You’ve been fascinated with corn snakes for so long. Now, you finally decided to get one.
It seems like such a good idea to get a baby instead of an adult. Aside from lower purchase and maintenance costs, you’ll watch it grow, too.
However, as with all things unfamiliar, you’re wondering what to do with a baby corn snake.
Luckily, you came across this article. We’ll break down what you need to know and do to make your baby corn snake happy. Keep reading!
How Many Babies Can a Corn Snake Have?
Most female corn snakes lay only once in a lifetime, as reproduction takes a toll on their bodies. Still, snakes in captivity stand a greater chance of laying more when nourished.
A fully-grown female can lay between 10 to 30 eggs per clutch in one reproductive period. Nevertheless, younger or thinner snakes can produce less than this number.
How Small Are Baby Corn Snakes?
Newly hatched corn snakes are about 8–12 inches in length.
Juvenile snakes, in their sixth month, can grow between 20–30 inches. They can measure up to 60 inches in their second year.
How Much Does a Baby Corn Snake Weigh?
Hatchlings weigh between 6–8 grams. Then, they grow to 25–30 grams in their sixth month.
In 2–3 years, they mature. By then, corn snakes can weigh as much as 900 grams.
What to Do With a Baby Corn Snake
Baby corn snakes are mostly like their adult counterparts in terms of behavior and needs. They are solitary creatures that don’t need much handling.
When kept in a suitable living environment, all you need to do is to feed them regularly. Below are the things you need to know about their food requirements:
Food
Frozen pinkie mice serve as food for domesticated baby corn snakes. But you must ensure that the mice are thawed out before feeding.
However, don’t use hot water to do that as it can remove scents that will otherwise encourage your corn snake to eat.
Furthermore, preparing the right size of mice is essential in keeping your corn snake healthy. Each mouse should be as wide or less than one and a half times your snake’s mid-body section.
How to Feed
Hold the thawed mouse with a pair of tweezers or tongs. Then, move it closer to the snake and allow the head of the pinkie to touch your snake’s mouth.
After that, wait for it to feed.
Where to Feed
You can feed snakes inside their tanks, but you can also use feeding tubes.
The process is to get a lidded plastic tub, bore holes in it for air circulation, then place the snake and the mouse inside.
Feeding Frequency
Don’t be surprised if your corn snake doesn’t feed immediately. Babies are likely to start feeding after their first shed.
Once they’ve started to eat, your baby corn snake will most likely consume one mouse every five to seven days.
Still, you need to monitor how often it likes its food so that you can adjust the feeding schedule accordingly.
What Do I Need For a Baby Corn Snake?
You need to provide your baby corn snake with an enclosure. As it adjusts to its new environment, giving your pet a comfortable habitat can help ease some of the stress.
Go over these considerations before buying and setting up a tank for your snake.
Size
Adult corn snakes are housed in 20–40 gallon tanks. However, for your baby snake, a 10-gallon tank is all it needs. You can replace the tank with a larger one as your snake grows bigger.
The right size of enclosure helps your pet feel less exposed and more secure.
Temperature
Set up your baby corn snake’s habitat in a way that creates a temperature gradient. This means having an area that’s cooler—ideally with a temperature of 70–75°F—and another that’s warmer at 85–90°F.
You can achieve this by installing a heating pad that covers a third of the enclosure’s area. This will provide heat to the snake’s belly and aid in proper digestion.
Humidity
Providing correct humidity levels is significant in the process of shedding old skin.
Too dry conditions can cause old patches of skin to stick to the new layer. This may irritate your corn snake and cause health problems.
The ideal humidity level inside a corn snake’s tank ranges from 40–50%.
Hiding Places
It’s important to foster a safer space for your snake by placing multiple hiding spots within the tank. This helps your snake transition into its new environment.
Make sure that there’s at least one moist spot for their shedding activities. Misting the cage with water just before your snake sheds also helps.
Beddings
Corn snakes, especially babies, love to burrow. As such, you need to place bedding in its enclosure.
You can use aspen shavings for this purpose. Just make sure they’re always dry.
Water Container
The next thing you should do is to provide a water bowl or container inside the tank.
The container should be heavy to avoid spills. This setup will allow your snake to drink and also soak in water.
Location
The location of the enclosure should be in an elevated area that’s readily accessible to you. This will avoid untoward incidents if you have children or other pets at home.
It’s also crucial that this location doesn’t get exposed to too much sunlight, cold, or unpleasant temperature changes.
Cleanliness
The tank should always be kept clean, especially after your snake poops or sheds its skin.
You’d need to perform a thorough sweep of the entire enclosure every two weeks, too.
Why Does My Baby Corn Snake Always Hide?
Your baby corn snake always hides because it doesn’t feel safe in its new environment. Being exposed can make it more prone to predator attacks.
Nonetheless, it’ll come out more often once it gets used to its habitat.
Another possible reason that it’s hiding is if it’s about to shed its skin.
When to Handle Baby Corn Snakes?
Your baby corn snake can lash out and strike when triggered, especially if it’s still unfamiliar with its new habitat.
Don’t handle your pet too soon when you bring it home.
While still in its travel container, gently place it into the enclosure. Then, wait for it to come out on its own.
The signal that you should look for to start handling your snake is when it’s regularly feeding. This means that it has grown accustomed to its new environment.
Frequency
Handle your corn snake twice a week to prevent stress, starting with 15–20-minute periods.
Then, increase the frequency and time of handling once it grows and gets used to you.
Proper Handling
The correct method of handling a corn snake is to approach from the side and hold your snake at its center. Avoid coming above it as this move is associated with a predator attack.
After that, keep one of your hands on your snake’s head to control its movement.
Final Thoughts
Corn snakes top the list of popular pet snakes. Their docile nature and ease of care are what sets them apart from the rest.
Are you toying between the idea of a baby or an adult? Whatever you decide on, consider the things we’ve laid out for you about what to do with a baby corn snake.
All you need to do is give it sufficient food, a comfortable dwelling, and proper handling to help it get accustomed to its new home.
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.