Do Corn Snakes Smell? - Can You Smell A Corn Snake In Your House

Do Corn Snakes Smell? well that depends on a few things that I will explain throughout this article.

Do corn snakes smell and can you smell a corn snake in your house? Well, snakes are mostly odor-neutral, meaning that they do not have any smell themselves and do not give off any scent. Your snake won’t have a smell itself, except for very rare occasions when it let’s of a musk. Your Corn Snake will let off a smell from bodily secretions, these types of smells however are common in most/all animals, but can be resolved/minimized.

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Table of Contents

Can You Smell A Corn Snake In Your House? How do Snake’s Musk? (the sciency bit’s)

Cloacal Glands

Female and male snakes are equipped with cloacal glands, which are situated on their tails’ foundations. These glands are found either side of their vents, or their excretory openings. The snake then uses it’s cloacal glands to manufacture disagreeable smelling substances which are emitted when they feel bothered or frightened. Snakes often let off these icky odors, when threatened and they also sometimes let go of their viscous intestinal matter. Sometimes snakes even toss their bodies around in the stuff. When they are in the clutches of an enemy, they have been known to rub it onto them, too. Often times snakes are irritated when people try to touch or hold them, and as a result frequently emit defensive odors in those situations.

Goal of the Odors

It is very rare for a snake to let of a scent without a reason. One of the main goals of the musking is to make themselves less appealing and tasty, as potential meals to possible predators. By covering itself with a disgusting odor all over his physique, a predator probably isn’t going to find him as tasty. Predators are much less likely to want to eat something that smells so awful. The predator will likely think that if something smells awful, there’s a strong chance that it will have a flavor that’s just as awful, after all.

Variation in the Smells

The odors that threatened snakes give off run the gamut. The smells are often reminiscent of those of rotting animal carcasses. They generally depend on the specific variety of snake, however. Garter snakes (genus Thamnophis) emit odors that are overwhelmingly cloying. Rattlesnakes (genera Sistrurus and Crotalus) emit odors that are intensely musky and strong. While the odors that these reptiles give off are usually deterrents to human beings, snakes sometimes employ them for purposes beyond self-defense. Some types of snakes are thought to occasionally utilize their cloacal glands to lure potential mates, too.

How Often Do Corn Snakes Poop

Corn snakes will often poop, or pass waste 3-5 days after a feed. Any other waste which is passed within these 3 days is usually left over from the previous meal. Corn snakes have an amazing digestive system, which leaves very little waste. They can actually make use of most their meal, with some aspects of the meal taking longer to digest than others. So this can mean that waste is passed at different times.

Other Defence Styles

Not only do corn snakes smell, they use odours to deter potential predators . Often corn snakes will just run away from the potential danger. They also hiss and make noises to make their predators go away . Another trick is to expand their necks to appear larger than what they actually are. Some snakes have the ability to bite and poison predators and prey alike. Do not worry though as Corn Snakes are not venomous.

Keeping your snake clean to reduce bad odours

Sometimes a unpleasant aroma is due to the snake’s urine or feces, this can of course be resolved by regular cleaning of your Corn Snakes tank. Remember that most snakes go to the toilet shortly after their meal. By regularly cleaning out your pet Corn Snakes tank, you are going to prevent the smell transferring onto your snake. Another important reason to keep your snake clean is to prevent scale rot, which occurs when a snake is exposed to a damp or wet tank.

Do Corn Snakes Smell When They Musk

Corn Snakes musk frequently when young, but infrequently when they start to get older. They do not musk as much as other species. All snakes have the ability to musk although not all do. Snakes are known to smell bad, or at least they have the ability to smell bad. All animals have natural defenses, and similar to skunks, all snakes have, in varying amounts the natural defense to release a noxious smelling odor to throw off potential predators.Snakes produce their musk through their cloacal glands. These glands can be found at the tail of the snake.

Reasons for your Corn Snake to musk

The most likely scenario for your Corn Snake to musk is when it’s uncomfortable in a new environment. Such as when you first get your Corn Snake and it is still getting used to its new tank. This should only be temporary while your snake gets used to it’s new surroundings. Give your pet snake some time and it should get more comfortable soon enough and then it will stop musking.

One reason why your Corn Snake might be musking is so that it will smell less appealing and tasty as a meal to any potential deadly predators. If a snake smells dead, the animal will probably think twice about eating it and is more likely to leave it alone. The Journal of Chemical Ecology stated that scent gland secretions from snakes inhibit predatorial instincts in animals.

Corn Snakes have been known on occasion to musk so that they can lure potential mates, so your pet Corn Snake may be musking if it wants to mate. Females use their musk to produce chemical trails that attract male snakes.

How to stop your Corn Snake from musking.

Get to know your corn snake well and avoid looking like a threat. Remember that at first your Corn Snake will not be familiar with you, so let it get used to you, slowly and gradually over time. If your snake musks, place it gently back in its cage instead of throwing it back down in disgust. Always remember to be gentle with your corn snake.

Handling Your Corn Snake

Remember that how you handle your snake is an important part of your Corn Snake getting used to you. By learning how to handle your snake correctly it will help you snake become more relaxed around you and of course less threatened. You should always hold your snake with confidence and without grabbing it. Always avoid quick, vigorous movements.

Hungry Corn Snake

Always leave a full or hungry snake alone, you should give your Corn Snake plenty of time after meals to digest it’s food. Just think of the times when you have had a big Sunday roast and don’t want to move, that is how you pet snake feels after eating a big meal all in one go. Conversely you should avoid handling when your snake it is hungry or digesting a meal. This can agitate your snake, they can get cranky when they are hungry too!

Lots of Places to Hide

Another thing that you can do is to make sure that your snake’s tank has plenty of hiding places. Including plenty of hiding places will give you Corn Snake the chance to relax while getting used to it’s new surroundings. This will ensure that your snake feels less threatened in its home environment.

Your snake will grow bigger, over time this will also help. This is because young and small snakes are more likely to musk than larger, older snakes. This may seem like it will be a long process, but just remember that your snake will grow up soon enough. As your snake starts to get more familiar with you, it will stop seeing you as a threat. With the other tips in this article your snake should stop musking soon enough.

Hopefully this has answered “Can you smell a corn snake in your house?”. If there is anything else you would like to know, then please leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.