Category: Morphs

Pied-sided Bloodred – high 2015

Pied-sided Bloodred (aka: p/s bloodreds)
High-White Expression
Note:  Expect DIFFUSED and BLOODRED to be incorrectly but synonymously used in the hobby
Most Commonly used Name: Pied-sided Bloodred
Mode of Genetic Inheritance:Selective Variation + Recessive
Morph Type:Single recessive mutation & selective variation
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris

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

In 1997, we acquired a Bloodred female from an unknown corn snake breeder that had a few lateral patches ofwhite.  We bred her to one or two males over the next six years, but never reproduced the white patches, nor did we hold back any of her sons to breed back to her.  In 2003, she was bred to a male Bloodred that has considerably more white on his sides, but no white was demonstrated in any of the F1 progeny.  Upon breeding two pairs of the F1 babies together, approximately 50% of the F2s demonstrated various degrees of white on their sides.  Also, when breeding one of the F1males back to the SMR original female, 50% of those progeny also had various degrees of lateral white patches.  This demonstrated that the SMR P/S Bloodreds were not alleles of the original male Bloodred gene that had similar random lateral white patches. 

At this time – in my opinion – insufficient data has been gathered to determine that P/S Bloodreds owe their atypical white lateral and facial markings to a gene mutation.  It is remotely possible that polygenetic traits are responsible for the atypical patches of white on the face and sides, based on confusing phenotypes.  While evaluation of Mendelian Phenotype Proportions points to the likelihood of a gene mutation, that cannot be definitely proclaimed at this time.

It is sometimes difficult to determine the inheritance of a trait or mutation when expression of the atypical feature is highly variable – as is the case with SMR P/S Bloodreds.  In other words, are the Bloodred siblings of P/S Bloodreds that lack lateral patches of white not P/S Bloodreds OR are they P/S Bloodred mutants that are at the lowest end of the 0-to-10 scale for white expression?  When proving the mode of inheritance via evaluation of Mendelian Phenotype Proportions in a single brood of snakes, visual expression is crucial.  Hence, if the expression of white in this morph can be so extremely variable, when citing the ratio of visual mutants compared to visual non mutants, the very description of inheritance can be in question.  I therefore honestly don’t know if P/S Bloodreds owe their distinctive pied-sided white appearance to a recessive mutation OR polygenic trait modifications. Breeding trials are constantly being evaluated.  The snag in this determination is the fact that there are many siblings of the P/S Bloodreds that lack white, but have the remarkably red sides that are devoid of markings (a virtually distinct collateral trait of SMR P/S Bloodreds).  This particular trait is not foreign to the base mutation, Bloodred, but in P/S Bloodred phenotypes, expression of this shocking red trait is definitely exaggerated, compared to non P/S Bloodreds in the hobby.  Hence, the question again, “are these non P/S Bloodred siblings of those with white, P/S bloods that are exhibiting no white OR is there an associative phenotype that exaggerates the red sides, even if they don’t exhibit lateral white?”.  Some have suggested that the lack of color in places (i.e. white patches) is an extreme expression of the genetic elimination of melanin/markings.  That perhaps the genetic erradication of markings – when expressed in its’ extreme – may eliminate not only the melanin, but the other chromatophore as well?

Aside from the random lateral white feature that is obvious in most members of this morph – compared to standard Bloodreds – is the extreme diffusion – even if they don’t demonstrate any of the randomly distributed white patches on the sides.  On most – even in the absence of lateral white patches – there is an obvious line of demarcation between the dorsal and lateral pattern fields – just above the half-way point on the sides (dorso–laterally).  This stark break line between dorsal and lateral markings also begs questions about the lateral white being a mutation OR variable expression of polygenetics. 

 

 

What to expect:
As neonates, P/S Bloodred corns are often heavily patterned (sides are generally faded or lacking typical lateral markings). Some exhibit black (or partially black) scales bordering some of the pattern blotches, and most of them have head patterns that are notably unlike those of typical corns. Like most SMR Bloodreds, P/S Bloodreds diffuse dramatically through maturity, thereby rendering adults that are nearly devoid of head markings, side markings, (any visible dorsal markings will be very faint).  There will be NO belly checkering, but ventral coloration can be all red, all white, or red and white (no black).  Many of the early Bloodred corns in the early 1990s were overly inbred and therefore suffered poor fertility (not to mention – the progeny of many of the first generations were stubbornly lizard lovers, refusing to eat pinky mice).  Thankfully, through out-crossing in our projects to improve or change colors and patterns, like virtually all Bloodreds, P/S Bloodreds do not rank high in the realms of sterility or reluctance to eat rodents.   In fact, there are some seasons in which Bloodreds are among the best feeders of our corn snake neonates.
 
The amount and random distribution of white that will be on High White Expression members of this morph are difficult to quantify.  As more are produced, the percentage of white on the three classes of this morph (Low white, Medium white, and High white) will be possible to grade.  Virtually all P/S Bloodreds randomly demonstrate the shocking white blotches only on the lower sides of their bodies – predominantly in the first half of their bodies.  Some will have one (or a few) white scales (or partially white scales) on their faces.  It is still rare for a SMR P/S Bloodred to have white on the sides that is disjunct to the belly white (not touching the belly color field).
 

 

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.

Striped Bloodred 2015

Striped Bloodred (aka: blood)
Note:  Expect DIFFUSED and BLOODRED to be incorrectly but synonymously used
Most Commonly used Name: Striped Bloodred
Mode of Genetic Inheritance:Selective Variation + Recessive
Morph Type:Single recessive mutations STRIPE and BLOODRED & selective diffusion variation
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris
 
Striped Bloodreds are–naturally–the result of adding the pattern mutation STRIPE to the color and pattern mutation BLOODRED.  
 
What to expect:
As neonates, Striped Bloodred corns are often heavily patterned (sides are generally faded or lacking typical lateral markings). Some exhibit black (or partially black) scales bordering some of the pattern blotches/stripes, and most of them have head patterns that are notably unlike those of typical corns. Most SMR Striped Bloodreds diffuse dramatically through maturity, thereby rendering adults that are nearly devoid of head markings, dorsal and side markings, (any visible dorsal markings will be very faint or absent).  There will be NO belly checkering, but ventral coloration can be all red, all white, or red and white (no black).  Hatchlings have strong but broken–and partially missing–stripes (including “tweener” markings that sometimes resemble bow-ties or hour glasses), but as adults, those broken stripes and tweener mrakings are virtually invisible, due to the diffusion that occurs during maturity.  As adults, Striped Bloodreds look virtually patternless. 
 

A few years ago, due to confusion regarding the heritability of the Bloodred’s base mutation (specifically that the namesake snakes were not red and/or diffused), the base mutation name was changed away from Bloodred – to Diffused.  The mechanics of this gene mutation barely diffuse the F1 homozygotesthrough maturity (if at all), so do not expect Diffused corns to look like Bloodreds.  It is currently believed that Bloodred corns are the product of enhancing the base mutation, Diffused via polygenetic trait modification (selective breeding) to render a red and almost pattern-less (highly diffused) corn snake.  That is not the opinion of this author, but in the absence of empirical evidence to the contrary, the best hobby and market interests are not served by published opposition to popular opinion.  In other words, I’m not in favor of changing the morph name away from the original Bloodred since the new name Diffused is equally inaccurate.  Without polygenetic modification, Diffused corns do not have a diffused appearance.

 

A brief history on Diffused mutants VS Bloodred mutants:

Initially, the corn snake gene mutation, Diffusion (formerly called Bloodred) was described as being recessively inherited, but many of the F1 generational heterozygotes exhibited some of the obvious features of the gene mutation homozygotes.  It is extremely rare for simple recessive F1 heterozygotes to exhibit ANY features of their recessively inherited genetic mutation.  For example, F1heterozygous Amel corn snakes have no markers that demonstrate a hint of their simple recessive mutation, Amel.  The paradoxical partial-exhibition of the Diffusion mutation in the heterozygotes resulted in the Diffused mutation being re-described as having codominant inheritance (codom for short), but was tagged with the descriptor, variable.  At that time, variable codom seemed an accurate and satisfactory genetic description for the radical color and pattern diversity among members of this mutation, but far too many genetic anomalies persisted. Identification of the inheritance of this mutation is once again considered simple recessive, but the Bloodred corn that most of us identify with toDAY is virtually always the aggregate of traits resulting from the Diffused (new mutation name) gene mutation PLUS polygenetic traits promoted by selectively breeding toward the highest expressions of melanin reduction, diffusion, and red color saturation.
 

Many of the early Bloodred corns in the early 1990s were overly inbred and therefore suffered poor fertility (not to mention – the progeny of many of the first generations were stubbornly lizard lovers, refusing to eat pinky mice).  Thankfully, through out-crossing in our projects to improve or change colors and patterns, Bloodreds no longer rank high in the realms of sterility or reluctance to eat rodents.   In fact, there are some seasons in which Bloodreds are among the best feeders of our corn snake neonates.

 

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.

Ultramel Bloodred-2015

Ultramel Bloodred (aka: Diffused Ultramel)
Most Commonly Used Name: Ultramel Bloodred
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Codominant with Amel
Morph Type: Codominant only with Amel
Eye Color: Dark Red pupil & body ground colored iris
 
Note:  Ultramel is the heterozygote of the the mutation, Ultra.
See ULTRamel for an explanation of the genetic mechanics of the ULTRA codominant mutation.

 

 

INTERSPECIES  HYBRID

The founder (discoverer) of the Ultra mutation states that he originally paired a gray rat snake with a corn snake, in the discovery of this mutation.  By the time most of us were made aware of the HYBRID origins of Ultra types (originally named Ultra Hypos), we had already bred it into many other corn snake mutations.  It was therefore collectively decided that in so much as it would be virtually impossible to track down (and eliminate) each and every snake containing the Ultra gene (surely thousands of individuals in the collections of hundreds of breeders and keepers), the mutation would be treated like other pure corns.  In so much as it generally did not alter the corn snake appearance, it was known that even if peoples’ snakes had the Ultra gene mutation, they would either be unaware or could avoid mentioning it.  Those of you out there that are boycotting HYBRID corns are advised to avoid acquisition of suspicious-looking corns with the word ULTRA in the morph description. Likewise, purists that admirably endeavor to promote only the genetically purest of corns are urged to question corns that have suspiciously abnormal features that have been historically identified as hybrid markers.  Not that all such markers are proof of alien origins. Especially because of the difficulty and expense of formulating a DNA base line for all North American colubrid snake species, and in the absence of expensive DNA testing to identify authenticity of pure corns, without obvious visual and/or genetic distinctions, identification of legitimately pure (or impure) corns is difficult at this time, if not completely impossible.
 

Other than appearance, the primary (and inherent) value of Ultra Type Corns (Ultras and Ultramels and their color and pattern compounds) is their mode of genetic inheritance.  Since they are co-dominant to Amelanistics, pairing any Ultra Type to ANY Amel corn (or Het thereof) will render Ultra types in the F1 (first) generation of out-crossing to non-Ultra type corns.  The results of pairing an Ultra-type with a non-Amel corn (or Het thereof) will render Mendelian results that parallel recessively-inherited mutations; no Ultra-types will result and all progeny will be Het for Ultra when bred to non-Amels.

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

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.

 

 

Okeetee Extreme 2015

EXTREME OKEETEE (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Extreme 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

 

As of August 24th, only males remain in stock for the 2015 Extreme Okeetees

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.

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. There is nothing magic about the Hunt Club that makes only animals in that area outstanding looking. Corns in other states of the Corn Snake’s range can be just as beautiful, but proportionally speaking, the corns from this region out-number those that have inferior color and pattern.  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.

 

What to expect:
Oddly, most of the best Okeetees we produce are the least beautiful – as hatchlings.  If you tossed a good Okeetee in a bucket of hatchling common corns, you’d likely 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 (i.e. Extreme Okeetees, Buckskin Okeetees, Banded Okeetees).  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 spectacular black and white checkered bellies, compared to other wild-type corns.
 
 
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Do not expect any hatchling/neonate Okeetee to look anything like the adults.  This picture shows an adult female Extreme Okeetee with several of her newly hatched babies (no, she was not present when they hatched in the incubator).  This adult looked exactly like the babies shown in this image when she was their size.

 

 

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.

 

Key Corn 2015

Key (aka: Key’s, Rosy Rat)
Most Commonly Used Name: Key Corn
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Locality Wild Type
Morph Type: Wild Type
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris

 

An insular race of corns sometimes known by their original name, Rosy Rats, are a generally pale race of wild-type corns that surely owe their general appearance to the fact that they are somewhat genetically isolated from mainland forms of their corn snake species, Pantherophis guttatus.  The latest scientific studies have demonstrated that they are not a separate subspecies and therefore, their old and temporary scientific name, Elaphe guttata rosacea, does not apply.  I suspect that if Man allows this race of corns to thrive on the keys, it may one DAY exhibit unique DNA distinction that will warrant sub-specific taxonomic status. Expect captive Key Corn lines to be much paler with much less black than most of their wild counterparts. If you randomly field collected most of the Keys of Florida, the variation of color themes and volume of black pigmentation would be great. 
 

Several breeders (myself included) have performed breeding trials to verify that Terrazzos are not allelic to other gene mutations.  Results were somewhat mixed – probably because people have been breeding mutations into Key Corns for so many years – but the general consensus is that most Key Corns are not allelic to current mutations.  I’ve personally bred Key Corns to Diffused (aka: bloodreds) and all the babies were phenotypes for Diffused mutants.  Many more breeding trials are in order.  Partly because of the diversity between many of the different Key habitants (including some South Dade County, Florida, corns that satisfy the visual Key Corn standard.

Terrazzos have the beautiful tan and gray color scheme common to many of the middle-to-lower Keys Corns, and in typical Keys Corn fashion, their bellies are notably unlike bellies of mainland corns. Rarely is even one black scale found on these mutants, and the bellies are usually completely devoid of pattern or other colors. Some will have random patches of color on their bellies, but not black (this is not to say we won’t someDAY see black on Terrazzos – perhaps via out-crossing them with other mutations). Terrazzos are a lean race of corns, some reaching the length of typical mainland corns, but rarely the girth of common corns.
 
 
Note: Not all Key Corns are devoid of black.  Many have black in their pattern AND on their bellies, but in that this is mostly due to captive selective breeding of the ones with the least melanin, don’t expect them to exemplify wild Key Corns.  As hatchlings, they can have considerably more black than you’d expect and their color contrast between markings and ground color zones can be high.  However, as adults, most will have very little (or no) black anywhere on their bodies.  Most adult Key Corns in the hobby toDAY have bellies that lack black pigmentation, but when it is present, it’s usually relegated to the first third of the belly.  After that, they have variations of pattern between None and two or three tone speckling. In that we have been out-crossing them to popular morphs and mutations in captivity, patterns and colors can be diverse, but the basic standard points to mostly tan individuals.

 

What to expect:
Hatchling Key Corns are dark-colored when compared to their adult counterparts, and at a glance you would not suspect they would mature to look so much like a Hypo mutant. Except for pattern, some adults have colors similar to the most hypomelanistic HYPO mutants (virtually devoid of black). I have bred Keys Corns to Hypo mutants and re-produced Hypo mutants, but that does not always happen. It would be totally understandable that someone thought the Keys Corn they had was a Hypo mutant, and bred it to a Hypo mutant – thereby infusing the Hypo mutation into that family line. Then, there is the visual confusion; is that a Hypo mutant or a Key Corn?  The answer to that question is not even easily answered by breeding trials.  Until we discover the distinction between those two phenotypes, it may always be confusing, but eventually, the confusion will be solved by the Hypo mutation being in many/most Key Corns.  Charles Pritzel has pioneered microscopic studies that may be the very tool we need to distinguish between the hypomelanistic types. 

 

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.

Lava 2015

Lava (no AKA))
Most Commonly Used Name: Lav
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Recessive Mutation Compound
Eye Color: Usually reddish-black pupil with orange/brown iris

The simple recessive mutation, Lava was discovered by Joe Pierce in the 1990s and was originally called Translucent or Transparent Hypo.  They reportedly originated from a wild-caught corn snake that was collected in the area of the Southeastern United States where the famous Okeetee corns are collected in South Carolina.  

 

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.

Motley ANERYthristic 2015

Anery Motley (aka: Anerythristic  Motley)
Most Commonly Used Name: Anery Motley (hobby abbreviation for Anerythristic Motley)
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Mutation Compound (Anery + Motley)

Eye color: Black pupil with gray or silver iris

 

This compound morph results from combining the color mutation, Anery with the pattern mutation, Motley. Except for pattern variatiants (Hurricane Anery Motleys), the only obvious results of the combination of these mutations is usually less carotenoid yellow than their non motley Anery counterparts, and reduced color saturation of black.  As with some single mutant Anery corns, males can demonstrate earth tone coloration, seldom seen in females of this morph.  

What to expect:

As neonates, Anery Motleys usually appear to be white snakes with black markings.  As they mature, the white usually turns to gray, but markings can be anything between dark shades of gray to black.  Some have only a few of the classic chain-like Motley dorsal circles, while some sport a long and contiguous  “chain” pattern of dorsal circles – nearly all the way to the tail.  Never expect to see such dorsal circles ON the tail itself.  As with all Anery mutants, hatchling Anery Motleys display no yellow around the face and neck, but as they mature, virtually all will develop facial and lateral yellow color zones that slowly manifest with maturity – from the retention of carotenoids in their diet.  BTW, the Motley pattern mutation virtually always alters color and markings – if only slightly. Patterns are often less distinct, and colors are sometimes slighted softened in Motley mutants – compared to non-Motleys..

 

 

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.

HET scaleless 2015

HET Scaleless (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Het Scaleless
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Recessive
Morph Type: Double Mutant Het (Scaleless and Anery)
Eye Color: Black pupil (some red-eyed ones are also available for higher prices)
 
 

The corn snakes being offered here are not Homozygotes, but Heterozygotes.  The reason a picture is not featured here is because no two are alike, AND we didn’t want people to expect SMR het Scaleless corn they purchase to be exactly like the model we use to represent all of our corns that are Het for Scaleless.  The inherent value of these snakes is the fact that they have one gene copy (therefore are HETEROZYGOUS) for the gene mutation, Scaleless.  Hence, they look like common corns, but are hiding their genetic heritage that makes them capable of reproducing Scaleless Mutants. 
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: We DO offer corns that are Het for Scaleless AND other desirable color and/or pattern mutations.  The prices noted here are for corns that do not demonstrate any color or pattern mutation and are–in most cases–not necessarily het for any mutation other than Scaleless.  We DO sell colors of corns that are het for Scaleless for more $ than the advertised prices here (inquire).  Also, some are color mutants with two or more mutations they possess in heterozygous (het) form–meaning they don’t demonstrate other mutations but possess one of the paired DNA mutation copies that allow them to reproduce those mutations when paired with heterozygous or homozygous snakes possessing the same gene mutation type(s).  In other words, we sell heterozygote corns possessing one or more color/pattern mutations for higher prices than the ones advertised here.  Please, inquire. 
 

Hybrid History Of Scaleless Corns:

In 2012, we were fortunate to acquire several different color and pattern morphs of Scaleless Corns from Stephane Rosselle in France.  He has many dozens of different color and pattern variants of this unique mutation.Just as seed-less grapes are not really devoid of seeds (they are simply small seeds), scale-less corns have SOME scales.  The entire bellies of most are classically or partially scaled, and random fragments of scale patterns are seen in varying degrees elsewhere on their bodies, from one individual to another.  I hear comments like, “eeeeyewww, the face looks freaky” or “why are the eyes so disproportionately large?”.  The eyes are not disproportionately large per body size, but in the absence of scales around them, a super-protruding appearance results.  Of course, no two biological forms are precisely identical, but add to that the color and pattern variability and the infrequent scale placements in SCALELESS takes NO-TWO ALIKE to a whole new level.  Exactly where there are a few scales on their bodies renders a veritable unique fingerprint for each individual snake.  Regardless of how many and where scales are sparsely located, the predominant lack of scales results in a more deeply-saturated color exhibition.  Who knew that the armor (scales) of serpents actually rendered a dilution of their here-to-fore unseen color brilliance?  Few corn snake mutations are capable of altering mutation and morph compounds as dramatically as the Scaleless mutation.  Have fun mixing and matching myriad color and pattern potentials with this new and variable mutation. 

 
The originator of the Scaleless mutants in France (Richard Dijoux) https://www.colubiasnakes.fr indicates on his web site that they originate from pairing an Emory’s (Great Plains) Rat Snake with a Corn Snake.  Hence, ALL Scaleless corns in the hobby toDAY are technically inter-species hybrid mutants (though 1st cousin species).  

 

Inter-species Hybrids:  The first Scaleless snake closely related to a corn–AND the patriarch of all Scaleless “corns” toDAY–was the result of pairing a WHEAT (what some Europeans call the Emory’s/Great Plains Rat Snake) to a CORN Snake.  The owner of those snakes reported that only one Scaleless snake hatched from that marriage; THE patriarch of all Scaleless corns toDAY. Therefore, beginning with the F1 generation–and all subsequent generations since–at the time of this writing, all Scaleless corns toDAY have Emory’s Rat Snake genes in them (one DAY the scale-less mutation will be Naturally demonstrated in pure corns, as with ALL reptile species on this planet).  Of course, either via polygenetics, gene mutations or both, just like all dogs toDAY are selective variants of wolves (therefore, all dogs technically ARE wolves), after a few generations of breeding these Scaleless “hybrids” solely to corn snakes, less and progressively less of their ancestral genes will be visually evident. A parallel is that the Dachshund genetically IS a modern wolf variant, but when you look at such a modern dog, do you see ANY resemblance to a wolf?  Polygenetics and mutations have distinguished Dachshunds from other dog breeds and their wolf ancestors. True, Dachshunds are not a species separate from other domesticated dogs. Other inter-species hybrids in our hobby toDAY include (but are surely not be limited to) Creamsicles and Ultra/Ultramels. 

If you seek a visual (aka: homozygote) Scaleless, this is not the morph you want.  This listed product (Het for Scaleless corns) will look like a typical wild corn snake, but are carrying one copy of the gene mutation that will render Scaleless mutants if bred to another corn snake with one or both DNA copies of the Gene Mutation.  Again, this picture demonstrates the potential for what you can possibly produce if you buy one of the $1,100.00 to $1,300.00 hatchlings offered here.  The snake you will be ordering will look similar to a wild-caught common corn snake.  Corns het for Scaleless and other color and pattern mutations will be offered elsewhere on our web site.  They will be priced according to the market value of the mutations they carry.

Caramel Tessera 2015

Caramel Tessera (no aka)
Most Commonly Used Name: Caramel Tessera
Mode of Genetic Inheritance: Dominant
Morph Type: Single Dominant Mutation (Tessera) & simple recessive (Caramel)
Eye Color:  Black pupil & body ground colored iris
 
 

FIRST, what makes Tesseras so expensive? Other than appearance, the primary (and inherent) value of Tessera-type Corns is their mode of genetic inheritance.  Since they are dominant to wild type, pairing any Tessera Type that is a Visual Het to ANY corn snake (other than a Tessera-type) will render 50% Tessera mutants in the F1 (first) out-crossed generation.  The results of pairing an Tessera homozygote with ANY corn snake (other than a Tessera-type) will render 100% Tessera mutants.

Adding the Caramel mutation to TESSERA, obviously results in an Caramel Tessera.  Because all Caramel Tesseras are so close to original morph colors, expect to see more gold and brown tones.  
 
History of the Tessera Mutation:
In 2007, Graham Criglow asked KJ Lodrigue to order a 1.2 trio of Striped Motleys that were advertised on one of the popular Online Classified sites – since Graham’s job prevented him from personally receiving them at that time.  When they arrived, KJ discovered that they constituted a 2.1 reverse trio (two males and one female) instead of the advertised 1.2 trio (one male and two females).  KJ and Kasi recommended that Graham gift the extra male to me, and that’s what Graham did.  Profound thanks to Graham, KJ, and Kasi for that gracious and fortuitous gift.  In 2008, both the Lodrigues and I independently bred our males (Graham’s and mine) to novel (unrelated) corns. I produced about 24 TESSERAS (so named by the Lodrigues for the tessellated lateral markings) from over 50 fertile eggs, but since the Lodrigues were in the middle of a career move to another State, they were less fortunate, producing just four non-mutant Okeetee-looking corns.  My Tesseras were produced by the pairing of the male Tessera to three novel female corns (two F1 Locality Okeetees from Chip Bridges Rhett Butler Line and one Okeetee-ish female, Het for Stripe and Amel).  Imagine my surprise in seeing what we thought were nearly flawless Striped Motleys from three different females, only one of which was Het for a recessive pattern mutation?  After the first brood of 50% Tesseras hatched from the female that was het for Stripe and Amel, except for the perfection of pattern, I was not thinking new dominant mutation, but when both wild-type Okeetees produced the same results, it was obvious that a new mutation was discovered.

Upon receiving the reverse trio from the seller, we all commented on the mutual peculiarity of the phenotypes.  Most appeared to be the most perfectly Striped Motleys ever seen – in so much as their dorsal stripes were nearly contiguous from neck to tail tip (something never before seen in any corn snake pattern mutant) – but that was hardly possible if the admission of the breeder were true – that they were products of pairing a Striped corn with an Okeetee corn.  How could these descendants of a Striped corn bred to an Okeetee be Motley types, instead of Striped?  It is still unclear if those 2.1 Tesseras were F1s (first familial generation) or F2s (the originator of this line is now out of the hobby and difficult to reach – for clarification).  If these three Tesseras are F1s, my deduction is that the striped corn he used in the original pairing was actually Striped AND Tessera.  Even if those three were F2s, the likelihood of the mutant patriarch being a Striped Tessera is strong.

 

What to expect:
At this early period in the Tessera’s resume, we still don’t know what phenotypic potentials exist.  So far, the only behavior that is atypical for a corn snake mutation is that many of the non-mutant siblings of Tessera types seem to have enhanced pattern and color features.  So far, I don’t see any hybrid markers, since the collateral sibling features to which I refer are – so far – in the realm of improving existing corn snake features (i.e. some non-Tesseras have better, brighter, cleaner, and/or more consistent colors and markings). 

 

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.

 

 

What to expect:
At this early period in the Tessera’s resume, we still don’t know what phenotypic potentials exist.  So far, the only trait(s) that are atypical for a corn snake mutation is that many of the non-mutant siblings of Tessera types seem to have enhanced pattern and color features.  So far, I don’t see any hybrid markers, since the collateral sibling features to which I refer are – so far – in the realm of improving existing corn snake features (i.e. some non-Tesseras have better, brighter, cleaner, and/or more consistent colors and markings).
 
 
What to expect:
At this early period in the Tessera’s resume, we still don’t know what phenotypic potentials exist.  So far, the only behavior that is atypical for a corn snake mutation is that many of the non-mutant siblings of Tessera types seem to have enhanced pattern and color features.  So far, I don’t see any hybrid markers, since the collateral sibling features to which I refer are – so far – in the realm of improving existing corn snake features (i.e. some non-Tesseras have better, brighter, cleaner, and/or more consistent colors and markings). 

 

Strawberry2015

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.