Auratum het Microscale, Motley, Hypo, Diffused Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Common Name: Corn Snake
Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus
Source: CB
Adult Size: 90–150cm (3–5ft), occasionally reaching up to 180cm
Native Range: South-eastern United States, from New Jersey south through Florida and west to Louisiana and Kentucky

Enclosure: A minimum 120×60×60cm Viperia PVC vivarium is recommended for an adult corn snake — furnish with a deep layer of loose substrate (such as cypress mulch or coco coir) to allow burrowing, at least two secure hides (one at the warm end, one at the cool end), and a selection of cork bark or branches to provide enrichment and climbing opportunities
Heating: Provide a warm basking spot of around 30–32°C at one end of the vivarium, with a cooler ambient temperature of 24–26°C at the opposite end; a gentle night-time drop to 18–20°C is perfectly acceptable and mirrors natural conditions
Humidity: Maintain ambient humidity at 40–60%; this can be achieved by lightly misting one side of the vivarium every few days and using a moisture-retentive substrate — raise humidity slightly (to around 70%) during shed cycles to assist sloughing
UVB: A 6% UVB tube run along most of the vivarium's width, positioned so the animal can bask 25–35cm from the lamp — while corn snakes are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk) and can survive without UVB, providing low-level UV lighting supports natural behaviour and overall long-term wellbeing
Diet: Corn snakes are carnivores that feed exclusively on appropriately sized frozen/thawed mice or rats — juveniles typically eat pinky or fuzzy mice every 5–7 days, while adults can be fed every 10–14 days; always defrost prey thoroughly and feed using tongs to avoid accidental strikes

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

Corn snakes are native to the forests, farmland, and rocky hillsides of the south-eastern United States, where they play a valuable role controlling rodent populations. They are one of the most popular pet snakes in the world — and for very good reason — combining a manageable adult size, genuine hardiness, and an almost endless variety of beautiful colour morphs produced through decades of selective breeding.

Calm, curious, and generally very tolerant of handling once settled, corn snakes are widely considered the ideal first snake for a new keeper, yet they remain enduringly rewarding for experienced enthusiasts too. This particular individual carries a stunning combination of recessive and polygenic traits — the Hypo, Cinder, Sunkissed, and Anerythristic genes working together to produce a softly washed, contrast-rich animal, with the Het Palmetto adding exciting future breeding potential.