About Corn Snake Cages

Corn snakes are related to rat snakes and got their name due to the fact that immigrants to America would find them in their corn fields. In the wild, they are most active during twilight hours and at dawn, and they feed on small rodents and insects, which makes them valuable for pest-control.

Housing a corn snake
The ideal place to keep a pet corn snake is a tank with a capacity of at least 20 gallons. While this may seem like too large a dwelling space for a baby corn snake, especially if it is bought while young, new owners should be aware that the species can grow to 4 feet. The snake will also need a branch on which to climb and should also have a place to hide. The tank in which a corn snake is placed should have a secure top in order to keep the snake from getting out, which it will most likely try to do. The material with which the tank is lined is called "substrate," and pine chips are good for this purpose as they are not poisonous to the snake, unlike other material such as cedar chips. Like the lining in a birdcage, the substrate will need to be regularly replaced as it gets soiled.

Temperature regulation for a corn snake tank
Corn snakes, like all reptiles, are unable to regulate their body temperature. They will need a variation of temperatures in their tanks to help maintain the temperature that they need to survive. The correct temperature is achieved by heating one side of their tank while leaving the other side cool. That way the snake can move from one side to the other depending on whether it needs to get warmer or cooler. Corn snakes should be kept between 75 and 85 degrees. A lamp or a heating pad may be used to achieve this temperature range.