Photo Disclaimer
Description
Corn Snake (Anery Tessera het. Salmon Snow)
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, athletic build and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Anery Tessera het. Salmon Snow is a cool-toned and refined morph that combines the grayscale contrast of Anerythristic coloration with the precise, linear patterning of the Tessera gene. This morph features silvery-gray to charcoal body coloration accented by a crisp dorsal stripe bordered with symmetrical side markings. The red and orange pigments are completely removed, resulting in a sleek silver appearance. Although visually appearing as an Anery Tessera, this snake also carries the recessive genes necessary to produce Salmon Snow offspring when paired with compatible mates—allowing for a visually subtle yet genetically valuable animal.
Distribution: A captive-bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), which is native to the southeastern United States.
Habitat: In the wild, Corn Snakes inhabit mixed forests, open grasslands, and farmlands. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic enclosures with abundant cover, climbing structures, and burrowing substrate.
Behaviour: Calm, inquisitive, and highly adaptable. Like all Corn Snakes, this morph is crepuscular, showing peak activity at dawn and dusk. They are steady feeders and gentle, making them ideal for both beginner and advanced keepers.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger suits adults well. Use a soil-based or bioactive substrate with leaf litter to allow for natural behaviors such as burrowing and exploring. Include multiple hides, cork flats, branches, and plants for cover and enrichment.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime 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. Humidity should remain between 40–60%, with a humid hide provided during shedding.
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: Calm, curious, and responsive to handling. The combination of an alert yet relaxed disposition makes this morph particularly engaging and rewarding to keep.
Special Considerations: Corn Snakes are skilled escape artists—secure all enclosure access points. Naturalistic setups help reduce stress and encourage natural activity.
Genetics Note
Anerythristic (Recessive)
Removes red and orange pigmentation, producing grayscale tones of black, silver, and white. This gene creates a cool, high-contrast appearance that forms the visual base of this morph.
Tessera (Dominant)
A dominant pattern gene that produces a clean dorsal stripe running the length of the body, with precise and symmetrical side markings. The Tessera trait enhances contrast and gives the snake a refined, linear pattern. Only one copy is needed for visual expression.
het. Salmon Snow (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the combined Amelanistic and Salmon genes that together form the Salmon Snow morph—a pastel, pink-toned variation of the traditional Snow (Amel + Anery). (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning the snake carries one copy of each gene but does not visually express them.) When bred with another carrier or visual Salmon Snow, approximately 25% of offspring may display the full Salmon Snow phenotype, showing delicate pinks, creams, and silvers.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Anery Tessera het. Salmon Snow combines one visible dominant trait, one visible recessive trait, and two hidden recessive carriers:
-
Anerythristic = Removes red/orange pigment (grayscale appearance)
-
Tessera = Dominant stripe pattern gene
-
het. Amel + het. Salmon = Heterozygous carriers of the genes that together create Salmon Snow
Visually, this morph presents as a clean, silver-striped Anery Tessera but carries the potential to produce pastel-toned Salmon Snow Tessera offspring through selective breeding.