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Home > Snakes > White Corn Snake: Traits, History, Food & Care (with Pictures)

White Corn Snake: Traits, History, Food & Care (with Pictures)

White Corn Snake

Technically, the White Corn Snake morph is a misnomer because there are many corn snake morphs that look white. For example, there are Albino, Snow, and Blizzard morphs. All of these morphs are white or white-like.

Regardless of the exact morph you’re referring to when you talk about a White Corn Snake, all corn snakes are very easy to take care of. Additionally, they make great pets because they are docile and relatively small. Read on to learn more about White Corn Snakes.

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Quick Facts about White Corn Snake

White Corn Snake coiled on a branch
Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock
Species Name: Corn Snake
Common Name: Elaphe guttata
Care Level: Beginner
Lifespan: 15-20 years
Adult Size: 3-5 feet
Diet: Carnivore, primarily mice
Minimum Tank Size: 20 L
Temperature & Humidity: Temperature: 75 – 88 degrees Fahrenheit gradient
Humidity: 40%-50%

Do White Corn Snakes Make Good Pets?

White Corn Snakes make good pets because they are small, easy to take care of, and passive. You don’t have to worry about these snakes being too aggressive, and you don’t have to worry about them outgrowing their tank. Beginners especially love corn snakes.

One thing to note is that you won’t find a corn snake that is actually called a “White Corn Snake.” Instead, you can find morphs that are white. Often, white morphs are more expensive than the regular corn snake morph, but they aren’t outrageous.

Appearance

The exact appearance of a White Corn Snake will depend on the morph you select. On the one hand, Albino Corn Snakes will often look light pink or white whenever they are born. As these snakes grow, however, they have more of an orange or pink tint.

If you are looking for a true White Corn Snake morph, you probably want a Snow or Blizzard morph. Snow morphs may have pink blotches, whereas Blizzards are completely white with no visible pattern.

White Corn Snake having dinner
Image Credit: CatherineScarlett, Shutterstock

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How to Take Care of White Corn Snakes

Habitat, Tank Conditions & Setup

Taking care of a White Corn Snake is pretty easy if you take the time to set up the correct habitat and tank. Unlike us, snakes cannot regulate their temperature. So, their tank must do it for them.

Tank

Because corn snakes are small, they only require a 20-gallon terrarium. Make sure that you can clamp the lid down because corn snakes are great escape artists. You will want to place a hide in both ends of the tank. You could also place a tube that runs from both sides so that the one hide offers two temperature gradients.

It’s also a great idea to place little pieces of bark throughout the rest of the tank for further hiding. More so, place a forked branch in the terrarium for climbing.

Deep clean this tank once a month with a reptile safe cleaner. Make sure to spot clean the tank everyday too, especially when the snake is shedding.

Lighting

Corn snakes do not need any special lighting. Just make sure they are exposed to the regular day and night cycle. You can place the tank close enough to the windows so that it gets natural lighting. If the tank is glass, make sure it is not in direct sunlight, or else the snake could overheat.

White corn snake on bedding
Image Credit: bluedog studio, Shutterstock

Heating (Temperature & Humidity)

The most difficult part of maintaining your corn snake’s enclosure is heating. Use an overhead incandescent lamp so as to create temperature climates within the tank. Always make sure to use thermometers inside the tank so that you can monitor the temperature.

There should be an ambient temperature between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There should also be a basking spot that is between 85 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature can drop to 75 degrees, but never lower.

As for humidity, corn snakes do not need a lot. Humidity between 40% and 50% is good enough. You might want to increase the humidity up to 60% during shedding. Use a hygrometer to monitor the humidity inside the enclosure. Depending on the humidity levels, you may need to mist the tank.

Substrate

Substrate is an important thing to consider for corn snakes because they love to burrow. You can use inkless newspaper or Aspen shavings. These are snake-safe substrates, and they are easy to burrow in. Don’t use sand, corncob, or soil.

Tank Recommendations

Tank Type 20-gallon glass vivarium
Lighting N/A
Heating Incandescent lamp or heating pads with a thermometer
Best Substrate Aspen bedding or inkless newspaper
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Feeding Your White Corn Snake

Feed your White Corn Snake pre-killed frozen mice. Be sure to properly thaw out the mice first. Pinky mice are great for hatchlings, but you can feed the snake bigger sized rodents as it grows.

Begin by feeding adolescent snakes twice a week. Gradually start to decrease the feedings. Adults only need to be fed once every 7 to 10 days. Whenever it’s time for your snake to shed, decrease feeding.

You will need to provide a water dish for your snake as well. This water dish must be kept clean. Clean out the water every day because snakes will go to the bathroom inside the dish.

Diet Summary

Meat: 100% of diet – small/medium sized rodents
Supplements Required: N/A

Keeping Your White Corn Snake Healthy

Corn Snakes are pretty healthy, but they develop illnesses if their enclosures are not well maintained. If the temperature or humidity are not exact, the snake will get sick. Likewise, a dirty tank or dirty water will cause the snake to act lethargic and potentially get deadly infections.

If you take good care of the snake’s environment, it should be pretty healthy. Watch out for signs of lethargy, diet changes, or scale issues. These are some of the first signs that your White Corn Snake is sick. If you notice any of these signs in your snake, you will need to take it to an exotic vet immediately.

White corn snake on black background
Image By: BikerPhoto, Shutterstock

Common Health Issues

Lifespan

Corn Snakes live between 15 to 20 years. This is a decent life span for most pets, though it is shorter than larger snake breeds. The lifespan of a Corn Snake is comparable to many house cats.

This is an ideal lifespan because it’s long enough to bond with your snake, but you aren’t stuck with it for decades upon decades, as you would be with the Ball Python.

Breeding

Breeding White Corn Snakes can be a bit of a hassle. As we already mentioned, the coloration of a White Corn Snake depends on the morph. This means that you will have to breed two snakes that have the ability to produce that same morph.

In other words, you have to have some education or skill relating to Corn Snake genetics. You should be able to find guides online for your specific morph, but it can be difficult to get the snakes to reproduce.

In the case that you do have skills with snake genetics, it can still be difficult to get Corn Snakes to reproduce. Snakes as a whole are not as prolific breeders as other creatures.

divider-snakeAre White Corn Snake Friendly? Our Handling Advice

White Corn Snakes are surprisingly friendly. At first, the Corn Snake will be guarded around you. This is completely natural. As you feed your snake, it will gain trust in you. Eventually, it may grow to like being handled.

Always be gentle when holding the snake and introduce it to your hand gently. Be especially cautious around hatchlings because they have the instinctive desire to protect themselves. Do not touch or handle your snake before or after feeding or while it is shedding either.

White corn snake on white background
Image By: PetlinDmitry, Shutterstock

Shedding: What to Expect

Adult Corn Snakes shed two to six times a year. You can tell that your Corn Snake is about to shed by looking at its appearance. Its scales and eyes will look cloudier, and its appetite will decrease.

Try not to touch or disturb your snake during the shedding process. Kick up the humidity a bit and provide extra water to aid in the shedding process. As soon as the snake is done shedding, remove the dead skin from the enclosure.

How Much Do White Corn Snakes Cost?

Corn Snakes are pretty affordable. The exact price of a White Corn Snake will depend on the morph you select. Albino and Blizzard Corn Snakes are typically under $100. The price of Snow Corn Snakes depends on the exact type of Snow. Some are under $100, whereas others are over $200.

Care Guide Summary

Pros
  • Docile nature
  • Perfect size
  • Long lifespan
Cons
  • Must be housed individually

divider-snakeFinal Thoughts

White Corn Snakes belong to different morphs. They are easy to take care of, docile, and perfectly sized. These are great beginner snakes to get for all of these reasons. We particularly like the Blizzard Corn Snake the most because it has the whitest appearance and isn’t too expensive either.

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Featured Image Credit: Tapeworm, Pixabay

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