Snakes are frequently associated with dangerous accidents and maybe even horror stories.However, they may make intriguing companion pets. The mighty ball pythons, giant kingsnakes, and adorable corn snakes are wonderful pets. The corn snake is named after the corn stables that lured mice and, behind them, mouse predators. The copperhead snake, a member of the pit viper family, is distinguished by its hourglass-shaped patterns and coppery-tan-colored heads. Now, if you’re wondering which snake would win in a fight between a corn snake and a copperhead, it’s evident that the copperhead snake would definitely defeat the corn snake. The copperhead snake is a perilous snake that bites, while corn snakes are far more docile and less aggressive than copperheads, thus the copperhead wins. So, which snake can you keep as a pet? Read on for an interesting corn snake vs. copperhead comparison.You must also read about the most venomous snake in the US and the fastest snake in the world.How do you tell the difference between a corn snake and a copperhead?Although the physical characteristics of the two breeds are plainly distinguishable, some people get them mixed up. Corn snakes have spear-shaped heads, are smaller than copperheads, and are thin throughout their bodies. Other distinctions exist in size and weight, mobility, geographical location, and breeding.You can identify a corn snake easily because corn snakes are larger than copperheads and have a wider variety of sizes. The length of a corn snake ranges from 24-70.8 in (61-180 cm), whereas the length of a copperhead snake ranges from 24-36 in (61-91 cm). Although the copperhead’s body is sturdier, the corn snake weighs significantly more. The weight of a corn snake is around 32 oz (900 g) whereas that of copperheads is around 4-12 oz (100-340 g). Young copperhead snakes have a triangular head shape and a yellow tail tip, which is quite distinct from other snake species.Corn snakes exhibit extensive variations in their appearance in terms of color variations. The bodies of the corn snakes are brown or copper-colored with reddish-brown spots, and the patches have black edges that look like a checkerboard. When it comes to a copperhead snake, the body color ranges from tan to copper, and the stripes are in the shape of an hourglass.When it comes to snake venom, both of these snakes are quite different. Corn snakes are non-venomous, while copperhead snakes are venomous snakes. However, the venom of a copperhead snake is not as potent as that of a rattlesnake and is rarely lethal to humans.The range of a copperhead snake is quite extensive as compared to the corn snake. The copperhead snake can be found throughout the eastern and central states, except in some regions in Georgia and Florida. When it comes to corn snakes, their range is concentrated in the south-eastern states of the country.Both these species differ in terms of breeding habits as well. Corn snakes are oviparous animals that lay a clutch of around 10–30 eggs around 30-45 days after the mating process has been completed. On the other hand, copperhead snakes are ovoviviparous, meaning that females give birth to 2–18 younglings after the eggs incubate inside the body of the mother.What snake looks similar to a copperhead?One of the most prevalent snakes in the United States is the copperhead, which has five different sub-species. Even with its copper color and hourglass-shaped stripes, the copperhead’s color and pattern aren’t very distinguishable, and there are a few other snakes that look similar to it. The following are the nine snakes that are frequently misidentified as copperheads and can be targeted by humans out of fear of being bitten by their fangs. Corn Snake: These snakes occur in a variety of colors, notably rust-colored orange and reddish-brown, and frequently resemble copperheads if seen from afar.The Common Watersnake: Water snakes like to live in water, but copperheads do not. The crossbands of a copperhead are broad in the center and thin at the margins, whereas the crossbands of a water snake are wide in the center and thin at the margins.Eastern Hognose Snake: These docile snakes can be found in the same areas as copperheads, that is, in the eastern United States. Eastern hognose snakes have a similar hue, banded patterning, and habitat range, making it even more challenging to distinguish between the two species.Eastern Milk Snake: You’ll observe that, unlike the copperhead, the milk snake’s color is more vibrant, despite having a fairly regular saddleback pattern.Black Racer Snake: Only young black racer snakes are mistaken for copperheads because of their reddish-brown cross band patterns at birth, which at first glance resemble those of a copperhead.Mole Kingsnake: Their coloration is more of a reddish-brown than a rusty brown, distinguishing them from copperheads.Diamondback Water Snake: The only thing the two species have in common is their reticulated patterning.Black Rat Snake: After birth, black rat snakes generally have a characteristic pattern of brown or gray blotches, which may be confused with a copperhead.Banded Water Snake: The coloring of the banded water snake resembles that of a copperhead as both have red, brownish, and orange tones.Ways To Identify The CopperheadCopperhead snakes may be distinguished by their head and body shapes, as well as their coloration and pupil shape.Adult copperheads have sturdy bodies and large, flat heads with a slanted snout that blends in with the rest of their skulls. The pupils of copperheads are slits. Between their eyes and nose, copperheads have a pair of pits. The copperhead is a large venomous snake with a sturdy body, while most snakes have thinner, nimbler bodies.A copperhead’s body coloration has two distinct features that distinguish it from other snakes. These are the copperhead’s true colors and scale pattern. The copperhead’s hue ranges from tan to brown, with a few strokes of green thrown in for good measure. Copperhead snakes have a pattern on their skin that looks like stripes of hourglasses.Do corn snakes mimic copperheads? Why?Corn snakes definitely mimic copperheads, especially in their coloration. Corn snakes appear in a variety of colors, notably rust-colored orange and reddish-brown, and are frequently mistaken for copperheads if seen from afar.However, corn snakes are more colorful than copperheads. They come in a variety of colors but are often redder in shade. Corn snakes have most of their thick “blotch” patterns on the tops (or rears) of their bodies, whereas copperheads have most of their hourglass-shaped patterns on the sides of their bodies.How dangerous are copperheads and corn snakes?The main difference between corn snakes and copperheads is that copperheads are poisonous, but corn snakes are not. A venomous snake, the copperhead, bites when it gets triggered. Corn snakes are not poisonous, and while they are larger than copperheads, they are far gentler and less aggressive.Even though a copperhead’s bite only contains a small quantity of poison, the region around the bite will become painful and the bite will need medical attention. Copperhead bites are fatal only to children, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems. Adult corn snakes, on the other hand, are quite calm. Even if they are injured or terrified, they constrict their prey and seldom bite. Both snakes swallow their prey completely since they cannot chew and must unhinge their jaws to do that.Why is the difference between corn snakes and copperheads important?A corn snake’s coloration and pattern vary depending on its age and where it lives. Corn snakes occur in a wide range of hues, markings, and complicated mutations since they are also bred for the pet trade.Corn snakes resemble copperheads in their coloration and that’s why corn snakes are sometimes mistaken for copperheads and killed unnecessarily since copperheads are venomous and a bit more dangerous in nature. It is important to understand the difference between the two so as to avoid the killing of non-venomous corn snakes unnecessarily. Which snake is right for you?Due to their aggressive nature, copperheads are not a good choice for beginners. Corn snakes, on the other hand, are a great pet for anyone who enjoys snakes. They are a fantastic choice for starters because of their gentle and peaceful demeanor. Furthermore, their food makes them the ideal snake pet for everybody.In any case, both snakes would make great pets. Corn snakes are commonly docile, fairly easy to care for, and do not grow very large. They are an excellent choice, particularly for beginner snake owners. Since copperheads have a venomous bite and can strike when disturbed, they make wonderful pets for those with relevant experience. They are comparatively easy to care for in captivity.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for corn snake vs copperhead then why not take a look at gopher snake vs rattlesnake, or corn snake facts.
Snakes are frequently associated with dangerous accidents and maybe even horror stories.
