One of the most common pets for reptile lovers, the corn snake is medium-sized, docile, and very colorful to look at. They are easy to care for and do not mind being handled by humans, making them a popular choice for pets. The corn snake is a type of rat snake that originates in North America.
Why are they called albino corn snakes?
These reptiles are particularly striking to look at, with their corn-kernel patterned underbellies and bright eyes. They are albino, which means they lack melanin that allows humans and animals alike to have black pigment in their skin. Their scales come in various shades of bright red, yellow, orange, and white. Their eyes, too, can be red, orange, or pink.
Albino vs leucistic
Leucism is a partial loss of pigmentation. It can cause white, pale, or patchy coloration of the scales, but not the eyes. Blue-eyed leucistic ball pythons are a stunning example of leucism. Albinism is different from leucism. Albinism results in a reduction of melanin production, this has the effect of lighter-colored or pale scales and eyes.
Is an albino corn snake poisonous?
Corn snakes belong to the colubrids group. Only a few of the colubrids group are venomous and corn snakes are not one of them. Albino corn snakes are neither poisonous nor venomous.
Corn snakes are excellent predators that survive by hunting warm-blooded animals such as rats, mice, baby rabbits, etc. They kill their prey through constriction not via venom. They strike their prey with sharp curved teeth that allow the corn snake to hold them in place while they wrap themselves around and begin to squeeze.
Where do albino corn snakes live?
Corn snakes live in North America. They are commonly found across the southeast and central parts of the United States of America. They can usually be easily spotted in farms that cultivate corn or other grains, hence the name, and they help catch, kill, and subsequently eat rodents that could possibly affect the crops.
Do albino corn snakes bite?
Albino corn snakes are quite docile snakes and make excellent pets. That said, their natural tendency when feeding is to strike, bite, and hold their prey followed by the wrapping and constriction process. So, in general, they will not bite but when feeding the albino corn snake it is wise to avoid placing your hand between your pet and its meal. Using tongs during feeding time is an excellent approach to avoiding inadvertent bites.
Are albino corn snakes good pets?
Albino corn snakes are excellent pets. Their lack of aggression, beautiful markings, and fortitude make them ideal. Just be mindful that they can have a lifespan of 30 years so be sure you’re in it for the long haul before committing to this or any pet for that matter.
Caring for a pet albino corn snake
Housing
If you’re wondering how to house a pet albino corn snake, you can place them in a tank or enclosure with a place for them to hide. Appropriate hides include hollow logs, clay pots, and purpose-built and sold hiding spots.
It’s best to avoid live plants as they may potentially house harmful microorganisms. An excellent alternative is artificial plants that can be appropriately sterilized. Look for a hardy artificial branch that your albino corn snake can climb. This will encourage them to be mobile and explore their home.
The size of their enclosure needs to be widened as they grow and in accordance with how big they get as adults. A glass enclosure or acrylic terrarium, anywhere between 70-80 gallons, can comfortably host an adult albino corn snake. The best bet is to buy a terrarium where your snake can stretch to its full length without touching any walls. Also, consider that corn snakes like to climb so a short enclosure is not ideal.
Ultraviolet light
Albino corn snakes lack melanin in their skin, hence the word albino in their name. As a result, you must be sure to avoid exposure to direct UV light. With little to no melanin in their skin, there is nothing to protect them from the harmful impact of ultraviolet light.
What do albino corn snakes eat?
A pet albino corn snake, much like the wild ones you find in corn or grain farms, eats rodents. You can usually feed your pet dead rodents, freshly thawed and allowed to warm up at room temperature. Live prey is also an option but there is a chance that the prey may injure your pet as they struggle, in vain, to avoid being eaten.
Health and life expectancy
Albino corn snakes are pretty hardy and can look after themselves relatively well. One disadvantage is that, out in the wild, their vibrant and exotic coloring doesn’t make for a great camouflage and leaves them somewhat at a disadvantage.
They live anywhere between five to eight years in the wild and fifteen to twenty years in captivity where their survival isn’t threatened. The record for the oldest corn snake in captivity was 32 years and 3 months.
If your pet albino corn snake is ill, he might be showing some of the following symptoms:
- Refuse meals.
- Breathing and movements might be labored.
- Hide or lay curled up for extended periods of time.
- Shed irregularly and incompletely.
- Particularly aggressive, by hissing and shaking and displaying defensive behavior.
Take him to a vet to get him checked out for any possible health issues.
Fun facts about the albino corn snake.
- Albino corn snakes are oviparous.
- Hatchling albino corn snakes are rather dull and their scales are not lustrous or colorful. It is only as they mature into adults that their scales develop and brighten.
- An average female albino corn snake will lay 12 eggs at a time. The highest ever recorded eggs that have been laid by an albino corn snake is 32.
- Albino corn snakes are often mistaken for copperheads, which are venomous, and are consequently killed.
- The genus name of the albino corn snake, Elaphe, is derived from the Latin word elaps which means snake, and the species name guttata is from the Latin word gutta which means spotted or dappled.