Corn snakes are a species of rat snake native to the southeastern United States with their range extending from New Jersey to Florida and as far west as Louisiana and parts of Kentucky.
Corn snake are very docile and easy to handle, making them great for beginners who are new to keeping snakes. With proper care, Corn snakes can live for 15 to 20 years or more, providing a long-term companion for pet owners.
Corn snake thrive in a variety of habitats, including overgrown fields, forest openings, trees, palmetto flatwoods, abandoned buildings, and barns. They are often found in areas with abundant cover and a good supply of rodents.
Adult corn snakes typically range from 2.5 to 5 feet in length. They have a distinctive pattern of orange or brownish-yellow with large, black-edged red blotches down their back, which helps them camouflage in their natural environment.
Corn snake breeding season occurs from March to May, with females laying clutches of 10 to 30 eggs in late spring or early summer. The eggs hatch in 60 to 70 days.
Here are some types of Corn snakes –
- Wild-type corn snake has orange and red scales with black-bordered saddle patterns. This is the natural coloration found in the wild.
- Amelanistic Albino lacking black pigmentation, these snakes have red, orange, and yellow coloring, with bright red eyes.
- Anerythristic snakes lack red pigmentation, resulting in a gray or black and white appearance.
- Snow corn snakes are white with light pink or yellow patterns.
- Okeetee known for their vibrant orange and red colors with wide black borders around the saddle patterns. Okeetee corn snakes are highly sought after.
- Ghost snakes have a muted color palette, as they are a combination of anerythristic and hypomelanistic traits, resulting in soft grays and browns.
- Butter snake are blend of amelanistic and caramel traits, these snakes have a yellow and cream coloration.
- Blood Red are a lack of pattern on their ventral scales, these snakes often have deep red or orange coloration.
- Lavender Corn snakes have a distinctive light purple or lavender color with darker markings, creating a unique and attractive appearance.
- Pied featuring patches of unpigmented scales, pied corn snakes have areas of normal color interrupted by pure white patches.