Corn Snake

Breed Description

Sleek, brightly patterned, and about as easygoing as a snake gets, the Corn Snake is often the first pick for anyone getting their first pet snake. It’s a slender, active constrictor named either for the corn-kernel pattern on its belly or for its habit of hanging around cornfields hunting rodents, depending on who you ask.

Breed History

Corn Snakes are native to the southeastern United States, ranging from New Jersey down through Florida and west into Louisiana. They’ve been popular in the American pet trade for decades, in large part because they were one of the first snake species widely bred in captivity, leading to a huge variety of color morphs.

Behavioral Characteristics

Corn Snakes are active, curious, and generally very tolerant of handling, rarely biting even when startled. They’re strong but not overly powerful constrictors, making them comfortable and low-stress to hold for beginners. They’re also excellent eaters in captivity, which makes their care fairly predictable — a big plus for first-time reptile owners.

Fun Facts

• “Corn Snakes are expert escape artists, capable of squeezing through surprisingly small gaps in a poorly secured enclosure.”
• “They're closely related to kingsnakes and rat snakes, all part of the same genus of North American constrictors.”
• “Some captive-bred color morphs, like the "Snow" corn snake, look nothing like their wild orange-and-black ancestors.”

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