Corn Snake

Common Name: Corn Snake
Scientific Name: Elaphe guttata guttata

Description:

The Corn Snake, Elaphe guttata guttata also goes by the name Red Rat Snake.  The name ‘corn’ is a direct consequence of the characteristic maize-like pattern along its belly. On reaching adulthood, they achieve a relatively modest length of four to six feet. It has a very attractive checkerboard skin pattern. The skin is predominantly brownish orange with either red or orange saddles. The black borders on the saddle margins and the white and black belly bring out a sense of excitement. Hatchlings lack this coloration and are quite dull. In the wild, the Corn Snake feeds on a variety of small mammals, which consist of mice and rats. Neonates feed on small lizards, preferably anoles. Under proper care, they grow to an approximate age of about twenty-three years.

Geographic Range:

This area extends from southeastern parts of the United States from New Jersey, Florida Keys, all the way to the west of the United States in Texas.

Habitat:

Corn Snakes prefer overgrown fields, trees, forest openings, rocky hillsides, wooded groves, as well as derelict farms and buildings. Altitude is not a problem for these snakes; they are comfortable from sea level to a height of 6000 feet.

Behavior:

The Corn Snake is adept at climbing, allowing it to search for bats and birds. It is a docile, non-venomous snake. They kill by constriction. In isolated cases, they eat prey whole. It is primarily diurnal. They are very secretive and spend most of the day underground in rodent burrows.

Reproduction:

The breeding season takes place almost immediately after winter. Chemical and tactile cues are the male’s preferred courtship tools. The female lays eggs thirty days after mating yielding a clutch of twelve to twenty four eggs. This is usually in the months of May to July. A warm but moist, isolated area is its preferred deposition area. Examples of this are decaying vegetation, and rotting stumps. The ideal incubation temperature is 82?F.Eggs are oblong is form with leathery flexible shells as an adaptation to survival. The young ones use a specialized egg tooth to allow them slit the eggshells, crawling out at five feet long.

Captivity:

This species was one of the first snakes to be reared in human captivity and currently ranks among the most popular variety. Care is a rather simple. Its hardiness and its docile nature makes handling it much easier. For these same reasons, they make excellent pets. The Elaphe guttata guttata has the reputation as master escape artist. It can either squeeze through very small openings or creatively use its body to displace a poorly fitted aquarium cover. The enclosure must offer absolutely no chance of escape.  For adult corn snakes, the diet under captivity conditions should constitute rats and mice. They also do not mind feeding on chicks. Smaller snakes may eat any size of mouse pups, dead or alive. The safest option is to offer frozen mice as live prey can cause injury or transmit fatal diseases. The Elaphe guttata guttata drinks often hence it is important to provide an adequate supply of clean water.