By Kellen Phelps

GALWAY– lot of people have cats, dogs and an occasional fish, but how many people can say that they have a full sized corn snake? Corn snakes are bright colored snakes that are found native to southern North America. Corn snakes are named corn snakes because they can be found in corn fields in the south hunting field mice.

Corn snakes in captivity can reach an age of 23 years, and wild corn snakes can live 6-8 years. Corn snakes have a docile nature, are reluctant to bite and their bright colors make them perfect pets.

How I got a corn snake.

My dad’s wife’s granddaughter Leah went to college for a degree in biology and two years ago she brought home a corn snake. I have owned many other reptiles including a $250 tortoise my step-sister left when she went to college. Due to the nature of the corn snake’s food, I was the one who volunteered to feed it.

Is a corn snake right for you?

Corn snakes are easygoing animals that rarely attack on purpose. Corn snakes are really friendly snakes that love to be held and cared for and can make great pets for years to come. They are very low maintenance pets; they require their bedding replaced monthly and their tanks cleaned weekly. Sadly like all pets, corn snakes require quite a bit of financial investment since owners have to buy a tank or tanks if they are growing to meet their circumstances. All animals bite and corn snakes are animals, but they do no more damage than a scraped knee. These bites are almost always accidents. I have had a corn snake for a few years now and have been bitten maybe twice.

Corn snakes eat mice on a weekly basis. Corn snakes have high metabolism and are very active which is why they are fed more frequently. Corn snakes are great pets if you know how to take care of them and understand that they need some TLC.  Corn snakes start out small; they are about the size of an earthworm, but in no time they are five feet long.

They are tame animals and most of the negative things you hear about them are myths, for example, that snakes are slimy or gross. No! Snakes are dry animals and many people that have felt a snake find it very pleasant to the touch. Corn snakes are a great investment costing only about 30-60 dollars, depending on the gender morph and time of year.