You want to do your best to care for your pet corn snake. If you’re new to caring for pet snakes, you made a good choice.
Corn snakes are excellent for beginners because they’re not all that tough to handle. Caring for corn snakes will give you a chance to get used to taking care of snakes.
You still need to do things right to keep the snake in good health, though. Knowing everything that you can about the matter is important so you can do the right things.
Do corn snakes need UVB light to thrive? Read on to learn about corn snakes and their UVB needs.
Does a Corn Snake Need Light?
Technically, corn snakes don’t need lighting to be able to survive. A corn snake will survive with normal room lighting.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that’s what is best for the snake. It’s recommended to have some type of lighting setup when caring for corn snakes as pets.
Typically, people use UVB lighting to help keep corn snakes healthy. They just don’t need UVB lighting as other snakes do.
Since it’s an optional thing, you should know that you can get away with just using standard room lighting. Depending on what you want to do, you might not want to invest in a UVB lighting setup.
However, it’s not that expensive to get what you need. Since it can be helpful to your pet snakes, it’s a good idea to use UVB lighting even though it isn’t required.
What Lights Do I Need for a Corn Snake?
You don’t need any special lights for corn snakes. It’s good to use UVB lights in the tank if you want to, though.
Many people use UVB lighting setups for pet corn snakes. This is because UVB lighting has been shown to be beneficial overall.
It can improve the immune system and overall health of your snakes. Therefore, it’s a good idea to use UVB lighting even if your snake doesn’t need it to survive.
Some snakes need UVB lighting to be able to use the calcium in their diets. This isn’t the case with corn snakes.
You should be able to get good results in a corn snake tank by using a standard UVB tube. It’s recommended to use a 5% UVB tube for corn snake habitats.
Remember that this is technically optional. They can get by with normal room lighting, but UVB lighting can be helpful.
The Positive Impact of UVB Lighting
The positive impact of UVB lighting makes it worthwhile for corn snakes. While they can get by without it, there have been studies in the last several years that show that it’s good for corn snakes.
People have discovered that using UVB lighting can be positive for the mental health and physical well-being of corn snakes. If you’re going to keep these snakes as pets, it seems like the best course of action is to use a UVB light setup.
It won’t be too difficult to get everything that you need. The 5% UVB tube mentioned above should work well, and you’ll be able to ensure that your snakes will do better under your care.
You’ll need to replace the UVB tube every so often. It’s estimated that you should replace the bulb once every twelve months.
How Many Watts Does a Corn Snake Need?
Picking out the exact wattage that you need for a corn snake tank will depend on a few things. For example, the size of the tank can play a role.
If the bulb is too close to your corn snake, it might make it get too hot. So sometimes you might have to try a few different bulbs until you find the perfect fit.
Generally, a 60-watt bulb is said to be perfect for corn snake tanks. This is a pretty average type of bulb to purchase.
Some people might buy 75-watt bulbs or something even more powerful. It could depend on the size of the tank and other factors.
A Day/Night Cycle is Beneficial for Corn Snakes
It’s beneficial for corn snakes to have a day/night cycle that they can rely on. In captivity, these snakes will only have a day/night cycle if you use lighting properly.
Corn snakes are nocturnal, but you want them to be able to feel natural in the tank. If you can give the corn snake terrarium lighting, it’ll help it to feel normal, and it’ll exhibit natural behavior patterns.
Ideally, you should have the lights on for twelve hours per day. You could also try to mimic a natural day/night cycle depending on the season.
For example, you’d have thirteen hours of light for the snake during the summer months. Then that number would be cut down to eleven hours during the winter.
Seasonal light cycles could be good for the hormonal rhythm of the snake. The purpose of using lights is to encourage good health.
You’ll likely have a much better experience caring for corn snakes if you use this advice to your advantage. It’ll help them to behave normally, and it’ll keep them healthy.
Are Corn Snakes Easy to Care For?
Are you still on the fence about getting corn snakes as pets? Perhaps you’re wondering if they’re easy to care for.
These snakes are actually some of the easiest to care for overall. They’re considered one of the best options for beginners for a reason.
One of the best aspects of owning corn snakes is that they’re docile. These snakes aren’t going to be difficult to handle because they aren’t temperamental.
Being able to easily get used to handling a snake will help your confidence as a beginner. If you’ve never owned snakes before, it makes a lot of sense to go with corn snakes.
Also, these snakes are easy to find at many pet stores. They will be easy to procure, and you’ll have a simple time getting used to caring for them.
How Big Do Corn Snakes Get?
Corn snakes don’t get incredibly large, but they can grow to be fairly big. A corn snake could grow to be as long as six feet eventually.
Adult corn snakes will typically be between two feet and six feet long. They can live for a long time in captivity, and that gives them plenty of time to grow.
Corn snakes usually take around three years to reach adulthood. So the corn snake should reach its full size around this time as well.
Final Thoughts
You’ve learned about corn snakes and UVB lighting. These snakes don’t need UVB lighting to survive as some other snakes and reptiles do.
Even so, UVB lighting is beneficial to corn snakes. It can help them to be healthier overall, and some studies have even shown that it can benefit the mental health of these snakes.
Buying some UVB lights for your corn snake terrarium is a good idea. A 5% UVB tube should get the job done for most tanks.
It’s wise to introduce a day/night cycle for your corn snake, too. This can help the snake to feel normal and will keep it exhibiting natural behavior patterns.
Now that you know all of this, you can make good decisions for your pet snakes. Do your best to care for them so they can live for a long time.
They’re a joy to care for, and they’re great for beginners. Whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran, corn snakes are really nice pets.
I have a bachelor’s degree in Film/Video/Media Studies, as well as an associates degree in Communications. I began producing videos and musical recordings nearly 15 years ago. I am a guitarist and bassist in Southwest MI and have been in a few different bands since 2009, and in 2012 I began building custom guitars and basses in my home workshop as well. When I’m home, I love spending time with my three pets (a dog, cat, and snake) and gardening in my backyard. I also like photographing wild birds, especially birds of prey.