Corn Snake (Miami Motley)

Corn Snake (Miami Motley)

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, athletic body and smooth, glossy scales.

Appearance: The Miami Motley Corn Snake is a sleek, high-contrast morph that combines the cool-toned, classic coloration of the Miami line with the clean, pattern-simplifying influence of the Motley gene. This Corn Snake features a silver-gray to light tan base color accented by rich orange to brick-red saddle markings that often appear metallic or coppery in tone. The Motley gene organizes these saddles into connected or elongated shapes and removes the typical belly checkering, creating a refined, polished appearance. The overall look is clean and elegant, showcasing the vibrant reds of the Miami line against a smooth, silvery backdrop. The eyes are typically reddish or amber, complementing the snake’s warm highlights. This morph’s balanced color and sharp contrast make it one of the most eye-catching pattern combinations in Corn Snake breeding.

Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed by combining Miami phase color lineage with the Motley pattern mutation.

Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit pine forests, grasslands, and agricultural areas across the southeastern United States. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums that provide hiding areas, climbing structures, and soft substrate for burrowing.

Behaviour: Calm, alert, and intelligent. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. The Miami Motley Corn Snake maintains the species’ gentle nature and consistent feeding habits, making it a reliable and striking choice for keepers of all experience levels.

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 natural behaviors such as burrowing and scent 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). Keep humidity between 40–60%, with a humid hide available 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, responsive, and easy to manage. Corn Snakes thrive in structured naturalistic environments. The Miami Motley Corn Snake’s combination of bright orange saddles and silvery-gray body makes it a standout display animal for collectors seeking sharp contrast and refinement.

Special Considerations: Miami-phase Corn Snakes often show their best color on cooler backgrounds—natural or neutral substrate and moderate lighting enhance their signature silver-and-orange tones.

Genetics Note

Miami Line (Selective Line Trait)

A selectively bred regional color form emphasizing cool gray background tones and bright red-orange saddles. This trait is polygenic, not a single gene mutation.

Motley (Recessive)

Removes belly checkering and connects dorsal blotches into smooth, linked shapes or stripes, creating a sleek, clean pattern.

Genetic Combination Summary

The Miami Motley Corn Snake expresses one visible recessive trait and one line-bred color influence:

• Miami Line = Produces silver-gray background with rich orange-red saddles

• Motley = Removes belly checkering and reorganizes dorsal pattern into connected shapes

Together, these traits create a Corn Snake with a smooth, high-contrast appearance and refined patterning. The Miami Motley Corn Snake is admired for its crisp, modern look—an elegant balance of color and simplicity that embodies the sophistication of advanced Corn Snake breeding.