Photo Disclaimer
Description
Corn Snake (Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery)
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, muscular build and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery Corn Snake combines the iconic, high-contrast patterning of the Okeetee line with the hidden potential of two visually transformative recessive traits. This Corn Snake displays deep orange to red dorsal saddles outlined by thick, jet-black borders over a golden-orange or copper background. The Okeetee lineage is known for its strong contrast and defined markings, producing snakes that are both vivid and sharply patterned. Though the Scaleless and Anerythristic genes are not visually expressed, they add immense breeding potential—Scaleless producing a smooth, glass-like appearance when visual, and Anery removing red pigment to create grayscale offspring. Together, these influences make this morph both visually classic and genetically versatile, ideal for projects that blend traditional and modern aesthetics.
Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), derived from the Okeetee lineage and carrying recessive traits for Scaleless and Anerythristic.
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit forest edges, meadows, and agricultural zones across the southeastern United States, with Okeetee-lineage specimens originally stemming from South Carolina. In captivity, they thrive in naturalistic terrariums with climbing structures, ground cover, and secure hiding areas.
Behaviour: Calm, curious, and alert. Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk. The Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery Corn Snake retains the species’ gentle temperament and reliable feeding response, making it an excellent choice for keepers seeking a classic look with strong genetic depth.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger suits adults well. 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 visual security.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime gradient of 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a basking area of 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 roughly 1.25× the width of the snake’s mid-body.
Behaviour in Captivity: Calm, confident, and responsive. Corn Snakes adapt well to handling and thrive in consistent, naturalistic enclosures. The Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery Corn Snake’s bold coloration, gentle disposition, and valuable genetics make it an appealing addition to any collection.
Special Considerations: When bred to compatible partners, this morph can produce Scaleless Okeetees or Anery Okeetees—two visually distinct and highly sought-after forms.
Genetics Note
Okeetee Line (Selective Line Trait)
A selectively bred locality-derived line emphasizing vibrant orange and red coloration with thick black saddle borders and sharp contrast. This is a polygenic trait rather than a single-gene mutation.
het. Scaleless (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the Scaleless gene, which removes external scales when visual, producing a smooth, glass-like surface. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy is carried but not displayed.)
het. Anerythristic (Recessive Carrier)
Carries one copy of the Anerythristic gene, which removes red pigment and produces grayscale coloration when expressed.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery Corn Snake expresses one polygenic visual trait and carries two recessive genes:
-
Okeetee Line = Produces vivid orange-red coloration with bold black borders
-
het. Scaleless = Carrier for scale-removal mutation
-
het. Anerythristic = Carrier for red pigment reduction
Together, these traits create a Corn Snake that captures the beauty of classic Okeetee contrast while holding the genetic potential for smooth-scaled or grayscale offspring. The Okeetee het. Scaleless Anery Corn Snake represents a perfect balance of heritage lineage and modern genetics—timeless in appearance, yet full of future possibilities.