Rat snakes and corn snakes have many similarities, including their size and temperament. If you’re interested in getting one as a pet or simply want to learn more about them, you’ll want to be able to tell them apart and understand how they’re different.
Rat snakes and corn snakes are similar in size, with rat snakes ranging from 3 to 5 feet (91 to 152 cm) and corn snakes ranging from 2 to 5 feet (61 to 152 cm). While rat snakes tend to be gray and black, corn snakes are usually mixed with orange, brown, and red. Both snakes are nonvenomous.
This article will compare rat snakes and corn snakes to examine their differences and similarities. Keep reading if you want to learn more about these two snakes!
Rat Snakes and Corn Snakes Compared
Check out the table below to get some basic information on each species.
| Rat snake | Corn snake | |
| Origins | North America | United States |
| Size | 3-5 feet (91-152 cm) | 2-5 feet (61-152 cm) |
| Appearance | Gray, black, multicolored | Orange, brown, red, yellow |
| Temperament | Docile and calm in most cases | Docile and generally easy to handle |
| Diet | Frogs, birds, rodents | Rodents and reptiles |
| Lifespan | Up to 15 years in the wild, more than 30 years in captivity | Around 8 years in the wild, up to 20 years in captivity |
| Venomous? | No | No |
| Suitable pets? | Yes | Yes |
Below, I’ll discuss each of the above factors in more detail.
Origins and Habitats in the Wild
Rat snakes and corn snakes are native to North America, but corn snakes are specifically native to the United States. You can find both snake species living in captivity in other parts of the world today, mainly in Europe.
Rat snakes are generally found in woodlands and near farm buildings in the wild. Corn snakes also like to stay around farms but may remain in fields or near trees.
Size
As you can see from the comparison table above, rat snakes and corn snakes are similar in size, but some corn snakes may be slightly smaller than the average rat snake.
The corn snake is between 2 and 5 feet long (61 and 152 cm), so it’s generally considered a small-medium snake. Both snakes are easy to carry due to their small/medium sizes.
The rat snake can reach 5 feet long (152 cm), but it can also grow longer than this. You must be prepared for the possibility of your snake developing longer if you go with this species as a pet.
It’s also good to remember that female corn snakes and rat snakes are usually longer than males because they need extra room to carry eggs.
If you’re worried about the size of your pet snake, now you know that there isn’t much difference between the two.
Appearance
Rat snakes are often gray or black, similar to the color of a rat’s coat. However, that’s not where their name comes from. Some of them may be multicolored and show one of the following combinations:
- Green and brown
- White and brown
- Yellow and brown
- Orange and white
- Black and orange/yellow
As you can see, there is a wide variety of colors for rat snakes, so you’ll have plenty of options if you are interested in buying one as a pet.
Corn snakes are usually red and orange but can also have different color combinations. Some may be white with darker splotches, while others might be brown and gray. Similar to rat snakes, there are plenty of color varieties of corn snakes.
Temperament
Corn and rat snakes are docile and calm if you handle them carefully and calmly. They’re unlikely to get scared or aggressive as long as they feel comfortable around their owners.
However, it’s best to exercise caution during the first few weeks with a corn snake because, at this point, they might be confused and worried.
During this period, be extra careful and gentle when handling to avoid biting or sudden movements. Once this initial stage has passed, the corn snake should become calm and friendly in no time.
The temperament of a rat snake is highly similar to a corn snake’s—be extra cautious during the first few weeks while the snake is getting used to its surroundings. Once it’s comfortable and trusts its handlers, a rat snake should remain calm and easy to handle.
Diet
As you may know, all snakes are carnivores, meaning they only eat other animals (and, in some cases, their own species). Neither a rat snake nor a corn snake can eat vegetables, fruits, or candy, and they may become sick if they eat too many of them.
Even though fruits and vegetables are healthy and nutritious for humans, they are not beneficial for snakes.
Rat snakes like to eat different animals, especially:
- Rodents
- Frogs
- Birds
Rats are usually a big part of their diet, which is where the term “rat snake” comes from.
A corn snake’s diet mainly consists of rodents, including rats and mice. However, it might also eat reptiles if it has access to them.
As you can see, the diets of corn snakes and rat snakes are very similar.
Lifespan
One of the most significant differences between rat snakes and corn snakes is their different lifespans. For example, the rat snake can live up to 15 years in the wild and more than 30 years in captivity.
On the other hand, a corn snake can usually only live for around 8 years in the wild and up to 20 in captivity. If you’re looking for a snake species more likely to live longer, consider going with a rat snake instead of a corn snake.
The best way to increase the lifespan of either snake species is to give them proper care and shelter. Make sure the temperatures are favorable and that each snake has a space to go if it gets too cold and a separate area to go if it gets too hot.
A snake that’s fed well is also more likely to live longer. As mentioned in the previous section, both snake species like to eat rodents, which is one of the best sources of nutrients for snakes.
Getting the proper nutrients throughout their lives increases their chances of living longer, no matter the species.
Venom
Luckily, rat and corn snakes are nonvenomous, so you don’t have to worry about getting poisoned from a bite. The fact that they’re nonvenomous is one of the reasons they’re such popular pet snakes.
If a corn snake bites, it shouldn’t be too deep and there likely will be little to no blood. Mild pain might be present, but that should be the extent of it.
When a rat snake bites, it is likely to be more painful than a corn snake bite. Although you don’t have to worry about venom, you may still need to treat the bite due to the chance of infection.
Although both snakes are nonvenomous, a corn snake’s bite is generally not as severe or painful as a rat snake’s. But if you handle a snake carefully, it shouldn’t bite you in the first place.
Which Makes a Better Pet: Corn Snake or Rat Snake?
A corn snake makes a better pet if you’re looking for something on the smaller side and with brighter colors. A rat snake is better if you don’t mind your pet growing slightly longer and bigger in general. If you don’t have preferences, rat snakes and corn snakes make equally good pets!
Rat snakes and corn snakes are both suitable as pets, which is why they’re so popular in households across the US and the wider world. They’re docile and well-behaved once handled with care.
Plus, their bites aren’t as dangerous as bites from venomous species.
Rat snakes and corn snakes will remain unbothered and quiet once fed adequately and handled gently. While both species should be OK with people of all ages (including children), leaving a young child unattended with a free-roaming snake is never recommended.
If a child is in a particularly energetic mood, they shouldn’t handle a rat snake or corn snake, as the snake may become startled and act aggressively. In the worst case, it may bite the child.
Which Is Easier To Handle: Corn Snake or Rat Snake?
A corn snake is usually slightly easier to handle because it’s more likely to be smaller than a rat snake. Due to its smaller size, you can control it more easily when it’s in your hands. However, rat snakes are not difficult to handle. Both species are considered easy to handle, even for beginners.
Can a Rat Snake and Corn Snake Live Together?
A rat snake and a corn snake can live together, but it’s not always a wise choice. You should avoid placing a rat snake and a corn snake in the same cage before knowing their genders, as you want to avoid unwanted young!
Additionally, rat snakes and corn snakes are generally OK when living alone in separate cages, so there’s usually no need to house them together. If the rat snake and corn snake have similar requirements and are similar in size, they might be OK to live together.
What Provokes a Rat Snake?
Shaking a cage and rough handling can provoke a rat snake. That’s why it’s essential to be extra careful when near one. When a rat snake is provoked, it may hiss. Some rat snakes may also flip their tail or inflate their heads. When a rat snake is provoked, it may bite.
It’s easy to avoid provoking a rat snake by not startling it and remaining calm at all times, especially when the snake is in your hands.
What Provokes a Corn Snake?
Being aggressive and failing to handle it with care can provoke a corn snake. If you provoke a corn snake while holding it, it’s likely to display aggressive behavior by hissing or raising its head to mimic a venomous snake.
While it may also bite when provoked, it shouldn’t be too deep or painful.
Will a Rat Snake Eat a Corn Snake?
A rat snake will generally not eat a corn snake unless it’s the king rat snake. King rat snakes are known for eating other snakes, so there’s nothing to say they wouldn’t eat a corn snake if they had the opportunity.
Standard rat snakes are unlikely to eat corn snakes due to the size similarities and access to more convenient food, such as rodents.
Conclusion
Rat snakes and corn snakes have plenty of similarities but also some differences. Mostly, their temperaments are the same, as both species are docile and easy to handle once you’re gentle with them.
They’re both nonvenomous, so the bites are generally not that serious. However, rat snake bites can be more severe and may require medical care. Also, rat snakes and corn snakes can be similar in size, but rat snakes are more likely to be bigger.
Rat snakes generally live longer than corn snakes.