The albino corn snake is a unique color morph of the common corn snake. Instead of the normal orange or brownish-yellow, this morph has pink, yellow and orange markings with red eyes. Their charming and exotic look is loved by hobbyists and experienced keepers.
These friendly, medium-sized snakes are one of the most popular pet species in the world. Interested in keeping your own? Keep reading for the best care tips, info sheets, and buyer’s guide.
| Species Overview | |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Albino corn snake |
| Scientific Name | Pantherophis guttatus |
| Family | Colubridae |
| Range | Southeastern U.S., from New Jersey to the Florida Keys, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee |
| Size | 2 – 6 feet |
| Color | Pale pink, white, and yellow |
| Lifespan | 20 years |
| Husbandry | Easy |
| Diet | Small rodents |
| Tank Size | 40-gallon long tank |
| Temperature | 70-85°F |
| Price | $40-$100 |
Article Contents
Albino Corn Snakes
The albino corn snake is a color morph bred from the common corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus).
These snakes have a mutation that prevents their skin from producing melanin. Melanin is a pigment that creates black and brown colors.
This mutation doesn’t harm the snake and is the reason for their delicate colors.
In normal corn snakes their dark orange, black, and red colors are created by melanin. In contrast, albinos are pale pink, yellow, peach and white with red eyes. Their red eyes are a result of the lack of pigment in their retinas. This means they have sensitive eyes and can be shy in the daytime.
Rare albino morphs are highly prized due to their fantastic colorations.
These morphs might look very different, but they are the same species.
Corn snakes are a medium-sized, harmless species found across the southeastern United States. Wild individuals are very adaptive and can be found living in forests, open fields, farms and pine savannas.
The albino mutation can occur naturally in the wild.
However, wild albino morphs usually don’t survive because they are an easy target for predators.
The first albino corn snakes were bred in captivity in the 1960s, making them one of the earliest morphs developed!
They are one of the most versatile and widely bred morphs. Breeders have taken the basic albino mutation and used it to create new and exciting morphs, like the mandarin, opal, fire and reverse Okeetee.
This species is also one of the best pet snakes for beginners. They are perfect for keepers who want a good beginner snake that is easy to care for, but still has a beautiful and exotic look.
They are often adopted over standard wild-types because of their more unusual and vibrant colors.
Are They Good Pets?
Albino corn snakes are excellent pet snakes for reptile owners of any experience level. Whether you are new to keeping reptiles, or have years of experience, you will love this snake’s colors, personality and simple husbandry.
Pet albino corn snakes are very popular and easy to care for. They typically grow to a maximum of 60 inches, but are slender, lightweight snakes that only weigh 2 pounds as adults.
Their care is very similar to other corn snake morphs.
A single adult will thrive in a 40-gallon terrarium with an under-tank heater and a few inches of substrate. They are hardy, forgiving of beginner mistakes and can live for up to 20 years.
One of their best qualities is their docile temperament.
This species is known for being exceptionally docile, friendly and outgoing. Once tamed and socialized to handling, they often enjoy interacting with their owners and rarely bite.
Thanks to their popularity, they are also widespread and cheap.
Most pet stores that carry reptiles will have an albino corn snake for sale. The albino is the most common type of corn snake morph.
Many pet owners choose to buy them because of their gorgeous coloration. Albinos come in many shades, from candy pink and pastel yellow to lavender, white, and even bold red. They are often more eye-catching than the traditional wild-type and are similar in price.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Beautiful markings and a wide range of colors from candy pink and pastel yellow to lavender. | Can be picky eaters and sometimes go on ‘hunger strikes’. |
| Easy and rewarding species to keep with a 20 year lifespan. | Prone to respiratory and skin infections if not kept in a clean enclosure. |
| Widely available to buy at pet stores, reptile expos, animal rescues, or from breeders. | Some designer albino morphs can be expensive. |
| Friendly, outgoing personality which makes them great for handling. | Sensitive to bright light and strong UV because of their red eyes. |
Appearance
Albino corn snakes are also called amelanistic or “amel” because of their genetic mutation.
Instead of the tans, blacks, and rusty reds of regular corn snakes, this morph is colored with shades of pink, yellow, orange, red, cream, peach and white.
Owners find their pale colors make them especially cute!
We love the albino corn snake because of its variety, no two will look the same.
They have light red circular patches down their backs with orange bands on each side. Their underbellies are white with an apricot-colored checkerboard pattern. They also have a V-shaped orange marking on the tops of their heads.
One of their most defining traits is their red and pink eyes.
Red eyes are the easiest way to spot a true albino. Other light-colored morphs like the moonstone and ice have dark-colored eyes.
Albinism is a color morph, not a pattern morph. This species will have the same patterns as wild-types unless they are crossed with a differently patterned morph.
Size
Hatchlings only measure between 8 and 12 inches long and weigh just 6 to 8 grams!
They grow quickly in their first year of life and have an appetite to match. It is important to provide a baby with a healthy diet during this early life stage to help it grow and develop properly.
By the time they reach one year old, they will be 35 to 40 inches long and weigh 100 to 400 grams. At this point, their growth starts to slow. However, they will continue to grow for another year, until they reach their full adult size.
Corn snakes have indeterminant growth and never truly stop growing (like many reptiles), but their growth after two years is so slow that it is not usually noticeable.
After two years, your albino corn snake is considered fully grown.
Full grown albino corn snakes typically measure 36 to 60 inches from snout to tail, though their maximum size can be up to 72 inches. The average weight of an adult corn snake is 900 grams.
In comparison, a ball python of the same length can weigh 3000 grams! These snakes should be slim and lightweight.
There is no size difference between male and females and no good way to predict what size your snake will turn out to be. These snakes grow based on nutrition and health, but genetics plays the largest role in their adult size.
Colors
Selective breeding has created many types of albino corn snake morphs.
In combination with the albino genes, the offspring will have a new appearance based on their parents’ genetics.
Some of the most common sub-morphs include the:
- Black Albino Motley Corn Snake
- Red Albino
- White Albino
- Pink Albino
- Lavender Albino
All of these morphs are created by breeding the albino corn snake with other morphs.
The black albino is bred by crossing the motley pattern morph with the black and albino color morphs. These snakes are charcoal gray with dark brown and black markings and a clean, light gray underside. They are patterned with dark, circular blotches on their backs.
Red albinos are one of the most vibrant types of corn snakes and come in deeper, richer hues than standard albino corn snakes.
The white albino morph is very pale, usually with light pink patterns on a white base color. This morph is often crossbred with other morphs to lighten colors and reduce patterns.
Pink albinos are famous for their candy pink hues. They usually have lighter red or apricot eyes and peachy markings on a soft pink base color. The most popular type is the coral snow corn snake.
The lavender morph is almost entirely white with faint lavender markings. Lavenders have lower levels of red and yellow in their scales. Some individuals can appear ash-colored or have a blue tint.
Albino Corn Care Sheet
Albino corn snakes give beginner reptile keepers a unique chance to own a one-of-a-kind, eye-catching snake, without having to give up the easy care and husbandry. They have nearly the same care requirements as a regular corn snake and are great for beginners.
The main difference between wild-type and albino corn snakes is their sensitivity to UV light.
These morphs lack pigment in their eyes and scales which makes them more sensitive to bright light and strong UV.
When keeping one you should not expose them to bright lights or powerful UV rays. It is also a good idea to setup plenty of hides and dark areas in their tank.
Tank Setup
An adult should be kept in a 40-gallon long tank, though these active snakes always appreciate more space. Babies can be kept in a container the size of a shoebox, but will need a larger tank well-before they reach their second birthday.
Corn snakes are terrestrial and usually stay close to the ground. They need an enclosure that is longer than it is tall to let them move around naturally. Floor space is more important for them than vertical space.
Their terrarium should be also secured with a tight-fitting mesh top and front-open doors secured with a lock. These snakes are known to be escape artists!
Albino corn snakes in particular need plenty of hides and hiding spaces that block a lot of light.
Bright lights make them uncomfortable, and they should have at least three solid hides that create dark spaces.
Terracotta pots, hollow logs, and live or fake plants are all good options to help them feel comfortable.
Setup
- Tank: 40-gallon long tank with mesh top.
- Substrate: A few inches of aspen shavings.
- Décor: Terracotta pots, hollow logs, or live/fake plants.
- Temperature: Basking spot of 90°F; ambient temperature of 70-75°F.
- Humidity: 50-60%.
Temperature
One end of the tank should have an ambient temperature between 70-75°F. The other end should be heated with an under-tank heater to an air temperature of 80-85°F. The surface temperature of the basking spot should be around 90°F. If your room stays cool, you can include a ceramic heater above the basking spot to help it reach the right temperature.
Lighting
This species does not need any special lighting, though they should be kept in a room that gets light during the day and dark at night. A natural light cycle is important, but your snake’s enclosure should never be placed in direct sunlight as this can cause overheating.
Humidity
All corn snakes do well with 50-60% humidity. You can create the perfect humidity by adding a humid hide box lined with damp sphagnum moss to the tank. This creates a small, highly humid environment to help them shed properly. Constantly high humidity over 60% can cause infections, while low humidity can cause shedding problems.
Substrate
The best substrate to use is aspen shavings. This loose material is dust and oil-free, easy to clean and lets your snake show off its natural digging behaviors. Coconut fiber is slightly messier, but a dark-colored substrate like coconut fiber can help the pale colors of your albino corn snake pop! Substrate should be spot cleaned daily and changed completely once per month.
Diet
Corn snakes are carnivores that normally hunt rodents near farms, chicken coops and granaries. They will also opportunistically hunt other small animals like birds, reptiles and eggs.
They are active hunters that detect prey with their vision and smell.
Though they are most active during the day, they will often enter dark rodent burrows underground to search for food. These snakes are especially good at sensing chemicals given off by mammals, which helps them hunt in low-light conditions.
Albino corn snakes are just as skilled as hunters as the normal wild-type.
The staple diet for pet albino corn snakes is frozen-thawed feeder rodents.
A fully-grown adult will be happy with a small rat or 2 large mice every 1–2 weeks. Once a month you can feed a frozen-thawed hamster, quail chick or quail egg as a treat.
These snakes need a whole-animal diet to keep them healthy and maintain their bright colors. They get most of their essential vitamins and minerals from their prey, as long as they are fed a whole-animal diet.
You can lightly dust their food with a calcium and multivitamin supplement once a month to boost their nutrition.
| Age | Prey | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 6 months (hatchling) | 1 fuzzy or pinkie mouse | 5 – 7 days |
| 6 – 12 months (young juvenile) | 2 hopper mice or 1 small adult mouse | 5 – 7 days |
| 1 – 2 years (juvenile) | 1 large mouse or hopper rat | 7 – 10 days |
| 2 – 4 years (subadult) | 2 large mice or 1 medium/large rat | 7 – 10 days |
| 4+ years (adult) | 2 – 3 large mice or 1 small rat | 7 – 14 days |
Lifespan
The average albino corn snake lifespan for pets is 15 to 20 years. However, these snakes are known to occasionally live up to 23 years! They are healthy morphs that do not have any genetic problems and live just as long as normal corn snakes.
Apart from their more sensitive eyes, they have no inherent health problems.
The lifespan of a wild corn snake is very different.
Albino corn snakes are easy for predators to spot because they are unable to blend into their surroundings. They rarely survive for more than a few days after hatching.
Maintaining good husbandry and hygiene is key to keeping a healthy snake.
You should also take your snake for regular veterinary checkups to catch and treat any potential health problems early on.
Albino corn snakes are hardy, but they can still develop health problems brought on by improper care, including:
- Respiratory infections
- Light sensitivity
- Mouth rot
- Parasites
Respiratory infections in corn snakes are especially serious as they only have only one lung. Snakes that are lethargic, wheezing, and breathing through their mouths may have a respiratory infection.
If you notice your snake hiding for most of the day, its lighting may be too bright. They should be active during the daytime, so try dimming the tank lights or switching to a weaker bulb to help their sensitive eyes.
Mouth rot includes several bacterial and fungal infections that affect the tissues around the mouth. It is similar to scale rot and symptoms include blood, pus, or mucus around the mouth and nose, lethargy and crusty scales.
Mites look like tiny black dots moving on your snake’s body and in the bedding.
Corn snakes can contract parasitic worms from eating infected prey. This is why you should never feed rodents caught from the wild, as these are often carriers of parasites.
Buyer’s Guide
The albino corn morph is a common snake and the most popular morph on the market. A standard, base albino snake can sell for $40 to $100. These are the most frequent albino corn snakes for sale at pet stores.
Their price can range widely based on genetics, patterns, and crosses with other morphs.
Some specialty albino corn snake morphs such as the ultramel palmetto and amel paradox can sell for over $1,000!
Beginner keepers should generally not pay more than $100. More expensive albinos are usually best reserved for breeders and serious collectors.
Where you should look to buy one depends on how much you want to spend and what kind of morph you are looking for. Breeders are more likely to carry rare and more high-end morphs, while pet stores usually have only the base albino.
Reptile expos are a good place to find both standard and specialty morphs.
Choosing One
Choosing a healthy snake from the start is a great way to minimize the chances of future health problems. Good signs to look for in a healthy snake are:
- Clear eyes
- A full, round body
- Bright scales
- Active, inquisitive nature
Snakes at reptile expos are usually stressed and may not appear as active as they normally are. In this case, pay attention to other physical signs of good health.
For albino corn snakes specifically, look for hatchlings without kinks in their spines or “bug eyes.” These problems are occasionally inherited from other morphs.
Avoid any hatchling that:
- Appears listless
- Has dull or patchy scales
- Is wheezing or bubbling at the nose and mouth
- Is underweight or too thin
There are many pros of buying a snake in person as you can make sure your new pet is healthy. However, after buying, it is always a good idea to take them to an exotic vet for a full checkup and health exam.
Buying a snake from an online breeder carries a risk, though there are many reputable ones out there.
Summary
Albino corn snakes are a color morph of the normal corn snake.
They are especially loved for their beautiful, pale colors and pink eyes. Hatchlings come in a stunning array of colors from candy pink to pastel yellow. This morph is sure to be an eye-catcher and they are often chosen over wild-types because of their interesting colors.
Albino corn snakes might look very different from wild-type corn snakes, but they are the same species.
These snakes give keepers a chance to own a one-of-a-kind morph, with the same care requirements of a regular corn snake.
Their docile nature and friendliness makes them great for handling. Their simple husbandry makes them a great choice for beginners.
What do you like most about this unique corn snake morph? Let us know in the comments.
