Corn snakes (Pantherophis Guttatus) are commonly found throughout the southeastern United States and are part of the rat snake species. Due to their colors, orange and red, some people tend to confuse the corn snakes with the copperhead ones. But corn snakes don’t have venom and are mostly harmless to humans.
Corn snakes are a popular choice for pet owners due to their docile nature and beautiful colors. But if you are wondering what corn snakes eat? Here we will go over the diet these snakes should follow and how often they need to be fed.
How Often Do Corn Snakes Eat?
Corn snakes in their natural habitat have different eating habits than in captivity. If you have a pet snake, these are the time-frequency to have in mind through its various life stages:
| Hatchlings | Every 5-7 days |
| Juveniles | Every 7 days |
| Adults | Every 10-14 days |
You shouldn’t handle your snake for at least a day after feeding because doing so could cause it to regurgitate its food or cause it to become too stressed to eat.
What Foods Do Corn Snakes Eat?
Corn snake diet as a carnivore species mostly consists of mice. Rodents are the most common food for this type of snake. Keep in mind that the prey should be just 1.5 times the widest part of your snake’s body for them to eat it properly.
It is important to highlight that corn snakes can easily become overweight, so we recommend feeding them only with mice to maintain your snake’s health. The ideal way to feed them is to thaw the prey to a normal body temperature instead of feeding them with a live animal that could injure your pet.
What Can You Feed Corn Snakes Other than Mice?
As previously mentioned, corn snakes eat rodents as their main food source while in the wild or in captivity. But they can also eat other types of prey, such as:
- Rats
- Quails
- Lizards
- Frogs
- Smaller frogs
- Rabbits
- Bird eggs
Remember that the prey size needs to be adequate based on the size and age of your pet snake.
Count on the Help of Jabberwock Reptiles
When deciding to get a pet snake, keeping in mind their eating habits is quite simple. This type of snake eats mostly mice as their main food source in captivity or the wild. But they can also enjoy other types of prey, such as rats, quails, lizards, frogs, rabbits, and bird eggs.
We at Jabberwock Reptiles have the food supplies that your corn snake food needs, as well as other exotic pets for you to choose from. From living prays to frozen foods, we have it all. If you have other questions on how to care for your pet snake properly, get in touch with staff today, and they will answer all your questions!
