Corn Snake Checklist (Corn Snake Shopping List)

Caring for a corn snake involves more than just providing food and water. These beautiful creatures require a habitat that closely mimics their natural surroundings, along with essential equipment and supplies that cater to their unique needs. By following this checklist, you’ll not only create a safe and comfortable home for your corn snake but also foster their physical and mental well-being.

Corn Snake Shopping List

Below is a list of things you will need to properly care for your pet corn snake.

1. Enclosure

Baby corn snakes can be housed in a shoebox for a few months until it outgrows it. Most adult Corn snakes will live comfortably in a 60-80 gallon tank. The important thing to remember is to make sure it comes with a locking screen top. Snakes are known escape artists! You can usually find locking clips at the local pet store to secure the top screen.        

We at ReptiMag, recommend a 120 gallon tank for adult corn snakes. Below is the list of some of the best tanks:

• Custom Reptile Habitats 4′ Reptile Enclosures
• Zen Habitats 4’x2’x4′ PVC Reptile Enclosure, with wire port plug
• Carolina Custom Cages Extra Long Terrarium

2. Hiding

Hiding is what makes your Corn snake feel secure. It should be large enough to curl up under. The possibilities are endless: a hollow bark log (from a pet store), an empty cardboard box, and an overturned planting pot, a cardboard tube from an empty toilet paper or a paper towel roll.

Here is a list of best hidings for corn snakes:

• Zilla Pet Reptile Bark Bends Terrarium Decor
• Galápagos (05348) Mossy Cave Hide
• Fluker’s Medium Critter Cavern Reptile/Small Animal Hide
• Zilla Pet Reptile Terrarium Shale Rock Den Decor

3. Climbing Log

Corn snakes love to climb, so adding a climbing log to the aquarium is strongly recommended. You can find suitable ones from your local or online pet store. If you are going to provide one from outside, you risk the chance of exposing your reptile to fatal insects, such as mites. You will need to sterilize them by sticking them in the oven for 2-3hrs (120-150 degrees).

Below is a list of some of the best climbing logs you can use for your corn snake:

• Zoo Med Sandblasted Grapevine, Medium
• Exo Terra Forest Branch, Small

4. Substrate

Substrates are the materials used to cover the bottom of your snake cages. The purpose of the substrate is to absorb the snake’s “mess”. It also gives them something to crawl around on.

Here are several choices to consider: Newspaper, Aspen bedding, Astroturf (indoor/outdoor) carpet, Cypress mulch, and Coco bedding.

I personally use Aspen bedding for my corn snake. It provides another “hide” and is easy to clean up. Do not use Pine & Cedar shavings.

5. Food

Most owners will feed Corn snakes frozen thawed mice. These can be purchased at most pet stores or ordered in bulk from online pet stores. Baby Corns will begin consuming “pinky” mice and will move to bigger mice as they get bigger. The mice stages (in terms of feeding size) are pinkies, fuzzies, hoppers and adults.

I recommend sticking to frozen-thawed mice. For several reasons: If they become accustomed to “live” mice, they may not eat frozen-thawed ones again. This would be troublesome if the live mice were to become unavailable. (This has happened to me). 

I also do not recommend feeding live adult mice or rats to snakes because they can attack the snake and cause bodily harm and infection. Make sure to completely thaw any frozen prey by placing the mice in a plastic bag and placing in warm water until thawed.

NEVER use a microwave or stove to thaw frozen prey.   It is a good idea to start a “Feeding Chart” to document when feeding last occurred as well as when they shed, eliminate and if they regurgitate. This is an important tool in establishing the health of your snake.

6. Water Dish

Corn snakes require a water dish (large enough to fit entirely inside). Snakes are known to “bath” to help the shedding process or might defecate in it! Just make sure the water dish is full and clean at all times.

Here is a list of recommended water dishes for corn snakes:

• Exo Terra Water Dish, Water Bowl for Reptiles
• ELDETU Reptile Food Water Dish

7. Thermometer

All reptiles are Poikilothermic or “cold blooded”, which basically means that they are not able to regulate their own body temperature. This makes maintaining proper heating levels in their housing vital to the health of your snake.

Corn snakes rely on “thermoregulation” which is the process of regulating body temperature. When it becomes too hot, it will move to a cooler place and vice-versa.  An ideal temperature for your Corn snake will be between 70-85 degrees F. Keep the (warm) side of the tank 80-85 degrees and the (cool) side of the tank no lower than 70 degrees. 

To regulate proper temperature you will need a thermometer. We recommend Zoo Med Economy Analog Dual Thermometer and Humidity Gauge.

8. Heat Source

There are several options for providing heat but the best options are an over head incandescent lighting or under tank heating pads.

The over head light is usually inside of a metal reflector with a heating bulb inside and can be clipped on one side of the tank. The under tank heaters are plastic with an adhesive side that is attached to one side of the bottom of the outside.

Check to make sure your tank is compatible with this type of heater. We recommend Zoomed Reptitherm Undertank Heater.

Heat rocks are not recommended for Corn snakes! The main reason is because they provide a centralized heat source this often too hot and your snake can suffer serious burns.