Corn snakes will generally be healthy and disease-free if a few basic rules are followed.  They can become sick or infected if they are exposed to other sick reptiles or if proper housing (including the right temperature conditions) and feeding recommendations are not followed.  Some of the common health problems for corn snakes are described here to help the owner recognize the symptoms.  Treatment of the snake should be done by a qualified herp veterinarian.

Mites
Mites are tiny insects that can infect the snake and kill the animal if untreated.  If the snake is even in the same room as another infected reptile, the snake will likely get infected.  If the snake becomes infected, treatment of the snake, the enclosure, and surrounding area must be done to get rid of the infestation.  The treatment must be repeated weekly to prevent re-infestation and the substrate (paper or aspen chips, etc.) must also be replaced every three days to eliminate mite eggs before they hatch.   We would recommend Black Knight, which is an insecticide spray that is toxic to insects (mites, fleas, crickets, etc.) but with relatively low toxicity to reptiles or mammals.  It is available only through the internet.  See favorite links for web site information.

Shedding Problems
Corn snakes will shed their skin every 1 to 2 months depending on the particular animal, how much it is fed, and the age.  A normal healthy snake will shed the skin in a single complete roll.  The snake will begin the shedding process 5-8 days before shedding  by turning opaque color and the eyes will look cloudy.  Just before shedding, the color will return to normal.  The snake will then loosen the skin on the head by rubbing against a rough object (water dish, etc.).  He will then lodge the loose end with something that will hold the skin (like the bottom of the water bowl) and will wriggle out of the skin.  The shed will often be in a tight clump, or wrapped around the water bowl.  Be sure to examine the shed every time the snake sheds to make sure the shed is complete.  If skin is left on the tip of the tail, it could likely fall off.  If large sections of skin remain on the snake, it can be fatal.  During dry, low humidity conditions, the snake skin may not be pliable enough to shed properly.  The snake will usually soak in the water bowl to overcome this dry condition and shed properly.  Sometimes only part of the skin comes off.  In this instance, a damp hide should be provided for the snake to moisten the skin and shed completely.  The shed must be complete with 5 days from the initial partial shed. Bad shedding is also a symptom of some bacterial or parasitical infections, so it is important to determine the cause of a bad shed anytime it occurs..

Regurgitation Problems
Although healthy corn snakes with proper feeding and temperature environment should not regurgitate, it sometimes happens.  It is important to observe conditions in the snake’s enclosure to be aware if the snake regurgitates.  Once a snake regurgitates, it is likely that it will regurgitate again at the next feeding if special precautions are not taken.   Regurgitation rids the snake of the natural gastric fluids, and it takes nearly 2 weeks for the fluids to return to normal.  A hatchling that regurgitates three consecutive meals may die. Regurgitation can be caused by too low temperatures, feeding during shedding, or bacterial infection.  Snakes that frequently regurgitate can often be cured by giving one time dose of  GSE (grapefruit seed extract) in the drinking water at a dose of 3 drops per cup of water.   GSE can also be used routinely in the drinking water at a dose of 5 drops per gallon. If the snake regurgitates, it should not be fed again for at least 7 days, and then the meal should be much smaller than normal.  If the problem persists, it may be necessary to consult a veterinarian.