Do Corn Snakes Live Longer Wild?

[Pet Corn Snake]

Hey guys, this is a very General thread witch "knowing all of the active members will tern into a debate" lol but thats good : )


anyways whats your thoughts on Corn snakes, do you think they live longer home kept or in the wild, here are some points to argue against and for..

1) A corn snake kept at home is free from ALL pray coming to eat it!
2) When a snake has mites, we buy a cure, in the wild, there is no such thing.


1) when a snake is wild, its got alot more space to grow and will live a more active life.
2) when in the wild the snake is under no stress at all, it can go were it wants and do what it wants..


if you dont agree with any of my points please tell me in pm..

 

[Tula_Montage]

1) A corn snake kept at home is free from ALL pray coming to eat it!
2) When a snake has mites, we buy a cure, in the wild, there is no such thing.


3) when a snake is wild, its got alot more space to grow and will live a more active life.
4) when in the wild the snake is under no stress at all, it can go were it wants and do what it wants..

1) This is NOT true due to the negligence of some owners who insist on feeding live prey
2) Mites are curable, but they wouldn't kill a corn in the wild. Corns cannot escape mites in a captive environment, and if let untreated could indeed kill a corn.
3) Enclosure space is not a growth stimulant. Nutrition and diet determin the grown rate. If a wild corn can't find food, it will not grow and will surly die. The same as if a captive corn isn't fed enough, it will grown at a much slower pace. As for activity levels, corn will only use their energy in the wild for the necessary things ie food, water, breeding. Corns in captivity are often quite active.
4) Already mentioned.

In my humble opinion corns will live longer captive lives IF the owners have a grasp of basic husbandry and give them what they need. I see it all too often "my baby won't eat, My corn escaped, My mouse ate my corn, My cat killed the corn, My corn has burned itsself to death with an uncontrolled heat source" etc etc.

A wild corn has to rely on its natural environment to thermoregulate, eat, breed, hide, drink etc. Nature is cruel... A bad winter could wipe out many corns. A great clutch of 20 eggs could all hatch, yet I doubt more than one or two babies will make it to adult size. No body can control these elements...

The is a subtle balance to everything. I'm sure there are 15 year old corns roaming about in the wild... Just like there are people with old corns in their collections.

 

[Roy Munson]

I don't think you'll find much debate on this topic. The average lifespan of captive corns is MUCH longer than that of wild corns.

A corn snake kept at home is free from ALL pray coming to eat it!

I'm sure you mean predators, not prey. In fact, it is only in captivity that a corn's prey actually may eat it (e.g. unsupervised feeding of a live rat).

 

[Nanci]

:-offtopic Average lifespan of feral pigeon: two years. Possible, even likely lifespan of pet pigeon/decommisioned military pigeon/pampered retired racer: 20-some years.

I think animals tend to live longer in captivity if they are a species that has fairly well-known husbandry requirements and stays free of negligence and accidents.

Although a captive animal is safe from natural predators, climate extremes and unreliable food supply, these are all dangers in captivity when kept by an inexperienced or innattentive owner.

Nanci

 

[Pet Corn Snake]

Thanks guys, this has helped me alot, i'm Really interested in both wild and pet corns, me, personally, i think if i was a corn id much rather be safe and cared for in a home viv then out in the wild not knowing if the next slither was one too many..