The Complete Guide to Okeetee Corn Snakes and the Top 3 Ways to Care for Them

Introduction: What is an Okeetee Corn Snake?

An Okeetee Corn Snake is a subspecies of the common Corn Snake found in the United States. The Okeetee Corn Snake has a red and yellow striped pattern on its skin that resembles the colors of an American Flag.

This corn snake is reasonably popular in captivity because it is not venomous, has no natural enemies, and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. The Okeetee Corn Snake has some disadvantages, such as its susceptibility to respiratory infections likely caused by the high humidity levels in its vivarium.

The Okeetee Corn Snake has a comprehensive history of success as a captive snake and a proven track record with no known fatal accidents.

Their popularity is due to their docile, friendly nature, easy care requirements, and beautiful coloration. This guide will cover all aspects of caring for an Okeetee Corn Snake, including housing, feeding, shedding, and breeding.

Okeetee Corn Snake Habitats and Care Requirements

They are also known as the “Red-Eyed” or “Bloody” Okeetee Corn Snake due to their distinctive eye coloration.

These snakes have a reputation for being one of the most docile in captivity, and they make excellent pets for beginners.

The Okeetee Corn Snake is a terrestrial species that spend time hunting on land rather than swimming in water like many other snakes. They spend most of their time hunting at night, feeding primarily on small rodents like mice, rats, chipmunks, and squirrels.

The Okeetee Corn Snake is a member of the Pantherophis, characterized by its ability to rapidly expand and contract its neck to increase the range of motion when hunting.

Pantherophis guttatus are oviparous, or egg-laying, snakes. They lay a clutch of around 5-13 eggs at a time, incubating about 64 days before the young hatch.

Housing:

Okeetee Corn Snake can be housed in a 10-gallon tank, 3-gallon, or 5-gallon aquarium, but the best option would be an appropriately sized terrarium. An appropriately sized terrarium for an Okeetee Corn Snake would be at least 48 inches long and 24 inches wide with a depth of 12 inches.

It should contain live plants, driftwood, or rocks to climb on and hide spots in which to hide. The snake will need to have a water dish, and it should be filled to a depth of one inch.

Temperature:

Temperature is vital for an Okeetee Corn Snake. They will need a temperature between 68 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit with a humidity of around 75%.

This can be best achieved by using a heat mat or lamp inside the enclosure with a submersible aquarium heater outside. This temperature is also crucial for their shedding cycle, so care must be taken, so they do not overheat in the summer months.

Light source:

You will need a light source for your Okeetee Corn Snake’s habitat that mimics natural sunlight. This can be artificial or natural. Artificial light sources include incandescent or fluorescent light bulbs, or you can use daylight-balanced light that is warm and yellow. Natural light sources have a window, a skylight, or the sun.

Heating system:

You will need to provide your Okeetee Corn Snake with heating for their habitat. The best option is to use an under-tank heater that sits underneath the tank and warms up the space with ceramic heat emitters. These are connected to a thermostat, so it will automatically turn on when it gets too cold and off when it gets too warm.

Substrate:

You will need to provide a substrate in the enclosure. This is not only for the snake’s comfort but for their health. It should be about two inches deep, moist, and easily cleaned. Your Okeetee Corn Snake may enjoy using it as a hiding spot or place to shed its skin.

Feeding Your Okeetee Corn Snake

It can grow up to six feet long, but it typically grows to about four feet. The Okeetee corn snake is a diurnal animal that enjoys basking in the sun.

Your Okeetee Corn Snake will need food every two weeks, depending on its size and how often it is provided. Your snake will need to eat one appropriately sized rodent every two weeks or so.

The best way to feed your Corn Snake is by using tongs or a feeding stick and then placing the rodent into the cage at the opposite end of where your Corn snake is resting.

This gives your snake time to approach its meal slowly and lessens the chance of being bitten during feeding.

Okeetee Corn Snakes are not picky eaters and will accept most types of food. It does have a strong preference for live prey, so a tiny rodent is a preferred meal.

Offer nightcrawlers, waxworms, cockroaches, and crickets on occasion to give your snake variety in its diet.

Monitor your snake’s body weight once every month to ensure it is not going too long between feedings.

Maintenance of Your Okeetee Corn Snake Habitat

This section will give tips on maintaining your Okeetee Corn Snake habitat tips.

– Provide a safe substrate for your snake and comfortable for you to clean. You can use newspapers, paper towels, or reptile carpeting.

– Make sure to provide appropriate hiding spots and climbing structures in their habitat so they can explore and feel secure in their environment.

– Remove uneaten food and feces from the habitat at least once a week to avoid possible health problems.

– Make sure you follow your local reptile laws, as some countries have strict regulations regarding owning and caring for these snakes.

– Thermometer: An external thermometer should be placed in the enclosure so that you can keep track of the temperature inside your snake’s environment.

– UVB light: You may want to provide your snake with a UVB light. This will allow them to produce vitamin D3, which they need for their health.

– A heating pad: If you are going to keep your Okeetee Corn Snake as a pet, it will be necessary to use a heating pad to maintain the warmth of their enclosure.

– Water bowl: A water bowl should also be provided with fresh, clean water so that your snake can access it when they need it.

– Habitat: You will want to ensure that the enclosure is suitable for your snake in size and temperature.

Conclusion: Top 3 Ways to Ensure That You’re Caring For Your Okeete Corn Snake Well Now

The following are three ways to ensure that you care for your Okeete Corn Snake.

1) Ensure that the temperature of your snake’s enclosure is between 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Feed your snake a variety of rodents and insects, including mice, rats, crickets, and mealworms.
3) After feeding your snake, remove any uneaten food items so they don’t rot or attract pests.