Dressed in bright orange and red patterns, the corn snake is endemic to the southeastern part of the United States. In the wild, it likes to take up residence in large fields, tall trees, forest openings, and abandoned or empty buildings, where it feeds on rodents, bird Eggs, amphibians, and others reptiles. The origin of the name is unknown, but it was probably named for the fact that the color patterns resemble corn or that it is often found near grain stores. While superficially resembling a venomous copperhead, this harmless snake is a huge benefit to humans by keeping populations of disease-carrying pests in check; it is closely related to the non-venomous rat snakes. Read more about the differences between corn snakes and copperhead snakes here.
Corn snakes are quite popular in the Exotic Pet trade. At their full size, they are large and fascinating creatures, surprisingly easy to handle, but not intimidating or dangerous either. They come in a variety of patterns, including striped, fur, and sunkissed; white and dark brown variants are also available. If properly fed and cared for, they can reach their full potential size and live 20 years or more in captivity. This article covers some important details about how big corn snakes get and how to make sure they reach their full size. All values are given in inches and feet.