Photo Disclaimer
Description
Corn Snake (Scaleless Okeetee)
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 strong, streamlined body and a smooth, scale-free surface.
Appearance: The Scaleless Okeetee Corn Snake combines the vivid, high-contrast patterning of the Okeetee lineage with the sleek, reflective texture of the Scaleless gene. This Corn Snake displays rich red to orange saddles bordered by thick, jet-black outlines over a bright copper or golden-orange background. The absence of scales amplifies color vibrancy and clarity, giving the pattern a painted, almost liquid appearance. The Okeetee lineage enhances border thickness and contrast, resulting in exceptionally bold and visually defined markings. Each individual varies in saturation, but all share the signature Okeetee look—made even more dramatic by the smooth, glassy texture of the Scaleless trait.
Distribution: A selectively bred morph of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), developed through the combination of the Scaleless recessive gene with Okeetee line breeding.
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes are native to the southeastern United States, inhabiting open forests, farmlands, and grasslands. In captivity, Scaleless Okeetees thrive in naturalistic enclosures featuring smooth climbing structures, soft substrate, and secure hides to protect their skin.
Behaviour: Corn Snakes are crepuscular, most active during dawn and dusk. They are hardy, adaptable, and excellent feeders, thriving equally well as display animals or breeding stock.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A naturalistic 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is ideal for adults. Use a soft, non-abrasive substrate such as soil or coconut fiber blends, and include cork flats, rounded branches, and plant cover for enrichment. Avoid sharp décor to protect the smooth skin.
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 50–65%, providing a humid hide 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 are consistent feeders and thrive in stable, naturalistic environments. Scaleless individuals benefit from softer furnishings and slightly higher humidity for ideal skin maintenance and shed quality.
Special Considerations: The Scaleless Okeetee Corn Snake is a cornerstone in advanced breeding projects, often used to produce High-Contrast Scaleless Okeetee or Reverse Scaleless Okeetee lines. Its clean borders and intense coloration make it one of the most striking expressions of the Scaleless trait.
Genetics Note
Scaleless (Recessive)
Removes external scales, resulting in a smooth, reflective surface that enhances underlying color saturation and clarity.
Okeetee Line (Selective Line Trait)
A selectively bred lineage emphasizing deep orange and red coloration with thick, dark saddle borders. This is a polygenic trait, refined through selective breeding rather than a single gene.
Genetic Combination Summary
The Scaleless Okeetee Corn Snake expresses one recessive and one polygenic trait:
-
Scaleless = Removes scales, producing a glassy, reflective skin surface
-
Okeetee Line = Enhances color saturation and border contrast
Together, these traits produce a bright, high-contrast Corn Snake with bold, painted markings and unmatched vibrancy. The Scaleless Okeetee Corn Snake is a premier display morph and an excellent foundation for breeding projects aimed at amplifying color contrast, brightness, or creating Reverse Scaleless Okeetee offspring.