling starts on one baby mouse, a pinky, every five to six days and moves up sizes as it grows. RSPCA’s adult size is one adult mouse; RVC goes up to large mice or rats for a fully grown snake. With good quality prey, no supplements are needed.
Wash your hands before and after handling the snake or its equipment, as reptiles can carry salmonella.
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