Nutritional Needs of Corn Snakes

Updated


Nutritional Needs of Corn Snakes

While feeding your Corn Snake might seem strange and difficult, it is actually fairly simple. You have to take in mind that snakes are predators and meat-eaters, so you have to see how comfortable you are with feeding animals to your snake before actually getting one as a pet. Corn Snake covers a broad spectrum of dietary requirements and it is very important to note that they maintain some degree of carnivore throughout their lifecycle. They should be consuming appropriate-sized prey for proper nutrition – that is the basic fact that you need to know in owning a …Corn Snake. If you want a healthy snake, you should strive hard to give its proper nutrition and keep it that way. This section will illustrate and explain how to properly feed your …Corn Snake and their nutritional needs that they need to meet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Feeding Guidelines Your Corn Snake

In the wild, Corn Snakes will eat any bird or animal small enough to be swallowed whole. These include rats, rodents etc. While in captivity, they should be fed rodents, usually mice which are easy to get because of its availability. You can offer live or well-thawed frozen mice to them but you should think twice of feeding them live adult mice because they can inflict wounds to your Corn Snakes. Fresh killed mice are the best choice.

Although Corn Snakes prefer to eat rodents such as mice, especially in captivity, there are also a wide variety of choices which you can feed them. These are the following food choices, including those that they eat in the wild and some guidelines on how to feed them:

As mentioned earlier, wild corn snakes feed on rodents. However, since rodents may be too big for baby corn snakes, they eat lizards and frogs before growing big enough to eat rats. Adult corn snakes also eat birds and their eggs.

Rodents, Rats and Mice

For your pet corn snake, you may buy frozen mice to thaw and feed your snake. Adult corn snakes learn to eat previously frozen and thawed out mice but baby corn snakes have to get used to it. Be prepared to feed baby corn snakes live newborn mice before they get used to eating thawed out mice.

To get your corn snake to focus on its food, you can place it next to a thawed mouse in an empty container with air holes and closing the lid. Cut into the skin of a thawed mouse to ensure faster digestion. Baby corn snakes feed once every five to seven days while adult corn snakes feed once every seven to ten days.

Corn snakes are constrictor snakes. They catch their prey and squeeze it. If you are feeding your snake thawed rodents, you may want to give it the feeling of catching its own food. Defrost the mouse and let it warm to room temperature before holding it by the tail with feeding forceps. Dangle the mouse in front of your snake so it can grab it and swallow the mouse. Occasionally, you may also feed your snake quail eggs.

Make sure to leave some fresh, clean water in a container for your snake and change it regularly.

Bird Eggs

Corn Snakes are well-known for eating eggs of some bird species. Besides the fact that eggs are easily sneaked from a bird’s nest, it is also a good source of protein for your snake.

Small Birds and Fish

In the wild, Corn Snakes do not need to worry about chasing a bird away from its nest. Corn Snakes are large enough to ingest a small bird then it will eventually kill the parents and then eat its eggs. Baby birds are an easy meal for Corn Snakes (or any other snakes for that matter). They also eat a variety of fish, ranging from small minnows up to large bass. 

Small Lizards

As mentioned earlier, Corn Snakes feed on other snakes and they are perhaps most famous for that habit. They are also known to eat lizards while they are still young. 

Frogs

Baby Corn Snakes also eat frogs but keep in mind that feeding frogs to Corn Snakes in captive puts it at risk, some frogs are poisonous or has diseases make sure to check them first.


Featured Articles


  • Breeding and Raising of Corn Snakes

    If you find that you actually want to breed corn snakes, keep in mind that there is much more you need to know besides the basics of taking care of a growing corn snake. In this chapter, we will discuss how to breed and raise your corn snakes to keep or sell. Who knows, you …


  • Corn Snake Care Sheet

      Congratulate yourself! You are now on your way to becoming a very well-informed and pro-active Corn Snake owner! Finishing this book is a huge milestone for you and your future or present pet, but before this ultimate guide comes to a conclusion, keep in mind the most important things you have acquired through reading …


Recent Articles


  • Ease and Cost of Care

    Purchase Price: $30 or more A basic corn snake would cost you around $30. Others sell hybrids or corn snakes with unique colors and shades, and these would usually cost you around $69 or more.  Glass Aquarium: around $100 Get your corn snake a bigger tank so you won’t have to replace the tank when …


  • Training and Taming Your Corn Snake

    Corn Snake can be great pets for those who take time to learn on how to properly take care of them. This chapter will give you a whole lot of tips on to be a great owner of a Corn Snake including points on how to properly tame them, handle them, and introduce them to …


  • Tips for Feeding Pre-Killed Prey to your Corn Snakes

     Your Corn Snake might take immediately to pre-killed prey but if your snake is a little bit picky, the following tips might be helpful:  Rub the live prey that your Corn Snake prefers against the pre-killed prey before putting in in the terrarium Prepare a dish of warm chicken broth and dip the pre-killed prey …


  • Tips for Bathing a Corn Snake

    Bathing a pet snake is a simple and straightforward process – but with loads of benefits for your pet.  An occasional bath for your Corn Snake can therefore go a long way to having a happy and healthy snake. Bathing can help relieve constipation in your snake, and it can also kill mites and …


  • Purchasing Your Corn Snake

    Now that you know more about the Corn Snake, you are ready to consider the costs of keeping one and convince your family, roommates, or anyone living with you not to worry about your corn snake. You also have to consider the negative response to your pet – both from guests and your housemates. Convincing …


  • Pros and Cons of Keeping Corn Snakes

    Each snake breed is different. While keeping a corn snake is a good experience, it may not be for everyone. One must carefully assess the positive and negative things about keeping a snake, and the particular breed of snake they want to keep. This section outlines the pros and cons of keeping a Corn Snake. …


  • Nutritional Needs of Corn Snakes

    While feeding your Corn Snake might seem strange and difficult, it is actually fairly simple. You have to take in mind that snakes are predators and meat-eaters, so you have to see how comfortable you are with feeding animals to your snake before actually getting one as a pet. Corn Snake covers a broad spectrum …


  • Maintenance for Your Corn Snake

    Having a pet snake is something different and sometimes, maintenance can be a struggle. It truly comes with a great deal of responsibility. If you happen to decide to buy your own Corn Snake, you have to be sure that you can provide their necessities so that it will stay healthy and happy. This chapter …


Featured Posts


  • Breeding and Raising of Corn Snakes

    If you find that you actually want to breed corn snakes, keep in mind that there is much more you need to know besides the basics of taking care of a growing corn snake. In this chapter, we will discuss how to breed and raise your corn snakes to keep or sell. Who knows, you …


  • Corn Snake Care Sheet

      Congratulate yourself! You are now on your way to becoming a very well-informed and pro-active Corn Snake owner! Finishing this book is a huge milestone for you and your future or present pet, but before this ultimate guide comes to a conclusion, keep in mind the most important things you have acquired through reading …


  • Caring Tips for Your Corn Snake

    Put your snakes alone in its terrarium or with appropriate buddies.  Feed your snakes alone to avoid food aggression. Be sure to stay away from your snake until the lump from the prey disappears. Don’t carry your snake up until it has digested the prey enough that the lump in its middle has disappeared, because it …


Recent Posts


  • Ease and Cost of Care

    Purchase Price: $30 or more A basic corn snake would cost you around $30. Others sell hybrids or corn snakes with unique colors and shades, and these would usually cost you around $69 or more.  Glass Aquarium: around $100 Get your corn snake a bigger tank so you won’t have to replace the tank when …


  • Training and Taming Your Corn Snake

    Corn Snake can be great pets for those who take time to learn on how to properly take care of them. This chapter will give you a whole lot of tips on to be a great owner of a Corn Snake including points on how to properly tame them, handle them, and introduce them to …


  • Tips for Feeding Pre-Killed Prey to your Corn Snakes

     Your Corn Snake might take immediately to pre-killed prey but if your snake is a little bit picky, the following tips might be helpful:  Rub the live prey that your Corn Snake prefers against the pre-killed prey before putting in in the terrarium Prepare a dish of warm chicken broth and dip the pre-killed prey …