Corn snakes are wonderful creatures and make great pets for people wanting to get started with snakes. They are one of the more docile snakes available and their living requirements are less stringent than other snakes and reptiles.

Not only are corn snakes easy to care for, they have been bred into many different morphs, giving you a wide selection of colors and patterns to choose from. The color variations run from red and orange, to black and silver, and on to nearly white or pink for the snow corns.

When handling corn snakes, you may have to first get them used to being around you, especially if you are dealing with a hatchling or an adult corn snake that has never been handled. Though adults will usually take a little longer, handling a hatchling or baby corn snake for 5 minutes a day at first will get it used to being handled.

Begin your handling by placing you hand in front of your corn snake. At first, it will likely try to run or it will strike at you thinking that you are a predator. This is natural, but as it learns to trust you it will start to come to you when you put your hand in the vivarium (cage). Besides, a baby corn snake that strikes at you and works at running from you is showing good signs of health and alertness.

After about three days, you should be able to start handling your corn snake for about 15 minutes at time for a couple of more days. He should be more used to you by now and more willing to come to you when you are near.

One thing to remember. Once you've started with handling your corn snake, you should work toward spending time handling it every day. If you get away from normal handling, it will go back toward becoming more aggressive again.

Should you get bitten, don't jerk your hand away, the corn snake will let go when it know that you are not food. Jerking away can tear your skin or rip teeth out of your snake. The baby corn snakes likely won't be able to puncture your skin, but if you do get bitten by an adult, just wash your skin with a dissenfecant.