Category: Morphs

Ghost-2010

Ghost (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Ghost
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Mutation Compound (Anery + Hypo A)
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris (usually silver or pale blue)

 

This compound recessive morph results from combining the two recessive color mutations, Anery and Hypo A.  The finished genetic product reminds one of a pale or “ghostly” version of the Anery mutation (which of course, is precisely what it is).

 

What to expect:
Hatchlings are essentially miniatures of their adult form, unlike most corn snake mutations that dramatically morph from hatchling to adult.  Like many Anery types, the carotenoid yellow retained from their diet – manifests with maturity, therefore, will not be seen in the neonates.  Some will acquire more yellow than others.  Like their Anery counterparts, adult males have an overall coloration of earth tones, but females very rarely exhibit such coloration.  Most adult females are varying shades of gray and black, while males are usually anything between tan and brown in color overtones.  Of course, there are exceptions where some males will not have earth tones and some females will.  Such exceptions are very rare in the base mutation, Anery.

Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph.  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010 Strawberry

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At this time, it appears that the Strawberry Mutation is dominant to wild-type.  That is, when you breed it to any other corn snake, half the progeny should be Strawberries.  How can you tell which half?  Good question.  According to Charles Pritzel’s Morph Guide (https://cornguide.com/) it is possible to distinguish between the two alleles at the Hypomelanistic A aka: Hypo A locus – both Hypo A and Strawberry – by microscopic inspection of the minute black speckling patterns on some scales.  This is essential (in my opinion) because Strawberry Mutants can look identical to some Hypomelanistic Mutants.  
 
Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris (some can be so hypomelanistic, their pupils can be gray to dark red).

 

SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity.While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

 

Strawberry2014

Strawberry (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Strawberry
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant to wild-type on the Hypomelanistic-A locus
Morph Type: Dominant
Eye Color:  black pupil
 
At this time, we believe that the Strawberry Mutation is dominant to wild-type and resides on the DNA locus HYPO-A.  That is, when you breed it to any other corn snake, half the progeny should be Strawberries.  How can you tell which half?  Good question.  According to Charles Pritzel’s Morph Guide (https://cornguide.com/) it is possible to distinguish between the two alleles at the Hypomelanistic A aka: Hypo A locus – both Hypo A and Strawberry – by microscopic inspection of the minute black speckling patterns on some scales.  This is essential (in my opinion) because Strawberry Mutants can look identical to some Hypomelanistic Mutants.  
 
Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris (some can be so hypomelanistic, their pupils can be gray to dark red).

Important Note: 
  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity.While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

 

2010 Creamsicle

INTERSPECIES  HYBRID !

Creamsicle (no aka)

Most Commonly Used Name:  Creamsicle

Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive corn snake Amel + Emory’s Rat Snake

Morph Type: Single recessive HYBRID Mutation

Eye Color:  Red pupil

 

 

Formerly considered an intergrade of what used to be two corn snake subspecies (Elaphe guttatus guttatus X Elaphe guttatus emoryi), Creamsicles are the final product of crossing an Emory’s Rat (aka: Great Plains Rat Snake) with an Amel corn. Since the new taxonomic classification assigns distinct species to each (Pantherophis emoryi and Pantherophis guttatus), in herpetocultural vernacular, Creamsicles are now officially considered hybrids.  ANY progeny from Creamsicles or any corn snake that has any degree of Emory’s Rat Snake in it, is considered a HYBRID.  The albinos are called Creamsicles and the non-albinos are often called Root Beers.

 

 
What to expect:
Hatchling Creamsicles are orange hybrid versions of Amel corns, so they can have any pattern you see in corn snakes.  I’ve seen Creamsicles that were yellow on yellow, some that were orange on orange, and some that were red on orange – demonstrating the polygenic variability seen in all animals.  Not unlike some hybrid snakes that can be selectively bred to eventually hide all visual traces of their alien ancestor, some Creamsicles are virtually identical to Amel corns.  Creamsicles (and Root Beers) usually have what we call Hybrid Vigor (robust size and propensities for hardy appetites and rapid growth) from being out-crossed to unrelated snakes.  We all hope that breeders will always reveal the genetic background of all their snakes, but I know people that have purchased obvious Creamsicles in pet stores and reptile expos, but were never advised of their hybrid origins.
 

SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity.While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

 

 

 

2010 Lavender

Lavender (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Lavender
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Single Recessive Mutation
Eye Color:  Red pupil & body ground colored iris (see details below about some having black pupils)

 

There are several distinct features among Lavender mutants of any variety. One baffling characteristic common in the Lavender mutation is that most of them have eye pupils that are some shade of pink – virtually identical to most albino (Amel) corn snakes.  Nobody yet knows why but some have black pupils.  Another feature in most Lavender corns is that virtually all of them hatch smaller in size than any other corn snake mutation.  What they lack in hatchling size they make up for in appetite.  Not so much that they are ravenous feeders (they actually ARE), but collectively relative to all other corn snake mutations, Lavenders statistically favor pinky mice more than any other corns we produce.  Our adult Lavender types are essentially the same size as other corn snake morphs, even though they start out so tiny. Many lavenders resemble Ghost corn snakes, as babies and adults.

 

What to expect:
Most hatchlings are some shade of pale lavender or gray, and as detailed above, they are the tiniest hatchlings in the corn snake hobby.  Some have peach tones between markings, while some have pale and are lacking in contrast between markings and ground color zones.  Through maturity, most will keep their basic neonate coloration, but unlike most corns whose colors become more saturated with age, Lavender types almost always lost color saturation through maturity.  It is difficult to discern between basic lavenders and Hypo Lavenders, since there is a distinct lack of melanin in both.  Most have red pupils, but for genetic reasons we don’t yet understand, some have black pupils.  I’ve seen other morphs that were virtually identical to most adult lavenders, so distinguishing between them is not easy without a genetic family history.  Unless Lavenders are bi-colored (having a peach or coral ground color between dorsal markings), they are highly variable in color.  Expect everything from pale gray to lavender. 

Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph.  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010 Diffused Caramel

Diffused Caramel (aka: Caramel Bloodred, Diffuse Caramel)
Most Commonly Used Name: Caramel Bloodred
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Mutation Compound (Caramel + Diffused)
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris

Go to History for more details about the DIFFUSED / BLOODRED base mutation of this compound morph.

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation, Caramel with the pattern mutation Diffused.  As with most morph compounds that include Diffuse, the Caramel mutation’s color effect is greatly diffused.  Another mechanism of the Diffused mutation is to reduce black, but since there is little to no black in most Caramel mutants, the lateral markings of this compound mutation are not diffused – as one would expect to see.  With concentrated efforts to correct this perceived anomaly, in a couple of generations, this morph should improve in appearance.

 

What to expect:
Expect the hatchlings to look virtually identical in general appearance to typical Caramel hatchlings, except for the head and belly markings.  The head should have some form of Diffuse head pattern, and the belly should be completely devoid of classic corn snake checkering.  The belly pattern can have colors – and even pattern – but black should be absent.

 

Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph.  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010 Sunglow (classic)

Sunglow (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Sunglow
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive + Selective Variant
Morph Type: Single Recessive Mutation
Eye Color: Red pupil

Sunglow corn snakes are the products of selectively breeding Amel corns toward the goal of intensifying the red/orange coloration and eliminating the white blotch borders.  Most have some white scales, but are generally two shades of the Amel color theme.


What to expect:
As hatchlings, they essentially appear to be typical Amel corns, with the exception of having little or no white on the borders between blotches and ground color zones.  Some Sunglow corns actually lose some of that white through maturation.  While we do not guarantee the extra gene mutation, we began our Sunglow line with Hypo corns, since our Hypos have such little black margins around the markings (which of course, translated to low white volume around the blotches of the Amel mutants in the line). Expect deeply saturated orange coloration and very little (if any) white scales between markings and ground color zones.  


Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph.  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.

2010 Okeetee (Jasper County Locality)

Jasper Country Okeetee (aka: Locality Okeetee)
Most Commonly Used Name: Locality Okeetee
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant (wild-type) + selective variation
Morph Type: Selective variation of wild-type
Eye Color: Black pupil & body ground colored iris

 

Arguably the most famous example of a corn snake morph named for its geographic origins, the Okeetee is also considered to be the most beautiful non-mutant corn snake in the species.  First popularized by Carl Kauffeld in at least two books describing his field discoveries of this beautiful and robust race of corn snake on or near the Okeetee Hunt Club in South Carolina, Okeetees have since been selectively bred for extremely bright and saturated colors.  When we say locality Okeetee, we are referring to animals whose genetic origins can be traced to the Jasper County, South Carolina region.  Okeetees that have been selectively bred for appearance and consequently satisfy a visual hobby standard are sometimes called Okeetee morphs, but more often are called simply Okeetee corns.

Okeetees (in the hobby) are a premier example of the promotion of polygenic traits through selective breeding.  By breeding together specimens with desired characteristics, through generational selection of pairing only the ones with the desired features, it doesn’t take long to render stunning examples of the morph – without the aid of gene mutations.  Please, do not attempt to hunt for Okeetee corns on private property.  The Okeetee Hunt Club in South Carolina expressly forbids trespassing, and it is possible to be arrested, if caught on their land without express written permission.


What to expect:
Even though most locality snakes sold in the trade are not necessarily stellar examples of the species, but in so much as our stock comes directly from Chip Bridges (famous in corn snake herpetoculture for his stunning Oddly, most of the best Okeetees we produce are the least beautiful – as hatchlings.  If you tossed a good Okeetee in a bucket of common corns, it’s possible you could not identify it until after several months of maturity.  Neonates should show bold black blotch margins, but until one or two sheds, the bright ground colors are not obvious.  By that time, blotch colors are beginning to show, and adult Okeetees should have clean (low color freckling) ground and blotch color zones, separated by noticeably broad, black borders.  Most of the spectacular examples of this morph are so good, they are sold by other names in the hobby – and are consequently more expensive.  Another notable feature of this morph is its robust size and feeding vigor.  Okeetees (which CAN have orange on their bellies – but is relatively rare at this time) have the most incredible black and white checkered bellies, compared to other wild-type corns.

Important Note:
The advertising images on our web site are representations of the average adult example of each morph.  These images are not renderings of the actual animals being offered, (except for uniquely offered snakes found in the SURPLUS section of this web site).  We do not provide pictures of individual hatchling snakes for sale, nor do we recommend that you ever choose a new pet based on an image of its neonatal form.  Corns change so dramatically from hatchling to adult, they will NEVER have the same colors or contrasts throughout maturity. While most of the snakes we produce will mature to resemble the featured adult image(s) on our web site, unlike manufactured products that are respectively clones of each other, the nature of polygenic variation results in each animal being similar but not identical to others of its morph. The snake we select for you may not mature to be identical to the pictured examples, but will be chosen based on our experience of observing which neonates will mature to properly represent their respective morph.  We take this responsibility very seriously, and therefore publish the guarantee that we will exchange your SMR snake if it does not mature to be like our advertised examples.