Corn Snake (Blood Albino Piedside)

Corn Snake (Blood Albino Piedside)

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 thick, muscular body and smooth, glossy scales.

Appearance: The Blood Albino Piedside Corn Snake combines three distinct recessive traits to create one of the most visually vibrant and unique morphs in the species. This Corn Snake exhibits the solid, patternless red tones of the Bloodred (Diffused) gene, brightened by the Amelanistic (Albino) gene, and broken up by the striking lateral white patches of the Piedside gene. The result is a smooth-bodied snake of glowing scarlet to cherry-red coloration with pure white blotches that run irregularly along the flanks, sometimes creeping upward toward the dorsum. The belly is uncheckered and creamy white, and the eyes are vivid ruby red—a hallmark of amelanism. Each individual is unique, with varying amounts of white and red blending, making no two Blood Albino Piedsides exactly alike.

Distribution: A captive-bred designer morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed through selective pairing of Bloodred (Diffused), Amelanistic, and Piedside lines.

Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit mixed forests, grasslands, and farmland across the southeastern United States. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums with climbing structures, hides, and loose substrate for burrowing.

Behaviour: Calm, intelligent, and easy to manage. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. The Blood Albino Piedside Corn Snake retains the docile, inquisitive nature characteristic of the species, making it an ideal choice for display or breeding.

Captive Care

Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger works well for adults. A soil-based or bioactive substrate layered with leaf litter encourages burrowing and scent-tracking. Provide multiple hides, cork flats, climbing branches, and plant cover for enrichment and security.

Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime temperature gradient of 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a basking area around 86–88°F (30–31°C). Allow nighttime drops to 70°F (21°C). Keep humidity between 40–60%, offering a humid hide during shedding.

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

Behaviour in Captivity: Calm, confident, and easy to handle. Corn Snakes adjust well to regular care and thrive in naturalistic setups that allow for climbing and exploration. The Blood Albino Piedside’s vivid coloration and clean patterning make it one of the most visually stunning display morphs available.

Special Considerations: Albino morphs may be more light-sensitive—ensure shaded areas are available in the enclosure. Naturalistic environments improve color vibrancy and overall wellbeing.

Genetics Note

Bloodred (Diffused – Recessive)

Removes belly checkering and dorsal patterning, creating a smooth, patternless appearance and enhancing deep red pigmentation.

Amelanistic (Recessive)

Removes all black and brown pigments, allowing red, orange, and yellow tones to dominate, resulting in bright, saturated coloration and red eyes.

Piedside (Recessive)

Produces irregular white or unpigmented patches along the flanks, often extending upward onto the body. Each individual’s patterning is unique.

Genetic Combination Summary

The Blood Albino Piedside Corn Snake expresses three recessive traits:

• Bloodred (Diffused) = Creates a smooth, patternless red base color

• Amelanistic = Removes black pigment, intensifying red and orange hues

• Piedside = Adds random white or unpigmented patches along the body sides

Together, these genes produce a stunning Corn Snake with rich red coloration, crisp white lateral markings, and no dorsal patterning. The Blood Albino Piedside Corn Snake is an exceptional example of modern Corn Snake breeding—elegant, vibrant, and genetically complex—making it a prized display and breeding specimen.