Corn Snake (Anery het. Palmetto)

Corn Snake (Anery het. Palmetto)

Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus
Common Name: Corn Snake

Species Overview

Size: Adults typically reach 3–5 feet (0.9–1.5 m) in length, with a slender build and smooth, glossy scales.

Appearance: The Anery het. Palmetto Corn Snake combines the cool, grayscale beauty of the Anerythristic morph with the genetic potential of the Palmetto gene. Visually, this morph displays silvery-gray coloration with deep charcoal blotches outlined in black and a clean white-to-gray belly pattern. The eyes are dark and expressive, adding to its striking, understated look. Although the Palmetto trait is not visible here (as it is carried heterozygously), it provides the potential to produce visually dramatic, speckled white Palmetto offspring in future breeding projects.

Distribution: A captive-bred combination of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), which is native to the southeastern United States.

Habitat: In the wild, Corn Snakes inhabit mixed woodlands, pine forests, grasslands, and farmlands. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic enclosures that mimic forest floor conditions with secure hides, climbing structure, and ground cover.

Behaviour: Calm, inquisitive, and highly manageable. Corn Snakes are primarily crepuscular, showing the most activity at dawn and dusk. Their steady temperament and strong feeding response make them one of the most dependable species in herpetoculture.

Captive Care

Enclosure: Adults thrive in a naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger. A bioactive or soil-based substrate layered with leaf litter allows for burrowing and exploration. Provide multiple hides, cork bark, branches, and foliage for environmental enrichment.

Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a temperature gradient of 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a basking area around 86–88°F (30–31°C). Nighttime drops to 70°F (21°C) are beneficial. Keep humidity between 40–60%, with a lightly moistened hide during shedding periods.

Diet: Offer frozen-thawed rodents every 7–10 days for juveniles and every 10–14 days for adults. Prey size should be about 1.25× the width of the snake’s mid-body.

Behaviour in Captivity: Easy to handle and quick to adapt. Anery Corn Snakes tend to be calm and confident once accustomed to handling, making them excellent for both beginner and experienced keepers.

Special Considerations: Ensure the enclosure is secure — Corn Snakes are agile and persistent escape artists. Naturalistic environments not only enhance coloration but also promote natural exploratory behavior and physical health.

Genetics Note

Anerythristic (Recessive)

Removes all red and orange pigmentation, producing a grayscale appearance of black, white, and gray tones. The name derives from “anerythros,” meaning “without red.” This morph’s reduced color palette highlights natural patterning and contrast, often increasing in depth as the snake matures.

het. Palmetto (Recessive Carrier)

Carries one copy of the Palmetto gene, a recessive trait that creates nearly white snakes covered in random colored speckles when visual. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning the snake carries one copy of the gene but does not visually express it.) When bred to another Palmetto or het. Palmetto, approximately 25% of offspring may display the full Palmetto pattern.

Genetic Combination Summary

The Anery het. Palmetto combines one visible and one hidden recessive trait:

• Anerythristic = Removes red pigmentation, producing a grayscale coloration

• het. Palmetto = Heterozygous carrier of the Palmetto gene

Visually, this morph presents as a classic Anery Corn Snake but carries the potential to produce striking Anery Palmetto or Palmetto offspring when bred with compatible partners.