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Description
Corn Snake (Scaleless Blood)
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 but muscular build and a smooth, scale-free body surface.
Appearance: The Scaleless Blood Corn Snake is a vibrant, solid red morph that showcases both the intense coloration of the Bloodred (Diffused) gene and the distinctive smooth texture of the Scaleless trait. This Corn Snake displays a deep crimson to brick-red coloration across a mostly patternless body. The Diffused gene removes belly checkering and softens or eliminates dorsal markings, resulting in a clean, uniform tone. The absence of scales enhances this effect, giving the snake a glass-like sheen that highlights the richness of its color. The Scaleless Blood is among the most visually striking forms of Corn Snake, with color intensity appearing almost translucent under natural light.
Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed through the combination of the Scaleless and Bloodred (Diffused) recessive genes.
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit a range of environments throughout the southeastern United States, including forests, grasslands, and agricultural zones. In captivity, this morph thrives in naturalistic terrariums featuring smooth décor, soft substrate, and secure hiding places.
Behaviour: Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active around dawn and dusk. They are hardy, adaptable, and consistent feeders, performing reliably in both display and breeding collections.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger works well for adults. Use a soft, non-abrasive substrate such as coconut fiber, soil, or sphagnum mixes to protect the snake’s smooth skin. Include cork flats, hides, and rounded climbing branches, and avoid sharp or rough décor.
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 50–65%, ensuring slightly higher humidity during shedding to support clean skin release.
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: Corn Snakes adapt well to consistent care and thrive in stable, naturalistic enclosures. Scaleless individuals may benefit from gentler environmental setups and slightly elevated humidity for skin health.
Special Considerations: The Scaleless Blood Corn Snake is highly sought after in breeding projects for its intense red coloration and clean body pattern. When paired with morphs such as Hypo, Pied, or Lava, the resulting offspring can display vivid orange-red variations with enhanced contrast and brightness.
Genetics Note
Scaleless (Recessive)
Removes external scales, resulting in a smooth, glossy surface that enhances the appearance of underlying color.
Bloodred / Diffused (Recessive)
Removes belly checkering and dorsal patterning, creating a solid red body coloration with an even tone.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Scaleless Blood Corn Snake expresses two recessive traits:
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Scaleless = Removes scales, amplifying color saturation and smooth texture
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Bloodred / Diffused = Eliminates dorsal and ventral patterning, creating solid red coloration
Together, these traits produce a uniform crimson snake with a brilliant, glass-like sheen. The Scaleless Blood Corn Snake is one of the most visually intense and refined examples of color purity in Corn Snake breeding, serving as a cornerstone morph for producing vibrant red, scale-free combinations.