Plastic cages are sturdier and last longer than glass cages. They have grates on each side for airflow, and they can be heated from below using heating pads. Alternatively, you can buy specially made glass reptile enclosures, or use a 75 gallons (280 L) aquarium. The tank must be at least as long as the snake. This species gets 3-5 feet and is very active. Make sure that you choose one made for snakes so your corn snake doesn't escape. Prevent the snake from escaping with heavy objects on the lid of clamps. Exo Terras, which open from the front, are expensive brand new but great for taming. They are very secure and come with locks. A wooden tank is also an option.   Plastic vivariums are lighter and can be moved more easily. They are also easier to clean. Glass enclosures let you see the snake easily, but they let more heat out. They also are more fragile. If the vivarium isn’t big enough, it can stress your snake out to the point of illness. The width and height of the vivarium can be a third of their length.  An adult snake of 60 inches (152 cm) needs a vivarium that is 60 inches (152 cm) long, 20 inches (50 cm) tall, and 20 inches (50 cm) wide. You can also use a 40 gallon (151.4 L) tank. Just make sure it is long enough for the snake. For baby snakes, you should buy a smaller vivariums because they can get upset in a larger tank. You can try a 10 gallon (37.9 L) or 20 gallon (75.7 L) vivarium. Upgrade to an adult-sized vivarium as your snake grows. Substrate is what you use at the bottom of the enclosure. It should be thick enough that your snake can bury itself in it and hide. There are many different materials you could use for the substrate. Use aspen shavings as these snakes love to burrow. Line the bottom of the enclosure with two to three inches of the substrate.  You should avoid using cedar shavings, pine shavings, or aquarium gravel. Cedar and pine shavings have oils in them that can be toxic to your snake. Avoid using corn cob bedding because it can cause excessive drying to the snake’s skin and also poses a serious choking hazard if swallowed. Corn snakes have a habit of getting out of habitats that are not secure. They are very strong and can push through the top of cages that are not securely sealed. They are also excellent at squeezing through holes that aren’t completely plugged. Make sure that the enclosure is closed tightly and has some kind of locking or clamping mechanism.

Summary: Choose either a glass or plastic vivarium. Buy a vivarium that is the proper size. Place substrate in the bottom of the cage. Ensure that the vivarium is secure.


To take the apical pulse, you will need to access the bare chest. Feel for the clavicle.  The clavicle is also called the collarbone.  It can be felt at the top of the rib cage. Directly below the clavicle, you should feel the first rib.  The space between two ribs is called the intercostal space. Feel for the first intercostal space—the space between the first and second ribs. From the first intercostal space, move your fingers down to the fifth intercostal space by counting the ribs.  The fifth intercostal space should be located between the fifth and sixth ribs. If you're taking the apical pulse on a female, you can use three fingers to feel directly below the left breast. Usually, this same method will work on a man, as well. This allows you to take the pulse without counting the ribs. This is called the midclavicular line. The apical pulse can be felt and heard at the intersection of the fifth intercostal space and the midclavicular line. The apical pulse can be taken by touch or by using a stethoscope.  It can be very difficult to feel an apical pulse, especially in women where breast tissue may lie over the pulse.  A stethoscope may be easier for this purpose. In most people, it's almost impossible to feel an apical pulse using just your fingers. Unless the person is upset or in shock, their apical pulse will likely be too faint to detect without a stethoscope. Put on your stethoscope by putting the earpieces into your ears. Hold the diaphragm, which is the part of the stethoscope you use to listen to the patient's chest, in your hand. Rub the diaphragm (the end of the stethoscope) a bit to warm it up and tap it to make sure that you can hear the noises through the diaphragm. If you can't hear anything through the diaphragm, check that it is tightly attached to the stethoscope. If it's loose, you may not hear anything. Tell the person to breathe normally through his or her nose because doing so will decrease the sound of the breath and make hearing the heart easier. You should hear two sounds: lub and dub.  This is considered one beat.  Ask the person to face away from you, which can make it easier for you to hear. A heartbeat usually sounds like a galloping horse. This is the pulse rate, or heart rate. Think about how you might describe the pulse.  Is it loud?  Strong?  Is the rhythm regular, or does it seem irregular? Be ready with a watch that has a second hand so you can count the pulse rate. Count how many “lub-dubs” you hear in a minute (60 seconds).  The normal pulse rate for adults is 60 – 100 beats per minute. It differs with children.  With newborns to three years old, the normal heart rate is 80-140. For four to nine year olds, 75-120 is a normal heart rate. For 10 to 15 years old, 50-90 beats per minute is the normal pulse rate.
Summary: Start by asking the patient to take off their shirt. Feel the first rib by finding the clavicle. Count the ribs as your work your way down. Draw an imaginary line from the middle of the left clavicle through the nipple. Decide between using regular touch or a stethoscope. Prepare your stethoscope. Place the stethoscope on the spot where you found the apical pulse. Count how many lub-dub sets you hear in one minute. Find the person’s heart rate.