The corn snake
The beginner's snake above all others — non-venomous
The corn snake is a non-venomous North American colubrid, calm and of modest size (1.2 to 1.5 m). Its hardiness and its docile temperament make it the snake most often recommended as a first pet snake.
| Life expectancy | 15 to 20 years |
|---|---|
| Social life | Solitary |
| Level required | Motivated beginner |
| Legal framework | Certificate of competence required — find out more |
Its essential needs
- A perfectly closed terrarium: escape is the most frequent incident with a snake.
- A thermal gradient with a warm spot at 28–30 °C and a cool area.
- A hide on each side (warm and cool) and a bowl of clean water always available.
- Defrosted prey of a suitable size (mice), fed at well-spaced intervals according to age.
Key health points
- A shed that comes away in shreds rather than as a single sleeve points to air that is too dry. Provide a humid hide when the snake is shedding and check that the skin over the eyes has come away properly: retained skin can impair sight or cause injury.
- Watch for mites, especially in the weeks that follow the purchase: they are small dark moving dots around the eyes and the scales, and the snake tends to soak itself constantly. Spotted early, they are treated without difficulty.
- Never use a "heat rock": these accessories heat in an uncontrolled way and regularly burn the snake's belly, because it does not feel the heat well enough to move away in time. Always heat from below, with a thermostat that regulates the temperature.
In Switzerland: certificate of competence required Common non-venomous snakes often come under a certificate of competence and secure keeping conditions. Venomous species, on the other hand, fall into a different category. Legal framework in detail →
A word from the Au Furet practice Never handle your snake in the 48 hours after a meal: the risk of regurgitation is real.
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