Corn Snake (Coral Snow)

Corn Snake (Coral 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, well-muscled body and smooth, glossy scales.

Appearance: The Coral Snow Corn Snake is a soft, pastel-toned morph that combines Amelanistic and Anerythristicgenes with a Coral color influence, creating a beautifully blushed version of the traditional Snow Corn. This Corn Snake features a creamy white or pale pink base color with faint, rosy saddle markings that may appear light lavender or salmon under natural light. The eyes are bright red due to the Amelanistic gene, and the belly is white or lightly iridescent with faint checkering. The Coral enhancement adds warmth and peachy undertones that deepen as the snake matures, giving adults a glowing, soft pink hue that appears almost translucent in the right lighting. The overall effect is gentle, refined, and delicately colored—an ideal example of how selective breeding can transform a simple genetic combination into something extraordinary.

Distribution: A selectively bred designer morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), created by combining Amelanistic and Anerythristic lines with a polygenic Coral modifier.

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

Behaviour: Calm, inquisitive, and gentle. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. The Coral Snow Corn Snake retains the calm demeanor and strong feeding response typical of the species, making it an excellent choice for display or breeding.

---

Captive Care

Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is ideal for adults. Use a soil-based or bioactive substrate layered with leaf litter to promote burrowing and natural exploration. Include multiple hides, cork flats, climbing branches, and plant cover for enrichment and security.

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 40–60%, providing a humid hide during shedding.

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: Calm, docile, and easy to handle. Corn Snakes thrive in well-decorated naturalistic enclosures. The Coral Snow Corn Snake’s delicate coloration and gentle personality make it a particularly popular choice among keepers who appreciate subtle, elegant morphs.

Special Considerations: As an albino morph, Coral Snows can be more light-sensitive—avoid excessive direct lighting. Full-spectrum or natural daylight enhances the coral tones without washing them out.

---

Genetics Note

Amelanistic (Recessive)

Removes black and brown pigmentation, producing bright red eyes and a white to pink base coloration.

Anerythristic (Recessive)

Removes red pigmentation, leaving gray and silver tones.

Coral Influence (Polygenic Modifier)

A selectively bred enhancement that adds pink, salmon, or peach hues to the Snow combination, softening the overall color tone.

---

Genetic Combination Summary

The Coral Snow Corn Snake expresses two recessive traits and one polygenic modifier:

• Amelanistic = Removes dark pigment, producing a bright white or pink base

• Anerythristic = Removes red pigment, leaving pale gray tones

• Coral Influence = Adds warm pink or peach hues to the Snow combination

Together, these traits produce a Corn Snake with a luminous, pastel pink appearance and soft, creamy contrast. The Coral Snow Corn Snake is one of the most elegant and visually balanced albino-type morphs—admired for its refined color, calm demeanor, and exceptional appeal in both display and breeding programs.