Are you a new corn snake owner?
Do you get tired of feeding your corn snake nothing but mice?
Whether new or experienced, it’s always a good idea to brush up on your corn snake diet knowledge.
You never know when you may need to know in a pinch about food options.
What can I feed my corn snake?
Corn snakes are carnivores which means they eat meat. Their most common food is mice, but they can eat small birds, other rodents, small amphibians, and lizards.
Read on for more information on what to feed corn snakes.
Table of Contents
What Can You Feed A Corn Snake?
Feed corn snakes small rodents, birds, and the occasional amphibian or lizard.
Read on for a quick breakdown.
Mice
Mice are the bread and butter of the corn snake diet.
Even in the wild, their most common prey is mice.
Mice are the perfect size for corn snakes of all ages.
Baby corn snakes eat baby pink mice, and adult corn snakes eat adult and jumbo mice.
They’re usually given to the snake either live or thawed from frozen.
The live ones are better for the snakes because they activate their hunting instincts.
Frozen and then thawed mice will work, and they’re easier to keep in stock.
Rats
Rats are often too large for many corn snakes to eat.
However, the biggest corn snakes (up to 5′) can eat juvenile rats.
Small birds
In the wild, corn snakes will climb trees or hunt the ground for small birds and their eggs.
This is typically only done by adult corn snakes.
In captivity, there isn’t a suitable equivalent.
It’s challenging to find and keep small birds on hand, and stores don’t stock and sell them.
Lizards
In the wild, baby corn snakes and juvenile corn snakes can find small lizards to eat.
I don’t imagine you’re going to be keeping these as feed for your snake, but you could use small lizards as long as they were smaller than 1.5 times the girth of the snake’s body at mid-length.
Don’t be surprised if the corn snake is uninterested as an adult.
At this age, they prefer meatier rodents and birds.
Amphibians
Small amphibians such as frogs are a favorite of the young corn snake.
If you found some in the wild, you could consider feeding them to your pet.
But just like the last category, you always need to check their size.
Also, take care that the frogs aren’t poisonous.
Generally, bright colors mean danger, so don’t use those.
What To Feed A Baby Corn Snake
Baby corn snakes are like adult corn snakes, but you have a much more significant concern regarding prey size and the prey’s ability to fight back.
This is why you need to feed your baby corn snake pinky mice.
These newborn, hairless mice are perfect for these small snakes.
Their size matches the 1.5 times size or under the requirement.
On top of this, the newborn mice won’t bite back as older mice will.
Even so, you may feel worried about feeding your corn snake the small pinky mice.
When looking for even smaller prey, consider the baby pygmy mouse or baby spiny mouse.
Still, the baby corn snake may not be too interested naturally.
Help activate its hunting instincts by braining the mouse or teasing the snake by tapping its nose.
Read more about how to feed a corn snake.
How Do I Get My Corn Snake To Eat?
First, make sure it’s been around five days since its last meal.
It may not be hungry.
Then, place the mouse in front of the corn snake.
You need to activate its hunting instincts.
If the mouse is live, there won’t be much of a problem getting it to eat in time.
If the mouse is frozen and thawed, cut the mouse a little to put the scent of food in the air.
You may also want to let the mouse sit in a plastic container with holes in the top for a while.
Eventually, the corn snake will smell it and begin to show interest.
This is when you take it out and let the snake have at it.
How Long Can A Corn Snake Go Without Eating?
A corn snake is fine eating every 7-10 days for adults and every 5-7 days for baby corn snakes.
But this isn’t the only answer.
If the corn snake is in its shedding process, it may not be interested in eating even if it’s been seven days.
When you see signs of shedding, don’t be alarmed if it doesn’t eat.
In cases of hibernation or brumation, a corn snake can go for even longer, even 4-6 weeks or more.
Hibernation and brumation occur when the corn snake slows its body down to adjust for cooler weather.
When in doubt, though, it’s just fine to take your corn snake to an exotic pet vet.
They can examine your reptile with a professional eye.
Warning! Never feed a snake within 24 hours of its last feeding.
The corn snake needs longer than this to digest its meal fully.
Can You Feed A Corn Snake Fish?
While fish aren’t usually a big part of the corn snake’s diet, it is possible to feed them fish with no health problems as long as you follow size rules.
Minnows work well, and some of the larger corn snakes can even eat a larger bass.
Keep in mind, though, their natural food of rodents and birds.
I recommend avoiding feeding them fish too often, or its nutritional balance may be thrown off.
Conclusion
Now you know what to feed a corn snake.
They’ll eat primarily mice, but if you have access to other small animals like birds, frogs, or young rats, use these as well.
Remember to use prey smaller than 1.5 times the width of the snake at mid-length.
Do this, and your pet will be happy and healthy.
