Corn snakes eat rodents. In the wild, they would catch these and constrict them. They do not usually eat animals alive, or suffocate them whilst eating them as some people believe - they squeeze the prey to death, and then eat it once killed.
In captivity, corn snakes are brought up on a diet of pre-killed defrosted rodents, that you can buy frozen from any reptile retailer. If you are squeamish about feeding a mouse, just think of it like a piece of meat and unfortunately rodents are the only safe diet for a corn snake.
Some people feed chicks but a chick is not nutritionally viable as a permanent food source, as they lack the vitamins and protein content of mice or rats. They also contain a higher water content, which can result in diahorrea, and have been known to carry salmonella. They are an excellent aid if your corn snake is constipated, but I personally would not feed them otherwise.
Once a week is a standard time period to feed a corn snake, but it depends on the size of prey and age of snakes. Very young hatchlings may eat a baby mouse every 5 days, whereas a very large adult will eat every 7-10 days a single mouse.
It is important not to feed a prey item that is too big, the food item should not be greater than 1.5 times the girth of the snake. This will result in a lump showing for a few days after eating. You should not handle your snake 24-48 hours after feeding, as they need to rest to digest their food, and handling could result in regurgitation.
Do not overfeed your corn snake, as obesity or power feeding will result in heart strain and liver problems, reducing the snakes lifespan.
If at all worried about the size of food, please ask the breeder or the retailer what they would recommend for the age of your corn snake.
Corn snakes can survive 6-12 months or more (depending on the age and size of
the snake) without food. This is however not healthy, but it does mean that if
your snake goes off his food for a few weeks - it is not an emergency. If it has
been more than a month since your snake ate, please consult the health section,
or ask for advice from your local shop or veterinarian.
You should weigh your snake at regular intervals such as once a month, and
ensure that he or she is not losing weight.
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Introduction
Housing
Heating
Handling
Feeding
Feeding Problems
Health
Breeding
Incubator Guide
Egg Binding
Housing Together
If you are thinking about purchasing a corn snake, and require a setup, please visit Reptile Cymru in Cardiff, who sell plastic starter kits from £30, and full setups for adults in 3 foot wooden vivariums from £125 (including heating/lighting).