Rat snake. Corn snake The main enemies of the snake

Corn snake is the main name non-venomous snake from the family of colubrids, belonging to the genus Pantherophis. This type of snake is also known as the red rat snake. This second name for the snake is due to the characteristic appearance. In addition, in private collections kept by exotic lovers, this reptile is often called gutata or spotted climbing snake.

Appearance, description of the runner

The reptile grows up to two meters, but in most cases, the average size of an adult does not exceed one and a half meters. Today, many varieties or so-called color variations of the red rat snake are known, but the main coloring of the corn snake is represented by an orange background and black stripes that surround spots of red. The belly is characterized by the presence of a reticulated whitish-black pattern.

Corn snake in the wild

As a rule, snakes are earth dwellers and move along its surface, but some individuals are also very active on trees and shrubs.

This is interesting! The main version that the second name of the snake was received by the reptile due to its frequent habitation in corn fields and near granaries, where the snake hunts mice and rats, is often disputed by another, no less interesting assumption. It is believed that the pattern on the belly of the corn snake closely resembles the kernels on the cob of corn.

Range and habitats

Under natural conditions, the maize or spotted climbing snake is found, as a rule, in deciduous forests, as well as on barren soils and near rocky slopes. A very large population lives near farms throughout almost all of America, as well as in the Mexican provinces and the Cayman Islands.

Rat Snake Lifestyle

In its natural habitats, the reptile lives on the ground for about four months, and then quite often climbs trees or bushes, rocky ledges and any other heights. Adults are characterized by a semi-arboreal lifestyle..

Morphs of corn snake

The red rat snake is an understandable second name for a snake that is distinguished not only by its unpretentiousness, but also by its variety of colors. Most popular morphs:

Morph "Amelanism"– individuals with complete absence black pigment, pink or red eyes and whitish-pink or red coloring;

Morph "Hypomelanism"– individuals with brown, grayish or light brown ventral scales;

Morph "Anerythrysm"– individuals with a complete absence of red pigment, light gray color and not big amount yellow color on the neck and lower abdomen;

Morph "Charcoal"– individuals with a predominant color in the form of neutral gray and brownish shades, as well as with an almost complete absence of yellow pigment;

Morph "Caramel"– individuals with a mutation that suppresses the red pigment and replaces it with yellow shades in coloring;

Morph "Lava"– individuals with a predominant black pigment, giving an almost uniform dark color with small blackish inclusions.

The “Lavender” morph is one of the most interesting mutations, characterized by an almost complete absence of melanin. As a result, the color of the snake can vary from soft lavender to pink and coffee shades.

Food and prey

Under natural conditions, the main activity corn snakes falls in the evening and predawn, when the reptile best sees its prey. Mice and small rats become food for the snake, the bats, as well as small birds and their chicks or eggs.

The main enemies of the snake

Many large birds can pose a threat to the corn snake or red rat snake, including storks, heron, secretary bird, kite, hawk and eagle. Of the mammals, the greatest danger is represented by jaguars, wild boars, crocodiles, leopards and mongooses.

Keeping corn snake at home

Setting up a terrarium for a snake

Terrariums for corn snakes are selected according to the size and age of the reptile. For newly born snakes and young individuals, you will need a “dwelling”, the volume of which is approximately 40-50 liters. A more mature and fully formed corn snake should be placed in a terrarium, the volume of which cannot be less than 70-100 liters with dimensions of 70x40x40 cm.

The main substrate should be pine shavings, as well as crushed tree bark, clean gravel or paper. The artificial turf “Astroturf” has proven itself well. To provide daylight it is recommended to use fluorescent lamps.

It is also very important to arrange a warm corner in the terrarium with temperature conditions at 28-30°C and a cold corner with a temperature of 24-26°C. At night the temperature should be at 21-23°C. Frequent spraying is carried out to maintain humidity in the terrarium. warm water from a spray bottle. Inside the terrarium there should be a fairly large and very stable drinking bowl, as well as several clean driftwood and relatively large roots.

Diet, basic diet

An adult corn snake needs to be fed weekly.. For this purpose, small rodents are used, as well as day-old chicks. In order not to injure the snake, it is best to use food that is frozen and then thawed to room temperature rather than live. Along with its food, the red rat snake should be given various vitamin and mineral supplements. Drinking water should be replaced regularly with fresh water.

Precautionary measures

Many reptile lovers are concerned about the questions: is the corn snake poisonous or not, and what side effects can be observed in the event of a bite. It should be noted that snakes of this species are not at all poisonous, and therefore are not capable of causing harm to humans and domestic animals with their bite.

Important! The corn snake can easily be confused with the highly poisonous copperhead, and the main differences are a narrower head, lighter color and the presence of square-shaped spots.

Corn snake health

The result of active inbreeding was the appearance of health problems in the majority of snakes born in captivity, which manifest themselves in refusal of food, sudden and causeless death, and a sharp decrease in life expectancy.

Individuals who rub their bodies too often against the lid of the terrarium usually develop abrasions, which must be treated with special antiseptics or antibiotic-based ointments. When properly kept in captivity, life expectancy exceeds ten years.

Breeding snakes at home

With the aim of home breeding You can use three-year-old females and two-year-old males. The female should be about a meter long and weigh at least a third of a kilogram. The process is stimulated using artificial hibernation, in which the reptile must stay for at least two months. During this period, the temperature in the terrarium is 13°C.

After wintering, around February or March, mating occurs. The gestation period lasts a little more than a month, after which it is necessary to place a special nest box with wet vermiculite in the terrarium. The female lays ten to fifteen eggs. The clutch is carefully removed, and the eggs are raised in an incubator for a couple of months at constant temperature 26-29°C.

This is interesting! Newborn snakes have a special tooth with which they are able to get out of the egg on their own.

If a newly born corn snake refuses to eat on its own, then it is necessary to force-feed the reptile. It is important to remember that among newborn red rat snakes there are quite a few high percent mortality.

If a lover of exotic reptiles is interested in the red rat snake, then buying one is currently not difficult. Its unpretentiousness has made the corn snake very common, so many private breeders are engaged in raising it in captivity and selling it.

Where to buy a snake, what to look for

Price of corn snake

The red rat snake, popular in our country, the price of which often varies depending on color and age, is sold both by private breeders and by many zoo nurseries specializing in reptiles. The price is affected by the class to which the runner belongs:

• S—juvenile;
• M - teenager;
• L - from semi-adult to sexually mature;
• XL - adult, large and sexually mature individual;
• XXL is a very large individual.

The average price of an adult is five thousand rubles. It is best to purchase a kit with your reptile that includes a terrarium and basic equipment for keeping it. The cost of such a kit, as a rule, does not exceed 8-9 thousand rubles.

Corn snake extremely popular among terrarium enthusiasts, because The snake is quite unpretentious in keeping, it quickly tames and does not experience aggression towards humans. What is this reptile like in the wild? What is interesting and unusual in her life? What habits and disposition is it characterized by? Let's try to find out about all this in more detail, revealing the mysteries and secrets of snake life.

Origin of the species and description

The corn snake is not endowed with poisonousness, it belongs to the family and is a genus under Latin name Pantherophis. The reptile is called the red rat snake, apparently based on its color and taste preferences. The snake is also called a spotted climbing snake, and in the private collections of terrariumists this snake is known as a gutata. For humans, this snake species is completely safe.

Video: Corn snake

Many people ask the question: “Why is this corn snake?” There are two versions about this. According to the first, the snake is nicknamed the corn snake due to the fact that its favorite habitats are those sown with corn and granaries, where the reptile deftly catches all kinds of snakes. The second version suggests that the snake is called maize snake, because the pattern on its abdominal part is similar to the corn kernels found on the cob.

Until 2002, only two subspecies of corn snake were recorded, but after that, herpetologists identified another subspecies, now there are three in the taxonomy. The dimensions of the reptile vary within two meters, but such extended specimens are rare; the average length of a corn snake is usually no more than one and a half meters. Colors of maize stripe exist huge variety, which we will try to understand further in more detail.

Appearance and features

Corn snakes have a rather extravagant and bright appearance. We figured out their dimensions, but the color of reptiles is represented by a large number of variations. Such different colors of the same reptile species are scientifically called morphs.

Let's describe the most famous of them:

• The “Amelanism” morph is characterized by the fact that the black tint in the snake’s color is completely excluded. The snake's eyes are colored pinkish or red, and the general tone of the body matches the eyes, white-pink or reddish;
• the “Anerythrysm” morph is distinguished by the fact that the snake has no red tint, the predominant background of the reptile is light gray with slight splashes of yellow in the neck and belly;
• morph “Hypomelanism” - the color is dominated by various shades brown, as well as grayish tones;
• the “Charcoal” morph has a neutral gray or brownish background, and yellowish pigmentation is practically eliminated;
• the "Lava" morph is due to the dominant black color, which makes the reptile almost monochromatic with the presence of small black specks;
• the “Caramel” morph is characterized by the fact that the red tone is completely replaced by yellow, creating a caramel effect;
• “Lavender” morph is the most interesting and unusual color, distinguished by the fact that melanin is completely absent, due to which the snake acquires delicate lavender, pinkish or coffee shades.

It is worth noting that among such a wide variety of snake outfits, the natural coloring of the corn snake is characterized by an orange background with red spots on it, which are beautifully outlined by prominent black stripes.

Now you know how to keep and care for corn snake at home. Let's see where he lives.

Where does the corn snake live?

The corn snake is considered an indigenous inhabitant of the North American continent. Indeed, it has firmly established itself there, spreading widely throughout the continent. The snake is most often found in the eastern and south-central regions. This creeping creature also lives in the north.

The reptile loves a wide variety of areas, preferring deciduous areas. The snake also settles in rocky crevices, which serve as reliable and secluded shelters. The snake person does not bypass those covered with green grass. Often the snake is adjacent to human settlements, living not far from barns and human dwellings. Numerous populations of these creeping creatures live near farms and cultivated lands throughout much of North America, in various provinces of Mexico and in the Cayman Islands.

Interesting fact: The corn snake has been spotted in the massifs, climbing to a height of about two kilometers, although most often it does not settle so high.

Basically, snakes prefer terrestrial life, but they are also at home in trees and bushes, deftly maneuvering among the branches.

If we talk about such an artificial home for the corn snake as a terrarium, then it is better that it be horizontal. Its height should be at least half a meter and its width 40 cm or more. The presence of all kinds of branches and snags is mandatory so that the situation is similar to natural. There are many more different nuances of arranging a terrarium, which we will not focus on.

What does the corn snake eat?

The corn snake goes hunting at dusk or in the pre-dawn hours, when it is not yet dawn. Possessing excellent night vision, it sees even better during these periods than during the day, so it easily detects prey.

The snake menu mainly consists of:

• small rats;
• small birds;
• bird eggs;
• chicks.

With his captured snack, the snake deals with it, wrapping it around it and applying a powerful choke hold, squeezing its muscular torso. When the prey dies, the meal begins, which, like most reptiles, begins with swallowing the prey from the head.

The diet of a rat snake living in a terrarium is similar to the set of dishes living in wild conditions. It consists of mice, rats and chickens. Little snakes are fed with newborn mice. A mature snake needs to be fed weekly (once every five days). Typically, terrarium keepers use pre-prepared and killed food, which is frozen in the refrigerator. They do this so that their pet snake does not get injured when swallowing live prey. Of course, the dish must be defrosted before serving.

Snakes living in captivity are often fed with all sorts of vitamins and mineral supplements to keep the reptile's body strong and healthy. A prerequisite is the presence of a source of clean drinking water, so it needs to be constantly changed. During the molting process, feeding the reptile should be avoided, because... It’s already not easy for the snake, and it doesn’t move much. It is better to treat the snake 3 to 4 days after the molting is complete.

Interesting fact: If you pick up a corn snake immediately after feeding or actively touch it, the reptile will most likely regurgitate what it has eaten, so it is better to leave the snake that has eaten enough alone.

Features of character and lifestyle

As already noted, the corn snake is active at dusk or late at night, and then it engages in its hunting craft. Mainly, this reptile leads a terrestrial life, but it also does not feel bad on the branches of trees and shrubs.

Interesting fact: It has been noticed that mature snakes begin to climb trees more and more often, switching to a semi-arboreal lifestyle.

In regions with harsher climates, snakes go into hibernation for the winter. Specimens living further south, in cold weather They hide in their lairs, but do not fall into suspended animation. Snakes love to warm their sides under the warm sun, crawling out into places exposed to the sun. During the day and in intense heat, they try not to leave their secluded shelters.

Do not forget that the corn snake does not have poisonous weapons, and its appearance is attractive and extravagant, which is why it has become a real favorite for many terrarium keepers. If we talk about the disposition of the reptile, then, according to the assurances of the same breeders, it is very peaceful, does not differ in aggression, has a calm disposition and a completely good-natured character. The corn snake easily makes contact and quickly gets used to a person, beginning to trust him.

TO positive qualities The snake can be attributed to its unpretentiousness. Terrarists say that it is not difficult to maintain. Snake owners assure that the snake itself will never be the first to attack and bite a person. Gutata is friendly towards his owner and allows himself to be held in his arms. According to the snake's dimensions, small terrariums are suitable for snakes.

Interesting fact: The harmless corn snake is very similar in appearance to the copperhead snake. Without knowing the nuances, snakes are easy to confuse. The main difference is that the rat snake's head is more narrowed, and the color has square spots.

Social structure and reproduction

Snakes become sexually mature by the age of one and a half years, but females are ready to reproduce closer to three years of age, because gain sufficient mass (about 300 grams) and length (about a meter). In the wild, the wedding season begins in March and continues until May. This occurs in regions where snakes hibernate over the winter. Where it is warm, mating games can take place all year round.

Corn snakes are oviparous reptiles; the female stays in position for about a month and a half (sometimes less), after which she begins the difficult process of laying eggs. The masonry is established in rotten stumps, fallen trees, and secluded burrows. The main condition for the successful development of embryos is that the nesting site has the necessary humidity and warmth. Typically, the expectant mother lays ten to fifteen eggs. They have a white shell and a cylindrical shape; their length can be from 4 to 6 cm. The female lays eggs once a year.

The incubation period lasts a couple of months, after which small snakes are born, the colors of which are much paler than those of their parents. After each regular moult, the color saturation increases. Molting continues in snakes throughout their lives, in young people it is more frequent, and mature specimens are subject to this process twice a year.

Interesting fact: Newborn baby snakes have a tooth with which they break eggshells during hatching.

In artificial conditions, rat snakes also reproduce successfully, the main thing is that the owner of the terrarium creates everything for this the necessary conditions. Sometimes it happens that newly born snakes refuse to eat, then they need to be force-fed to avoid death, because babies are the most vulnerable. Corn snakes live in captivity for 10 years, and even less in the wild. There have been cases when snakes in terrariums lived up to 18 years. Inexperienced young animals are the most vulnerable and exposed to all sorts of threats.

People can also pose a danger to the reptile, because the snake often settles not far from their homes. A person can confuse a harmless spotted climbing snake with a very poisonous copperhead, because only a competent specialist can distinguish them. Often stormy human activity stands unfavorable factor for a reptile, because, occupying more and more earthly spaces for their needs, people are gradually displacing snakes from permanent places registration.

Mice and rats, which it prefers to feed on, pose a certain threat to the snake, because rodents are often infected with various diseases that also kill reptiles. Snakes swarming in a terrarium often have poor health; such statistics are observed more and more regularly. Mortality in captivity for no particular reason began to be observed constantly, which greatly upsets terrariumists. Perhaps this happens due to non-compliance with all the necessary rules for a favorable life for a snake person.

Population and species status

The distribution area of ​​the corn snake is very extensive, it occupies almost the entire North American continent. The reptile is found almost everywhere on the territory. Large populations These snakes have been spotted around various North American and Mexican farms.

Of course, human activity has an impact Negative influence on many representatives of the animal world, but there is no evidence that the number of the corn snake population has sharply decreased. The rat snake population remains stable, with no reports of sudden declines or increases.

Based on all this, it is worth adding that the corn snake or red rat snake is not endangered; environmental organizations does not call, therefore is not under special protection. Perhaps such a favorable situation regarding the number of reptiles has developed due to the fact that the corn snake has become a very popular pet and successfully reproduces in a terrarium, which is good news. We can only hope that such a stable situation in the population of these amazing reptiles will continue to be maintained, without experiencing any obvious threats to their numbers from outside.

In conclusion, I would like to wish all owners of this bright and reptile that they conscientiously fulfill their duties regarding snake care, then corn snake will make them happy long years with its rich and rich colors and friendly, peaceful character, bringing a lot of positive emotions.

The original was taken from Children from the Cage. V. 184. Ross Allen's rat snake.

Ross Allen's Rat Snake lat. Pantherophis obsoletus rossalleni)
Found only in the very south of Florida, in particular in the territory national park Everglades.

The total length ranges from 1.2 to 1.8 m.
Young animals are gray in color, the body is dotted with brown spots. As it grows, the body becomes orange-yellow, some individuals have a reddish tint. The spots practically disappear, but remain slightly noticeable in dark background shades; sometimes they appear as no more than two faint lines on either side of the spine.

These snakes love wide deciduous forests, bushes, clearings, wastelands, mountain forests with rocky screes. In the south, in arid areas, habitats include river valleys, ravines and canyons.

Active during the day, but more warm months- at night. In fact, they simply follow the habits of their prey. They feed on rodents, small birds and their eggs.

This is an oviparous snake. Mating occurs in the spring, between March and May, and laying occurs between May and July. The female lays 12-20 eggs. Young snakes appear after 65-70 days.
This snake is very attractive with its color.

All pictures were taken by me at the Moscow Zoo.

Country of Origin: USA

Size: up to 2 m

Life expectancy: up to 17 years

Exterior

The rat snake or marsh snake belongs to the colubrid family. This is slim and enough long snake. Its body is bright orange or yellow-orange in color, covered with keeled scales. There are 4 located along the body dark stripes. Young snakes are not as bright as adults and have gray spots on the back. As they grow older and develop an orange color, individuals gradually disappear over the course of 1 - 2 years. The rat snake's head is flat and resembles the tip of a spear.

Story

The homeland of the Rat Snake is the USA, it lives in the south of Florida. Inhabits wet prairies with trees and shrubs, subtropical forests and reed thickets.

Character

Rat snakes are not poisonous, but are quite aggressive. They show aggression when they feel threatened or driven into a corner. Then the snake can bite the owner. Such bites are quite painful and the wound can bleed for a long time. Rat snakes belong to the genus of climbing snakes, so they climb trees well and can crawl even on a vertical surface. These snakes are active during the day and night hours. In winter, they, like many other cold-blooded animals, hibernate.

Rat snakes are kept in a horizontal terrarium. For one snake, the terrarium should be no less than 73x40x60, excluding the height of the lamp. To maintain the temperature in the terrarium, you need to place a thermal cord or thermal mat. Optimal temperature during the day 24 -28 degrees, at night - 18 - 20. In a warm corner, the temperature should be 30 - 32 degrees during the day and 23 - 25 degrees at night. Lighting in the terrarium must be provided in such a way that daylight hours are 9 - 11 hours. Humidity must be maintained at 75%. The soil in the terrarium is made of two layers. Down is usually placed forest land(can be mixed with sand or small pebbles). Fallen leaves, moss or pieces of bark are placed on top. You can also use a special mixture for orchids, which contains crushed bark coniferous plants. Suitable shelters include driftwood, small stones, peeled knotted roots, and upside-down shards. flower pots and other similar items. Shelters should be located not only on the ground, but also on branches, which must be placed in the terrarium and secured well. Snakes need to be provided with conditions in which they can climb. It is also necessary to install a spacious drinking bowl. Rat snakes are fed rodents (mice, rats, hamsters), chickens or quails. It is recommended to feed adult, mature snakes once a week; young ones can be fed a little more often. In preparation for wintering, it is necessary to gradually reduce the number of meals. During wintering itself, the snake does not need food. Also, when preparing for wintering, you need to gradually reduce the temperature in the terrarium and reduce daylight hours. Rat snakes can be kept individually or in groups.

A popular species among terrarium hobbyists is Pantherophis guttatus, which also goes by the names (or in some translations from English, corn snake), spotted climbing snake, and also red rat snake. Each of these common species names has its own origin story.

There are several hypotheses why the species became maize (or corn). The main theory is that these snakes are often found in corn fields or near granaries, where they hunt their main prey - mice and rats. However, there is a version that they were named so due to the fact that on the belly of the corn snake we can distinguish a white and black checkered pattern, reminiscent of corn kernels on the cob.

The species became a red rat snake due to the fact that rodents become its primary prey, and also due to its rather bright color. In nature, it is typically brick brown or red-orange in color with dark spots or stripes along the snake's entire body.

Breeders every year develop new morphs of these reptiles, which differ greatly in color, pattern, and scales. In addition, there are hybrid species that are bred mainly in artificial conditions. In nature, crosses, if they occur, are mainly only between species of the genus Pantherophis.

The average size of the corn snake is 70-120 cm. The size of the individual, as well as the color, greatly depends on the habitat of the reptiles. So the corn snake from the southern territories will be significantly smaller than its relative from cooler regions. External signs dimorphism is rather weakly expressed, especially in young animals. Male tail longer than the tail females, but often the sex of an individual can only be determined using genetic tests, since in males the DNA consists of a pair of ZZ chromosomes, and in females - ZW. In addition, the sex of the animal is determined using probing. But any of these procedures must be carried out by a very experienced specialist so as not to harm the animal.

The corn snake can sometimes be confused with poisonous snake copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), but the corn snake can be identified by its narrower head, lighter coloration and square-shaped spots.
Life expectancy in captivity averages 9-10 years. At good conditions When maintained, the corn snake can live 15-18 years.

Origin and habitats in nature

The species belongs to the genus Pantherophis of the Colubridae family.

Until 2002, the species Pantherophis guttatus was thought to consist of 2 subspecies: Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (nominal subspecies) and Pantherophis guttatus emoryi. However, now in the taxonomy there are three individual species: Pantherophis guttatus, Pantherophis emoryi and Pantherophis slowinskii.

The corn snake is found throughout the eastern and south-central parts North America, as well as in northern Mexico.
It can be found in a wide variety of habitats, preferring deciduous forests and rocky regions, in such places there are many crevices that provide it with reliable shelters. They can also be found in fields, grassy meadows, and near houses and barns. This species has been found in mountainous areas at an altitude of about 1800 m, but it generally prefers lower regions.

Lifestyle

In natural habitats, the corn snake lives on the ground for up to four months, after which it can climb trees, bushes, rocks and other hills. Adults lead a semi-arboreal lifestyle.

In colder regions, snakes hibernate during the winter. Individuals living along the coast southern regions, in a relatively cool winter weather hide in crevices and stumps, and in warm days They can come out to bask in the rays of the rising sun, but they do not hibernate throughout the winter.

The corn snake is most active in the warm season at night and before dawn. On hot days the snake does not leave its shelter. Hunts on the ground, eats mainly rodents, but can also eat small reptiles or amphibians, as well as bird eggs.

Terrarium: When choosing a terrarium, preference should be given to either a terrarium. Minimum size The size of a terrarium for one snake should be 70x50x50 cm. Up to three corn snakes can be kept in such a terrarium. However, even if you plan to keep only one individual, the terrarium should not be smaller, otherwise the snake will not fit in it. For the first time, you can also use a plastic box for young individuals, but in this case you need to make proper ventilation, which will not create drafts. To do this, the holes need to be located on the top and side of the container.

Substrate: one of the best substrates for keeping corn snake will be crushed tree bark or coconut chips. You can also use paper, but you need to change it when it gets dirty, but at least once a week. A mat that imitates artificial grass can give the decoration of a terrarium an aesthetic appearance, but it must be washed regularly, and therefore it is better to immediately purchase a couple of such mats and change them as they become dirty. Any other substrate is not suitable for snakes as it may cause undesirable effects on the reptile's health.

Lighting: Fluorescent lamps can be used as daylight (for 12 hours). Ultraviolet radiation is not required for the corn snake; moreover, the terrarium must be placed away from direct sun rays to avoid overheating of the reptile. Change daylight hours should be accompanied by twilight, which will allow creating conditions in the terrarium as close as possible to natural conditions reptile habitat.

Content temperature: The gradation of temperatures in the terrarium allows the cold-blooded reptile to use thermoregulation to change its body temperature, which promotes healthy digestion of food and the absorption of important microelements. It is necessary to organize a warm corner with a temperature of 28-30°C. and a cold corner with a temperature of 24-26°C. Night temperature should not fall below 21-23°C. You can choose either incandescent or incandescent lamps as heating elements. In any case, to protect the animal from accidental burns, heating elements must be placed at a safe distance from the reptile either under a false ceiling (incandescent lamps) or under a terrarium (warm mat, thermal cord). The main thing is to avoid direct contact between the snake and the snake, since each of them is capable of heating up to temperatures that exceed the maximum permissible limits, which leads to burns to the animal.

Humidity maintenance: snakes often drink and often defecate in water, and therefore the water in the drinking bowl must be changed regularly, as it must always be clean. It is important to monitor the composition of the water: it is better to use drinking table water for these purposes, which does not contain chlorine and other impurities harmful to the reptile. In addition, to maintain humidity, the terrarium must be misted several times a day using a spray bottle or using an automatic sprinkler. The water temperature should not fall below 23-25°C. You can place sphagnum moss in a small ditch, which will become a kind of “humidity chamber” for the snake. It is especially important to maintain moisture while the corn snake is molting, otherwise the snake will shed in chunks. Therefore, make sure that the individual’s crawl is intact.

Decor: large and stable, in which your runner can fit entirely, is necessary to create comfortable conditions content. The presence of many shelters in the form of stumps, pots and other objects will allow the snake to spend time in them daytime as she does in nature. You also need to place several and decorate the walls of the terrarium rock and place some rocks for the snake to climb on. In addition, the presence of these elements will help the snake during shedding. In this case, it is important to leave free access for the reptile to the cold corner and the warming up point.

Feeding in captivity

It is enough to feed the corn snake once a week, or as the snake defecates. Small rodents and chickens are suitable as food.

During molting, the snake should not be fed, since during this period the corn snake spends all its energy on this difficult process and becomes inactive. You can start feeding the snake 3-4 days after molting.

In terrarium conditions, the snake needs it throughout its life. It is especially important to supplement calcium during the molting period. mating season and pregnancy of the female. Can also be a source of calcium quail eggs, which can sometimes be offered to the snake as prey.

Breeding

The corn snake is one of the few snakes that reproduces quite well in captivity.
This type snakes become sexually mature at approximately 16 - 18 months of age, but at this age it is still not recommended to allow reproduction, because insufficient weight or size of the female can cause a large number of problems during pregnancy. The optimal age for breeding in females is considered to be 2.5-3 years, with a body length of 90 cm and a weight of about 300 g.

Before the start of the mating season, it is recommended to conduct a period of hibernation. It should last about 8-10 weeks at a temperature not lower than 17-18°C. There is no need to feed the snake during hibernation, but pure water At the same time, it should always be in the drinking bowl. The maize snake must be introduced and brought out of hibernation by gradually decreasing/increasing the temperature and reducing/increasing daylight hours.

IN wildlife, depending on the habitat, the mating season can last from March to May, and in the southern regions it lasts all year round.

Pregnancy lasts one to two months, after which the female lays 10 to 15 eggs; she finds rotten stumps, logs or holes in which it is warm and humid. In captivity, as a nest, can be used Plastic container, filled with moist vermiculite and with good ventilation.

The eggs are white and cylindrical, ranging from 3.8 to 6.4 cm in length and 1.3 to 2.5 cm in diameter. After about two months of incubation, at a temperature of 28°C, the eggs hatch into babies. In nature, females lay one clutch per year. In terrarium conditions, the female can lay two clutches of eggs.

The babies hatch out in a much paler color than the adults. Their color becomes brighter after each molt. Snakes shed throughout their lives, young animals shed much more often, but adults shed approximately 1-2 times a year.