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Description
Corn Snake (Ultramel het. Charcoal)
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 body and smooth, glossy scales.
Appearance: The Ultramel het. Charcoal Corn Snake is a visually balanced morph that blends the warm, coppery tones of Ultramel with the genetic potential of the Charcoal trait. The Ultramel gene, a codominant blend of Amel and Hypo, removes black pigment while retaining partial melanin expression, creating a radiant orange, amber, and bronze colour palette with subtle grey accents. This produces a smooth gradient of warm tones with excellent contrast and clarity. Although the Charcoal gene is not visible in this heterozygous form, it carries the potential to produce cooler-toned offspring—such as Ultramel Charcoal or Pewter Ultramel—when paired with compatible partners. The result is a vibrant, copper-infused Corn Snake with high breeding value and visual appeal.
Distribution: A selectively bred form of the Corn Snake (P. guttatus), combining Ultramel (codominant Amel + Hypo) with one copy of Charcoal (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 and adjust easily to stable care routines, making them ideal for both display and breeding collections.
Captive Care
Enclosure: A 40-gallon terrarium (36” × 18” × 18”) or larger is suitable for adults. Use soft, moisture-retentive substrate such as soil, coconut fibre, or bioactive blends. Provide multiple hides, cork flats, and climbing décor 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 drops to 70°F (21°C). Keep humidity between 45–60%, and provide a humid hide or moss pocket during shedding.
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, inquisitive, and thrive under consistent care. They tolerate regular handling well and adapt easily to stable environmental conditions.
Special Considerations: The Ultramel het. Charcoal Corn Snake combines warm colouration with valuable genetic potential. When bred with other Charcoal carriers or visual morphs, it can produce striking grey-toned offspring with soft bronze undertones. This morph is an ideal choice for breeders developing complex double or triple-recessive combinations with a focus on both contrast and warmth.
Genetics Note
Ultramel (Codominant Amel + Hypo): A blend of Amel and Hypo genes that reduces black pigmentation while enhancing warm oranges, golds, and coppers.
Amel (Recessive): Removes all black pigment, allowing red, orange, and cream tones to dominate.
Hypo (Recessive): Reduces melanin levels, softening contrast and brightening overall colour.
Charcoal (Recessive): Removes both red and yellow pigmentation, producing cool greys and silvers when visual.
het. Charcoal (Recessive Carrier): Carries one copy of the Charcoal gene, capable of producing silver or ghost-like offspring when paired with another carrier or visual. (“het” is short for heterozygous, meaning one copy is carried but not expressed.)
Genetic Combination Summary
The Ultramel het. Charcoal Corn Snake expresses one codominant gene and carries a recessive trait:
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Ultramel (Codominant Amel + Hypo): Produces warm, metallic copper and orange hues with reduced black pigmentation.
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het. Charcoal (Recessive Carrier): Carries potential for cool, silver-based offspring when bred with compatible partners.
Together, these genetics create a rich, bronze-toned Corn Snake with genetic versatility and strong breeding potential. The Ultramel het. Charcoal Corn Snake is both visually appealing and strategically valuable—an excellent choice for breeders developing warm-to-neutral toned morph lines.