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Description
Corn Snake (Tessera Charcoal het. Fire)
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, agile build and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Tessera Charcoal het. Fire Corn Snake is a sleek, cool-toned morph that combines the refined striping of Tessera with the smoky silver palette of Charcoal. The Charcoal gene removes both red and much of the yellow pigmentation, leaving behind a balanced mix of soft greys, silvers, and muted whites. The Tessera pattern adds structure through a sharp, continuous dorsal stripe and evenly organized side markings, emphasizing the morph’s metallic sheen and linear symmetry. Though the Fire gene is not visually expressed in this heterozygous form, it carries the potential for offspring with warmer highlights and subtle depth when bred with compatible partners. The result is a visually clean, silvery-grey Corn Snake with understated elegance and strong breeding potential.
Distribution: A selectively bred form of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), produced through the combination of Tessera (dominant), Charcoal (recessive), and one copy of Fire (recessive carrier).
Habitat: Wild Corn Snakes inhabit a range of habitats across the southeastern United States, including forests, fields, and agricultural areas. In captivity, this morph thrives in naturalistic terrariums with soft substrate, climbing branches, and secure hiding areas.
Behaviour: Corn Snakes are crepuscular, active during dawn and dusk. They are hardy, consistent feeders that adjust easily to stable captive conditions, making them dependable and rewarding snakes to keep.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is ideal for adults. Use a soft, moisture-retentive substrate such as soil, coconut fibre, or a bioactive mix. Provide multiple hides, cork flats, and climbing branches to encourage exploration and security.
Temperature & Humidity: Maintain a daytime gradient of 75–82°F (24–28°C) with a basking area near 86–88°F (30–31°C). Allow nighttime temperatures to drop to 70°F (21°C). Keep humidity between 45–60%, and provide a humid hide or moss area during shedding cycles.
Diet: Offer frozen-thawed rodents approximately 1.25× the width of the snake’s mid-body. Feed juveniles every 7–10 days and adults every 10–14 days.
Behaviour in Captivity: Corn Snakes are calm, curious, and easy to maintain. They thrive with consistent handling, stable environmental conditions, and structured feeding routines.
Special Considerations: The Tessera Charcoal het. Fire Corn Snake is both visually sophisticated and genetically versatile. When paired with other Fire carriers or visual morphs, it can produce Tessera Fire Charcoal or Blizzard-based combinations with enhanced warmth and depth. This morph serves as a strong foundation for advanced silver or ghost-line breeding projects.
Genetics Note
Tessera (Dominant): Produces a crisp, continuous dorsal stripe and symmetrical side markings.
Charcoal (Recessive): Removes red and yellow pigmentation, creating silver, grey, and white colouration.
het. Fire (Recessive Carrier): Carries one copy of the Fire gene, which lightens tones and enriches red or orange hues when visual. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy is carried but not expressed.)
Genetic Combination Summary
The Tessera Charcoal het. Fire Corn Snake expresses two visible traits and carries a third:
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Tessera (Dominant): Creates organized dorsal and side striping, emphasizing balance and symmetry.
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Charcoal (Recessive): Produces a soft, silvery-grey appearance with minimal pigmentation.
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het. Fire (Recessive Carrier): Provides potential for enhanced colour warmth in offspring when paired with compatible mates.
Together, these genetics create a refined, monochromatic Corn Snake with smooth striping and cool, smoky tones. The Tessera Charcoal het. Fire Corn Snake is both visually polished and genetically diverse—an ideal choice for breeders developing ghost, silver, or fire-enhanced project lines.