Corn Snake (Snow het. Palmetto) Sub-Adult

Corn Snake (Snow het. Palmetto)

Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus
Common Name: Corn Snake

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Species Overview

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

Appearance: The Snow het. Palmetto Corn Snake is a soft, frosted morph displaying delicate pastel tones and striking breeding potential. This Corn Snake combines the Amelanistic (Albino) and Anerythristic recessive genes, producing a pale white to light pink body often accented by subtle lavender or silvery-gray markings. The eyes are ruby red, characteristic of amelanistic snakes, providing a warm contrast against the cool body tones. While the Palmetto gene is not visually expressed in this heterozygous form, it carries the potential to produce the highly distinctive Palmettopattern—white snakes with scattered colored flecks—when paired with another carrier or visual Palmetto. The overall appearance of the Snow het. Palmetto is clean, soft, and ethereal, making it a favorite among pastel enthusiasts and breeders alike.

Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), produced through the combination of Amelanistic and Anerythristic recessive traits while carrying one copy of the Palmetto (recessive) gene.

Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit forests, fields, and farmlands across the southeastern United States. In captivity, this morph thrives in naturalistic terrariums with ample hiding areas, climbing branches, and soft substrate for burrowing.

Behaviour: Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. They are hardy, adaptable, and consistent feeders, making them excellent for both display and breeding collections.

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Captive Care

Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is ideal for adults. Use a soft substrate such as soil, coconut fiber, or a bioactive mix. Provide multiple hides, smooth climbing structures, and gentle décor to encourage natural activity.

Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime 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). Maintain humidity between 45–60%, and provide a humid hide during shedding for best results.

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

Behaviour in Captivity: Corn Snakes thrive with consistent care, stable temperatures, and well-structured enclosures. They are active, exploratory snakes that benefit from naturalistic setups and varied terrain.

Special Considerations: The Snow het. Palmetto Corn Snake carries strong breeding value, particularly for producing Snow Palmetto offspring—an exceptionally rare and beautiful combination featuring white scales with scattered pink, silver, or tan flecking. It also serves as a foundation for pastel and pattern-reducing projects due to its light coloration and genetic versatility.

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Genetics Note

Amelanistic (Recessive)

Removes black pigment, producing red, orange, and white coloration with red eyes.

Anerythristic (Recessive)

Removes red pigment, producing grayscale coloration when expressed alone but creating the pale Snow morph when combined with Amelanistic.

het. Palmetto (Recessive Carrier)

Carries one copy of the Palmetto gene, which produces white snakes with scattered colored flecking when visual. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy is carried but not displayed.)

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Genetic Combination Summary

The Snow het. Palmetto Corn Snake expresses two recessive traits and carries a third:

• Amelanistic = Removes black pigment, producing white and pink tones

• Anerythristic = Removes red pigment, contributing to the frosty appearance of Snows

• het. Palmetto = Carrier for the Palmetto gene, which can produce a speckled white pattern when visual

Together, these genetics create a pale, pastel-toned Corn Snake with gentle hues and exceptional breeding potential. The Snow het. Palmetto Corn Snake is a refined example of color balance and genetic depth—equally appealing as a display animal or a valuable component in future Palmetto and light morph projects.