Corn Snake (Coral Ghost)

Corn Snake (Coral Ghost)

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 lean, well-proportioned body and smooth, glossy scales.

Appearance: The Coral Ghost Corn Snake is a soft, pastel-toned morph known for its warm gray and pink hues, resulting from the combination of the Hypomelanistic and Anerythristic (Ghost) genes with an additional color modifier that enhances coral undertones. This Corn Snake displays a silvery-gray to beige base color with gentle, rose or peach-tinted saddle markings that grow more prominent with maturity. The eyes are ruby to bronze in tone, complementing the subtle warmth of the body. The overall appearance is velvety and refined—cool yet blushed—making it one of the most visually balanced and delicately colored morphs in the species. The Coral Ghost often appears to glow softly under natural lighting, giving it an ethereal quality that sets it apart from both standard Ghost and Hypo forms.

Distribution: A selectively bred combination morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), refined through the pairing of Ghost and color-enhancing lines to produce distinct coral or rose overtones.

Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit pine forests, meadows, and agricultural zones across the southeastern United States. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that provide both ground-level hiding areas and vertical enrichment.

Behaviour: Calm, gentle, and inquisitive. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. The Coral Ghost Corn Snake retains the species’ stable temperament and feeding reliability, making it an ideal choice for keepers seeking both visual appeal and ease of care.

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Captive Care

Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger works well for adults. Use a soil-based or bioactive substrate layered with leaf litter to encourage burrowing and natural activity. Include multiple hides, cork flats, climbing branches, and plant cover to create a secure and enriching habitat.

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). Keep 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, tolerant, and easy to handle. Corn Snakes adapt well to handling and routine care. The Coral Ghost Corn Snake’s subtle coloration and gentle contrast make it an exceptional display species, especially in natural or planted terrariums.

Special Considerations: The Coral Ghost’s pastel coloration can appear different under varying light conditions; full-spectrum or natural daylight lighting best enhances its soft pink and gray tones.

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Genetics Note

Hypomelanistic (Recessive)

Reduces black pigment, resulting in softer contrast and enhanced brightness in red, orange, and pink tones.

Anerythristic (Recessive)

Removes red pigment, leaving gray, black, and silver coloration.

Coral Enhancement (Polygenic Modifier)

A line-bred color influence that adds soft coral or pink hues to the Ghost combination, producing a warmer, pastel appearance.

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Genetic Combination Summary

The Coral Ghost Corn Snake expresses two recessive traits and one line-bred modifier:

• Hypomelanistic = Reduces black pigment and enhances overall brightness

• Anerythristic = Removes red pigment, leaving gray base tones

• Coral Influence = Enhances pink or peach undertones through selective breeding

Together, these traits create a Corn Snake with balanced, silvery-gray coloration highlighted by delicate pink accents. The Coral Ghost Corn Snake is a refined and elegant morph prized for its subtle warmth, gentle contrast, and versatility in breeding—capable of producing stunning offspring in combinations such as Coral Snow, Coral Tessera, or Coral Ghost Stripe.