Amelanistic Corn Snake

Looks how to spot one

Smooth scales

This morph has the same slender, graceful body as a standard corn snake, with smooth, glossy scales. The body is much more slender than a ball python of the same length.34

Personality what they are like

Amelanistic corn snakes are known for their calm, curious and gentle nature. They are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Hatchlings may be a little nippy at first due to fear, but they quickly tame with gentle handling. They are more active and interactive than many boas and pythons, making them a delight to watch and handle.34

Daily activity how busy a day looks

Provide an enclosure that is at least as long as the snake's body, with a minimum of 30 cm (12 inches) of height for climbing. They love to climb and burrow, so include branches, cork bark, and a loose substrate for digging. A 40-gallon breeder tank (90 x 45 x 40 cm) is a good minimum for an adult.34

Grooming and care the hands-on bits

Very low grooming needs. Provide a humid hide during shedding to help the skin come off cleanly. Ensure the enclosure is escape-proof, as corn snakes are expert escape artists. Clean the water dish regularly and spot-clean the substrate.34

Home where they are happiest

A temperature gradient is essential: a cool side of 24-28°C (75-82°F), a basking spot of 30-31°C (86-88°F), and a night-time drop to around 21°C (70°F). Humidity should be kept between 40 and 60 percent. Provide at least two hides (one on the warm side, one on the cool side), a water dish large enough for soaking, and a loose substrate such as soil or aspen that allows burrowing.34

Food basics what goes in the bowl

Feed frozen-thawed rodents. Hatchlings should be fed every 5 to 7 days, juveniles every 7 to 10 days, and adults every 10 to 21 days. The prey item should be roughly 1.25 times the width of the snake's mid-body.34

Company who they like around

Corn snakes are solitary and do not need company. They are harmless to humans and make excellent pets for children and beginners. They are not venomous and are legal to keep in most countries, but always check local laws before acquiring any reptile.31

The story where it all began

The amelanistic corn snake is a colour variety of the common corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus). What makes it different from the wild-type is a genetic mutation that completely removes melanin, the dark pigment responsible for blacks, browns and greys. As a result, these snakes display bright orange, red, yellow and white patterns with pink or red eyes, instead of the normal black-bordered orange saddles. The mutation was first noticed in wild snakes in the southeastern United States, and the first captive-bred amelanistic was produced in 1961 by Dr. Bernard Bechtel. Today it is the most common and popular corn snake morph in captivity.126