Corn snakes make great pets for beginner pet owners, as they are incredibly easy to feed and consume a variety of prey items.
Corn snakes typically feed on mice, which you can purchase frozen at your local pet store in sizes from newborn “pinkies” up through “extra large”. This makes for a cost-effective and secure alternative to live prey.
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Mice
Corn snakes primarily feed on rodents, though they may also take smaller prey such as birds or frogs. Since these snakes are constrictor species, they will squeeze any prey they catch before swallowing it whole.
Mice are a popular corn snake food item to buy, but young rats can also be purchased. These smaller rats are ideal for feeding smaller juvenile corn snakes.
When feeding rodents, the size of the animal you use will dictate their optimal feeding frequency. Larger rodents should be fed less often than tame, smaller rodents.
It’s best to select frozen-thawed rodents over live ones, as live prey can injure your pet and spread diseases or parasites. Check the label of any store-bought corn snake to make sure it was raised using thawed rodents.
Quails
Corn snakes are carnivores and will eat a variety of rodents, as well as quail eggs on occasion. These easily digestible eggs provide vital nutrients for these small but deadly predators to stay healthy.
Quail food for corn snakes is both common and safe, though only give your snake one egg every few weeks to avoid overfeeding or dehydration.
When selecting which rodent to feed your snake, make sure it is suitable for its size and age. Hatchlings and juveniles should be fed pinkies, while adults can eat frozen or thawed mice.
Rats
Corn snakes (Pantherophis guttata), commonly referred to as red rat snakes due to their habit of hanging out in corn fields, are actually not their preferred habitat.
These snakes feed on mice and other small rodents in the wild. When kept captive, they can easily be fed frozen or thawed rats or mice that have been humanely euthanized and prekilled.
Frozen or thawed rats do not tend to fight back against a pet snake like live feeders do, making this especially important if the snake was raised in the wild as it may reject a live rodent and be more inclined to bite or scratch it.
Fish
Corn snakes are constrictors, meaning they can be highly destructive to small animals in their natural environment. They do this by coiling around their prey and suffocating or crushing it to death.
Captive snakes can be fed frozen or live mice or rats smaller than their mid-body width. However, it’s best to wait a few days before feeding the snake again in order for its digestive system to have time to process its meal.
Fish can also be offered to snakes as food, though they typically don’t digest it well. You could offer chicks or chickens instead, though these might not be as nutritious as mice or rats.
Snack Foods
Are you in search of corn snake food for sale? Look no further! There are numerous snacks that could serve as great corn snake food alternatives.
Fish can be an ideal food source for your snake. Not only that, but they’re also packed full of protein and essential fats.
However, it’s essential to note that a large fish may be too much for your corn snake. They may need to be fed smaller fish or shrimp instead.
Corn snakes are constrictor snakes, meaning that they grab their prey and squeeze it tightly. Furthermore, their unique adaptation allows them to breathe while eating their prey.
