Photo Disclaimer
Description
Corn Snake (Caramel)
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 lean, agile build and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Caramel Corn Snake is a beautifully understated morph known for its warm golden and bronze coloration. This Corn Snake displays a yellow to amber base tone overlaid with soft brown or tan dorsal blotches, often bordered in olive or gray. The red pigments typical of wild-type Corn Snakes are replaced by rich yellows and muted browns, creating a subtle, natural appearance reminiscent of autumn tones. The belly is pale cream or light yellow with faint checkering, and the eyes are bronze to amber in color. As the snake matures, the colors often deepen, developing a smooth golden sheen. The Caramel Corn Snake embodies elegance through simplicity—warm, earthy, and timeless.
Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed to enhance and stabilize yellow and brown pigmentation through the Caramel gene.
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit forests, meadows, and agricultural areas across the southeastern United States. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that provide climbing space, ground cover, and secure hiding areas.
Behaviour: Calm, intelligent, and curious. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. The Caramel Corn Snake is docile, easy to handle, and a steady feeder—qualities that make it a consistent favorite among hobbyists.
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 encourage burrowing and exploration. Include multiple hides, cork flats, climbing branches, and live or artificial plant cover for enrichment and visual 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%, offering 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 approximately 1.25× the width of the snake’s mid-body.
Behaviour in Captivity: Calm, steady, and tolerant of regular handling. Corn Snakes thrive in naturalistic environments that promote climbing, burrowing, and exploration. The Caramel Corn Snake’s earthy tones and relaxed nature make it ideal for display enclosures and breeding projects alike.
Special Considerations: Provide shaded areas to enhance color contrast and reduce light sensitivity. Caramel Corn Snakes tend to show their best color intensity under moderate, natural-spectrum lighting.
Genetics Note
Caramel (Recessive)
Removes red pigmentation while enriching yellow and brown hues. The result is a golden, amber, or bronze-toned snake with a natural, earthy appearance. The gene is often used as a foundation for other morphs such as Butter(Caramel + Amel) and Caramel Motley.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Caramel Corn Snake expresses a single visible recessive trait:
-
Caramel = Removes red pigment and enhances golden and brown coloration
This gene creates a warm, gold-based Corn Snake with soft brown patterning and a balanced, natural look. The Caramel Corn Snake is admired for its subtle beauty, genetic versatility, and role as a cornerstone in producing color-enhancing combinations like Butter, Caramel Stripe, and Caramel Tessera.