Reptile & Amphibian Forums

What are the differences between the corn and the king? Do Corn snakes eat other snakes?

Corns don't normally eat other snakes. They might if the each grab the same mouse so it's best to feed them alone. I think there may be some rare cases of them eating snakes perhaps if extremely hungry or if the other snake smells like prey.

Or if one is significantly bigger than the other, I wouldn't trust them together without being closely watched.

The corn and kings are in the same family, Colubridae.
They fall under two different Genus, the corns under Elaphe (Pantherophis being the new latin name), and the kings under Lampropeltis.

If you want to further break it down, the Corns are in the Elaphe Guttata species and are broken down further into sub-species:
1. Elaphe Guttata Guttata - Eastern corn

The Kings are in the Lampropeltis Genus and are broken down into species and sup-species in the same way.
example:
The black king snake - Lampropeltis Getula Niger.
Lampropeltis - Genus
Getula - species (common king snake)
Niger - sup-species (black king snake)

The Eastern King would be Lampropeltis Getula Getula
The California king would be Lampropeltis Getula Californiae

Its kind of confusing when you first start, but once you catch on it gets easy to id snakes using the latin names. I dont have them all memorized yet, but working on it! LOL

As far as kings and corns go, the kings will eat other snakes without thinking twice, as far as the corns, there have been instances of cannibalism documented in hatchlings. Im sure there have been yearlings as well, but Ive not seen or heard of it.

King snakes are IMHO, just as easy going as corns if you raise them from hatchlings. Some kings are a little more aggressive than corns, and the feeding response of most kings blows corns out of the water!

Just have to look at the care sheets for kings and decide which one you want. Most of them are very easy to take care of and have the same needs as the corn.

I wouldnt say a king is not a good beginner snake, but some can bite and nip as hatchlings, where most corns do not. But they outgrow this.

A king can be as good a first snake as a corn if properly cared for.
Good luck and happy herping

-----

1.0 Corn snake
1.0 Black rat snake
1.0 Albino Black rat snake
1.0 Everglades rat snake
0.1 Yellow rat snake
1.1 California king snake
1.0 Prairie king snake
0.1 Black king snake

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

corns aren't generally cannibals, but they have been known to under the right circumstances. I'm not sure about Kings though...seems I heard they're more likely to eat a smaller cagemate?? I could be wrong I don't have any kings.

(yet)

-----
Dianne
AKA IcedGoddess
4.5 Cornsnakes
1.3 Cats
0.1 Child
IcedGoddess Creations
Castle Serpents

If you are comparing the two to possibly purchase a first snake my recommendation would be without question to go with the corn. Their general care and husbandry are nearly identical, the biggest difference being is you can not house two kings together or you will come home to one well fed king and one MIA. If you have experience with other snakes get which ever turns you on. If it is a first snake get the corn. Corns are a lot calmer and easier to handle as babies than kings. Corns are a lot slower moving and will generally glide form one hand to the other. King babies, especially cal kings will coil, musk and snap readily. Even when you do hold them they will often have thrash attacks and will musk all over. With regular handling they will eventually calm and once they are about a year old will be quite handlable, though in general they will never be as handlable as the average corn. That all being said, I think kings are more hardy and vigorous and I think they are more attractive. They have a lot stronger feeding response and seem to have more "personality," they are called kings for a reason. If ease of handling is important to you get the corn. If you are only going to touch it when you clean the cage and that doesn't matter and the other attributes of the kings are more important go with the king.