Albino corn snakes lack melanin in their pigmentation. Rather than being all white, this morph has white, pale red, or pale orange pigmenting. Albino corn snakes are non-venomous and suitable for children.
There are more than 220 corn snake morphs, each with different colors and patterns. It all started with four morphs – the normal, albino or amelanistic, snow and anerythristic. There is a large variety in appearances and colors found in corn snakes. Corn snakes present breeders with an exciting array of pattern and color combinations.
The Amelanistic Corn Snake lacks the pigment melanin, which gives it a bright yellow or orange coloration with red eyes. Albinism is a genetic condition characterized by the lack of melanin. Albino animals are usually white or pale in color, with pink or red eyes.
The Albino corn snake lacks the black pigment melanin. Snow corn snakes are white in color and can have very pale patches or even pink to light tan patterns. As babies, they’re all white.
An amelanistic morph has low contrast between colors, making a yellowish-orangeish-reddish snake with red eyes. An interesting fact is that this morph is the source of the gene for a standard albino.
These corn snakes get their name from lacking melanin in their skin. Albino corn snakes lack melanin, which gives skin a dark tone. This means albinos have cream-to-light orange color.
The Snow corn snake is sometimes known as a “white albino”. White albinos are beautiful snakes that can be purchased for $100. This morph is a combination of the Amelanistic and Anerythristic A. Snow morphs are predominantly white but can have pale blotching.
How rare are albino corn snakes?
An albino snake not resulting from intentional breeding is extremely rare, estimated at 1 in 100,000 births. Though seemingly ubiquitous, in nature albino snakes are incredibly uncommon.
The Albino Corn Snake enjoys widespread popularity as a medium-sized, gentle, readily acclimated reptile. Requiring no special diet, a 40-gallon vivarium suits this attractive $40 pet. With proper handling albino corn snakes make great pets.
An albino corn snake has light to bold orange coloring with dark red blotches and white underside. Their most striking feature – ruby red or pink eyes. Around 150cm long, females larger than males, captive lifespan 6-8 years.
Complete or partial pigment absence in skin, hair and eyes defines albinism. Albino corn snakes lack black pigment, appearing pink, orange or pale yellow with white or pale yellow scales. Diet, behavior and reproduction match non-albino corn snakes, only appearance differs. Also called melanistic for lacking melanin. Striking ruby red eyes and deep orange background with dark red mottling are key features.
Albino snakes rarely occur naturally. Estimates range from 1 in 100,000 to 1 in a million births. Any animal can be albino. Albino cobras potentially found where non-albino cobras distribute, primarily Africa and Asia.
This calm snake seldom bites. Bites not painful. Active during day, especially evenings. Needs normal day/night cycle. Lighting and heating control important for health. UVB lighting unnecessary.
What does Amel mean for corn snake?
The first genetic color mutation discovered in corn snakes was albinism in 1961 by Dr Bernard Bechtel. Amelanistic refers to a snake lacking melanin. Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in complete or partial absence of skin, hair and eye pigment. Albino corn snakes are typically pale pink or orange with white or pale yellow scales.
To make a snow corn snake, breed albino and anerythristic type A corn snakes. Closely related to rat snakes, corn snakes are sometimes called ‘red rat snakes’. But it is not known for sure where the corn snake got its name. Some believe it comes from the kernel pattern on its belly. Others suggest it stems from their preference for cornfields or that they like to live in corn storage barns.
In terms of inheritance patterns, the ghost corn snake morph follows a recessive pattern. When two ghost corn snakes breed, all offspring will also be ghost corn snakes.
Anerythristic means lacking a red pigment that gives a corn snake its bright scales. Anery corn snakes have a nice band of black across the nose. Some Anery snakes tend to have darker heads with shades of gray. Anery A corns develop a mustard yellow on their neck sides.
The corn snake subdues its prey by constriction. It lacks venom and is harmless. As an adult a corn snake’s total length is 61–182 cm. In the wild, it lives around ten to fifteen years. In captivity it can live over 20 years.
How do I know if my corn snake is albino?
Albino corn snakes are popular pets. They lack melanin, so are bright red, orange, yellow and white. Their eyes are also red, orange or pink. They cost around $40.
Albinos weren’t always affordable. Rare morphs cost up to $1000. Albinos have similar diet, behavior and reproduction to normal corn snakes. They differ only in appearance.
Albino snakes can exhibit yellow skin. Albino Burmese pythons can be found in cream, pink or orange colors. Reptiles use more than just melanin for coloration.
Albinism may cause reduced eyesight. It also makes eyes solid red. Corn snakes and Burmese pythons are common albino snakes.
Full grown albino corn snakes are 36 to 60 inches long. Maximum is 72 inches. Weight is around 900 grams. Ball pythons of the same length weigh 3000 grams.