Most Popular Corn Snake Morphs

November 20, 2015December 16, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the number of available corn snake morphs nowadays?

All of them are hardy, selectively bred animals, but if you’re getting ready to purchase one of your own and you don’t know where to start, you might want to consider our list of the most popular corn snake morphs to help you out.

Most popular corn snake morphs — A collage of our top five corn snake morphs.

1. Normal Corn Snake

This morph is representative of the “classic” corn snake that you would actually be able to find in the wild, even though they are still captive bred animals.

Honestly, there is still quite a lot of variation in the normals, whether that be in their coloration or markings. However, generally, normals are orange or brownish yellow with with large, red blotches down their backs that are ringed in black. Hatchlings are also duller in coloration than their adult counterparts.

2. Blood Red Corn Snake

This morph is very brightly colored. They exhibit a bold, red hue with darker red patches along their backs. They will tend to lose the black outlines around the patches on their back, but this is not always the case.

This morph also loses the checkered pattern on their belly scales.

Blood Red Corn Snake — This hatchling is getting ready to shed, which is why his eyes look a bit grey.

3. Okeetee Corn Snake

This morph, which is also called Abbott’s Okeetee Corn Snake, are known for their thick, black borders on their back splotches as well as very vibrant coloration in general. Because these dark black borders boldly mark and separate the main scale color from the splotches, many hobbyists consider Okeetees to be an “ideal” representation of the corn snake.

Okeetee Morph Corn Snake — This is a hatchling Okeetee morph corn snake. They start out very small but can grow up to 5.5 feet in length.

Fun fact: This morph got its name from the Okeetee Hunt Club in Jasper County, South Carolina. This is the area of the U.S. where the snake’s wild breeding stock originated from.

Hatchling Okeetee Corn Snake — The Okeetee morph corn snake is bred to have very dark black rings around the snake’s back markings.

4. Anerythristic Corn Snake

Anerythristic corn snakes lack all red pigment, which means that their scales are combinations of white, black, and grey with some hints of brown. Some anerys also will develop yellowing around the jawline.

Anery Corn Snake — There is no red or pink pigment present in this anerythristic morph corn snake.

5. Hypomelanistic Corn Snake

This morph is most easily explained by going into the etymology of the morph’s name itself. “Hypo” means a lack of something, while “melanin” is the pigment in hair, skin, scales, etcetera that causes dark or black coloration. Therefore, a hypomelanistic corn snake would lack dark or black pigment.

This is evident when you see a hypo corn snake as it’s back blotches that are normally outlined in black will lack this definitive outline.

6. Albino Corn Snake

Albino animals lack melanin, which is the pigment responsible for producing dark coloration in animals’ skin, hair, nails, scales, etc.

Amelanistic Corn Snake — Albino corn snakes like this one, will have red eyes and lack dark pigment.

Albinism in corn snakes means that the animal will be any combination of pink, orange, white, red, or yellow. The only thing that is certain is that the snake will not have any dark brown or black pigmentation.

Side note: This morph of corn snake is also referred to as “amelanistic” due to the compete lack of melanin that is characteristic of albinism.

Conclusion

All corn snakes make great pet snakes due to their docile demeanor, manageable size, and simple care requirements. Potential corn snake owners do have a lot of choice when it comes to coloration and markings due to the vast number of morphs available today. Backwater Reptiles has many corn snake morphs for sale, but our top five morphs are listed above.

Central American Boas (Boa c. constrictor) Versus Colombian Redtail Boas (Boa c. imperator)

September 2, 2015March 3, 2023 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Here we aim to explain the differences between Central American boas, and their Columbian Redtail boa cousins. There is a lot of confusion when it comes to identifying species of boa constrictors and the truth is it’s because these snakes look very much the same! They have similar markings, temperaments, and even body shapes making it tough to identify exactly which species or subspecies you’re dealing with.

The two most common species of boa constrictors kept as pets are the Central American Boa (Boa c. constrictor), also known as the “Common Boa,” and the Colombian Red Tail Boa (Boa c. imperator). Often times herp hobbyists will abbreviate these animals to B.C.C. (Boa c. constrictor/Common boa) and B.C.I. (Boa constrictor imperator/Colombian Red Tail Boa). For brevity’s sake, we will also adopt those terms for the remainder of this article.

Because these two snake species can look so similar physically, let’s start off by noting some of the differences you can actually see when you examine the snakes. In general, B.C.I.s are heavier-bodied animals than the B.C.C.s and they will possess very red-colored tail spots (hence their name) with distinctly darker outlines. These tail spots can range from a bright red to a brick/ochre red, but they will definitely be red and not brown like the B.C.C.’s tail. B.C.I.s will also be lighter in overall complexion than the B.C.C.s.

columbian boa — Colombian Red Tailed Boa or B.c.i. boa.

The main differences of these animals however, comes from their place of origin in the wild. Because there is much debate and discussion over which specific regions in which specific countries each species of snake originates from, we’ll keep it simple and say that B.C.C.s are more readily found in the wild with a wider home range and are therefore less expensive than B.C.I.s. It’s best to find out from your supplier/breeder which country or area your snake or it’s ancestors came from as they tend to keep records of this information to maintain purity of genetics.

central american boa — Central American Boa or B. constrictor constrictor. Notice it’s rather dark complexion.

Backwater Reptiles offers Boa c. imperator for sale as well as Boa c. constrictor for sale. We also offer “Jungle Boas” for sale on our website, which are a specific species of B.C.I. with ancestors that were aberrant-patterned boas first produced in Sweden.

columbian boa eating — Red Tail Boa or B. constrictor imperator eating a fuzzy.

Top Five Snake Myths Debunked

August 19, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

Ever wondered about snake myths–what’s true, what’s not? We know that reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates are not animals that all people would see as suitable pets for many reasons. Maybe these animals are perceived as too dangerous, too tricky to care for, or even just downright scary to some people.

In this blog article, we’ll lay out the top five most common snake myths we’ve heard and simply debunk them.

Myth #5 – Snakes are slimy

We hear this one a lot, mostly from people who have never handled a snake in real life or have never known anyone who has owned or handled a snake.

snake myths debunked — Baby ball python – definitely not a slimy animal. :)

The truth is, snakes have rather dry skin ranging from rough and semi-serrated in texture like a rattlesnake’s skin or smooth and iridescent like a python or boa. Their skin is definitely NOT slimy.

Myth #4 – A large constrictor snake will gladly eat your infant or small dog

While there have been tales of infants being snatched from cradles or small dogs going missing in wild Floridian neighborhoods, overall the idea that snakes want to seek out and eat our small loved ones (and pets) is just bogus.

boa constrictor eats pet — One of our baby boa constrictors eating a pinkie mouse.

While it is true that certain species of snakes grow large enough to easily consume a baby or chihuahua, if you keep a snake that large in your home, odds are it’s being fed well. Most people keeping snakes that large have plenty of experience with them and know how to handle and maintain them. These animals are offered food regularly and therefore have no reason to escape from their enclosure to terrorize and consume small mammals or people.

Myth #3 – Snakes drink milk

This is a myth that’s been popularized due to images and videos seen from the Indian festival of Nag Panchami where snakes and images of snakes are worshipped.

Snakes are not mammals and therefore have never possessed the ability to digest milk, even at infancy. The reason snakes, often cobras, are seen drinking milk at Nag Panchami is because they are stressed and dehydrated for 30 to 45 days prior to the festival. Wouldn’t you drink milk too if you were that thirsty?

snake drink milk — Don’t give your snake milk to drink.

Another reason this myth might’ve come into existence is because snakes are often times found in barns where cows live. Naturally, people assumed that the snakes were hanging out in the barns to be near where the food/milk was. This is partially true. While snakes are attracted to food in the barn, the food for them is not the milk – it’s the mice, rats, and other small mammals that might take refuge inside the barn. The cows are of no interest to them.

Myth #2 – Snakes can hypnotize

We think the origin of this myth probably has a lot to do with Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book and its various iterations. In the novel, the snake Kaa can hypnotize his prey into his waiting jaws and this is especially highlighted in the animated Walt Disney adaptation where Kaa’s eyes go all spirally and he tries to eat Mowgli. But remember – it is just a story and that Disney movie is just a cartoon. :)

snake hypnotize — Image of Kaa the snake hypnotizing Mowgli in Disney’s “The Jungle Book.”

Snakes also don’t possess eyelids and certain species will sway gently, so it’s easy to see how this behavior could be interpreted as hypnosis. However, just because an animal can’t blink doesn’t mean its trying to coerce you into being eaten.

Myth #1 – Snakes are scary

This is the only myth that is actually somewhat open to interpretation. While we try to show people the good side of snakes and what cool and interesting creatures they are, some people just have snake phobias, which are, by definition, irrational fears.

scary snakes — Leucistic ball python in a heart shape.

While it is very true that snakes should be respected as predators in the wild, most kept in captivity are no threat to people. Most people are far too big for even an anaconda to eat. And most snakes that are kept as pets are not venomous and don’t even have large fangs to bite with.

By no means are we saying that there aren’t dangerous species of snakes out there, particularly in the wild. But the ones that are commonly kept as pets aren’t out to get you – they won’t chase you or seek you out in your sleep or try to hypnotize you into feeding yourself to them. They’re happy to eat their mice/rats, bask in their heat lamps, be taken out of their cage from time to time, and take refuge in their hidey holes when they don’t feel like being social.

What did you think of the snake myths we debunked? What snake myths have you heard that we didn’t address?

Why Do Snakes Flick Their Tongues?

August 3, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

why snakes flick tongue — A black and white striped California King Snake flicking its tongue.

Why do snakes flick their tongue? Anyone who’s ever had a pet snake or even seen a snake at the zoo has probably seen how snakes flick their tongues in and out of their mouths frequently. Ever wonder what this behavior means?

anaconda flicking tongue — A baby Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus) flicking its tongue as it explores.

In short, the tongue flicking helps the snakes gather sensory information about their surroundings. By flicking their tongues out and back in, snakes are “tasting” and “smelling” the air, ground, and everything around them in order to learn if a predator or prey is nearby.

After the snake’s tongue comes out and gathers data via minuscule moisture and chemical particles in the air, it quickly darts back into its mouth and into the snake’s Jacobson’s organ, which is a special organ located on the roof of the snake’s mouth. The Jacobson’s organ (also known as the vomeronasal organ) then sends messages to the snake’s brain which very quickly interprets the data as specific smells and allows the snake to act accordingly.

Fun fact – snakes have a special gap or hole in their “lips” called a rostral groove that allows their tongue to flit in and out without the necessity of opening their mouth. Snakes can also smell the standard way using their nostrils like most animals, but their tongues provide them with a bigger picture of their environment and setting.

snake flicking tongue — A chocolate California King Snake.

So, next time a snake flicks its tongue at you, remember it’s just “tasting” you to make sure you’re not going to try to eat it for dinner! :-P

Eight California King Snake Morphs

June 22, 2015November 19, 2015 ~ BackwaterReptiles

California King Snakes (Lampropeltis g. californiae) are extremely popular pet snakes not only because they are very easy to care for and have pleasant personalities, but also because they are available in a seemingly endless variety of different morphs.

In this blog entry, we will describe and detail eight different Cal king snake morphs.

1. “Normal” California Kingsnake

popular california kingsnake morphs — Standard or normal California King Snake

Normal king snakes can exhibit a wide array of stripes, bands, speckles, and colorations. They can stay in the black and white color spectrum or roll into the brown and red spectrum depending on where in the country the king snake originates from.

normal california kingsnake - Lampropeltis californiae — Notice the perfectly shaped “T” on the top of this normal California King Snake’s head.

In banded king snakes, the lighter color forms bands around the snake’s body, like the one pictured in this series of photos, whereas in striped snakes, a stripe (or sometimes two) runs down the length of the top of the snake’s body.

normal cal kingsnake — Normal or regular California King Snake displaying no special breeding morph patterns or coloration. This particular snake is banded and not striped.

Even though “normal” California king snakes can be found in the wild, it’s still recommended to purchase a captive bred animal as you won’t run the risk of keeping an animal with parasites or health problems.

2. High Yellow Banana California Kingsnake

As its name suggests, the High Yellow Banana Cal King Snake has more of a yellowish main color than some of its paler morphed brethren.

banana kingsnake — This High Yellow Cal King is displaying a broken stripe pattern along it’s back.

Bananas can express anywhere from a 70% to 95% yellow color, meaning that they can be 75% to 95% yellow with very little black banding or striping, depending on the heritage of the animal.

3. Albino California Kingsnake morph

Like any albino animal, albino Cal Kings lack the pigment known as melanin in their scales. This causes their eyes to appear red because the blood vessels are visible and their scales to appear pink in color because the dark pigment is missing. As they age, albino Cal Kings’ pink scales will become white.

4. Chocolate California Kingsnake morph

As you can see from these pictures, a Chocolate morph of the Cal king snake is a deep, rich brown in color. The one in these photos still possesses a bit of a pattern, but it is muddied and hard to make out. As the breeding on this morph gets purer, eventually the markings disappear altogether creating what is called a “Patternless Chocolate” morph.

The darker coloration on the chocolates is caused by hypermelanism, which is essentially the opposite of albinism. Instead of lacking dark pigment and turning pink, chocolates possess much more melanin in their scales and are therefore darker in coloration.

5. Lavender California Kingsnake morph

A Lavender Cal king is a slight variation of an albino. It is also called a “T-Positive Albino” morph because it possesses less melanin (dark pigment) in its scales than a normal snake, but still lacks enough to produce dark red eyes and a brownish-pinkish scale color.

6. Reverse Stripe California Kingsnake morph

Reverse Stripe Kingsnake - Lampropeltis californiae — Classic pose for this Reverse-striped California kingsnake

When breeders attempt to mate Cal Kings to produce a reverse striped animal, the goal is to make a white animal with a black or brown stripe running down the back. This morph can not only possess a stripe, but often they have dots, dashes, and other spots or marks on their sides, like the one we have pictured.

reverese striped california kingsnake — Reverse striping produces a white animal with black or brown stripes.

7. Black and White Striped California Kingsnake

Black and white striped Cal Kings are pretty accurately described by their morph name. As the photos show, these snakes express only black and white coloration. No yellow and no brown is present.

It should also be noted that instead of bands, black and white striped Cal Kings have a stripe or two running the length of their back.

8. High White California Kingsnake

High Whites are known for the brilliant contrast of white against black pigment in the scales. Normal Cal Kings possess a tinge of yellow, but High Whites are a true white in color. If black markings are present at all, it will be around the head and the top of the tail and the black will be a very dark, “true” black. This is a very popular morph within the reptile industry.

It’s interesting to note that High White Cal Kings are also referred to by some as “Snow” California King Snakes.

california kingsnake collage — A collage of California King Snake morphs.

This list of Cal Kings morphs is by no means all inclusive. There are many other varieties and mixtures of morphs that create “designer” king snakes. We’ve just gone over the basics and hope that it is helpful to potential Cal King owners when choosing a pet king snake.

Backwater Reptiles currently offers many different morphs of California King Snakes for sale. If you know of one you don’t see on our website, email us and we’ll try to get it for you.

Backwater Reptiles Blog

Over 250 Articles for Herp Enthusiasts

Snakes

Most Popular Corn Snake Morphs

Central American Boas (Boa c. constrictor) Versus Colombian Redtail Boas (Boa c. imperator)

Top Five Snake Myths Debunked

Why Do Snakes Flick Their Tongues?

Eight California King Snake Morphs