Do corn snakes prefer cluttered environments? I know Ball Pythons get stressed in large barren vivs and do much better with clutter, but I was wondering if it was similar for corns or if it’s cool to keep them with a little less stuff.

omg-snakes:

Hello and this is a great question!

The best way to determine what will make your snake most comfortable is to consider the natural environment in which they live. Try Google Image Searching “corn snake in situ” and “corn snake natural habitat” to see some examples of corn snakes being where corn snakes be.

Corn snakes are found in overgrown fields with tall grass cover and some trees and low shrubs, at the edges of pine or mangrove forests, and in rocky areas with plenty of plant growth. 

Occasionally a corn snake will be found basking on a flat road, but for the most part they like dense cover. Aside from the obvious geographical differences, the preferred habitat of a corn snake doesn’t look all that different from the natural habitat of a ball python.

This doesn’t mean that you need to have just “clutter” to make your snake feel happy and safe. An enclosure can be set up to allow your snake to feel very secure while also offering open basking areas for display that your snake will very likely take full advantage of, knowing full well that they are only a flop and a wiggle away from safe cover.

Start with an enclosure that is covered on at least two sides to offer a feeling of security. Use clutter that beautifies your enclosure and doesn’t just block your view. Cork tubes, clean leaf litter, branches, real or fake plants, and a variety of hides can be a lot more interesting than just a snake in a glass box. Make sure to change up enrichment on a regular basis to keep your snake curious and their little brain working, and you’ll see them often and be able to watch them engaging in natural behaviors like digging, basking, rearranging their enclosure, and climbing!