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Description
Corn Snake (Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino)
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 body and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino Corn Snake is a visually refined and genetically diverse morph displaying a delicate mix of pastel hues and clean patterning. This Corn Snake features a pale lilac or silver-lavender base with soft beige or pinkish saddle markings outlined in creamy gray. The Hypomelanistic gene reduces black pigment, producing a brighter, smoother appearance, while the Lavender gene shifts the entire palette toward cool violet and silver tones. The result is a corn snake with a pearlescent finish, often appearing to glow softly under natural light. Though the Strawberry, Motley, and Albino (Amel) genes are not expressed visually, they add immense potential for producing vibrant offspring with rich reds, pinks, or reduced patterns when bred selectively.
Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed from combinations of Lavender, Hypomelanistic, and multiple recessive carrier lines for advanced breeding projects.
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit forests, meadows, and agricultural zones throughout the southeastern United States. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that include hiding spaces, climbing branches, and deep substrate for burrowing.
Behaviour: Calm, curious, and gentle. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. The Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino Corn Snake retains the species’ reliable temperament, making it an appealing choice for both display and breeding.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is ideal for adults. A soil-based or bioactive substrate layered with leaf litter encourages burrowing and exploration. Provide 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%, with a humid hide provided during shedding.
Diet: Feed 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, responsive, and easy to manage. Corn Snakes thrive in stable, naturalistic environments and quickly adapt to routine handling. The Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino Corn Snake combines visual beauty with genetic versatility, making it ideal for long-term projects or as a centerpiece display animal.
Special Considerations: Lighting plays a major role in bringing out the soft lavender and pink tones—use full-spectrum or natural daylight for the best effect.
Genetics Note
Lavender (Recessive)
Alters the typical red and orange pigments into soft lavender, gray, and violet hues, producing a cool, pastel appearance.
Hypomelanistic (Recessive)
Reduces black pigment, brightening and softening the overall coloration.
het. Strawberry (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the Strawberry gene, which enhances pink and red tones when expressed. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy is carried but not displayed.)
het. Motley (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the Motley gene, which removes belly checkering and smooths the dorsal pattern into connected shapes or stripes.
het. Albino / Amel (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the Amelanistic gene, which removes all dark pigmentation and produces red eyes when expressed.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino Corn Snake expresses two visible recessive traits and carries three hidden ones:
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Lavender = Produces violet-gray coloration and pastel patterning
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Hypomelanistic = Reduces black pigment, creating a bright, clean look
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het. Strawberry = Carrier for enhanced pink and red tones
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het. Motley = Carrier for pattern simplification
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het. Albino / Amel = Carrier for total pigment loss
Together, these genes produce a Corn Snake with soft lavender coloration and immense breeding potential. The Lavender Hypo het. Strawberry Motley Albino Corn Snake is a genetic powerhouse capable of producing vivid, high-contrast offspring and remains a favorite among collectors for its serene coloration and versatility in multi-gene projects.