The Blizzard Corn Snake is one of the most stunning and attractive morphs among snake lovers. With its pure white, almost ethereal appearance, they capture the attention of reptile lovers.
This corn snake morph is best to keep as a pet for both beginner and experienced pet owners. Let’s explore why they are the best choice to keep a pet, including its care, diet, habitat, lifespan, breeding, and more.
What is a Blizzard Corn Snake?
It is a morph of the common Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus). Morphs are genetic variations that result in unique colour patterns and physical traits.
The Blizzard Corn Snake morph is entirely white, with no visible patterns, giving it a striking and ghostly appearance.
Blizzard Corn Snake Morph Genetics
This morph is formed by combining two recessive traits: the amelanistic (amel) gene, which removes all black pigmentation, and the anerythristic gene, which remove red and yellow pigments.
Blizzard Corn Snake History & Origin
Corn Snakes are native to the southeastern United States. Blizzard Corn Snake Habitats are forests, grasslands, and agricultural fields.
This morph does not naturally exist. It’s a man-made morph that was developed through selective breeding.
The first Blizzard Corn Snake was created by combining amelanistic and anerythristic Corn Snakes, resulting in a snake that lacks all pigmentation.
The creation of this morph was a significant achievement in the reptile breeding community, as it introduced a completely white Corn Snake morph that quickly gained popularity among snake enthusiasts.
Blizzard Corn Snake Taxonomy
They belong to the Animalia kingdom, placing it among all animals. It is part of the Chordata phylum, which includes animals with a backbone.
As a member of the Reptilia class, it is a reptile, characterized by its cold-blooded nature and scaly skin. It falls under the Squamata order, which consists of snakes and lizards.
Within this order, it is classified in the Colubridae family, the largest family of snakes, most of which are non-venomous. The genus Pantherophis includes the Blizzard Corn Snake, linking it to other closely related species.
Finally, its species name is Pantherophis guttatus, which identifies it as a specific type of Corn Snake, known for its unique blizzard coloration due to selective breeding.
Blizzard Corn Snake Characteristics
Blizzard Corn Snake Appearance
One of the most notable features of this corn snake morph is its pure white colouration. Unlike other Corn Snake morphs that may have patterns or blotches. But they are completely devoid of any markings, making it truly unique.
Blizzard Corn Snake’s eyes are red or pink, which adds to their striking appearance. This eye colour is due to the lack of dark pigmentation in the iris, a common trait among amelanistic snakes.
Blizzard Corn Snake Size & Weight
They typically grow to a length of about 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 meters) when fully mature. In terms of weight, they usually weigh between 1 to 2 pounds (450 to 900 grams).
Blizzard Corn Snake Behavior
These snakes are generally calm and friendly. This corn snake morph is known for their docile nature and usually enjoys being handled.
They are curious and like to explore their surroundings but are not aggressive. They may occasionally hiss if they feel threatened, but they rarely bite.
Why Blizzard Corn Snakes Make Great Pets
They are popular pets for several reasons. They are easy to care for, adapting well to life in captivity. Their gentle temperament makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced snake keepers.
They don’t require complex or costly setups, and their feeding needs are straightforward. Their unique blizzard colours make them look very pretty, adding a lovely touch to any reptile collection.
Blizzard Corn Snakes Lifespan
They are typically live for about 10 to 15 years in captivity. With proper care, some can even live a bit longer, making them a long-term companion.
Blizzard Corn Snake Cost
Their cost is usually between $100 and $300. The price can vary based on factors like age, size, and where you buy them.
Blizzard Corn Snake Breeding & Reproduction
Breeding Blizzard Corn Snakes can be a rewarding experience, especially if you are interested in producing more unique morphs. Here are some details, about what you need to know, before breeding:
Breeding Age: They are typically ready to breed when they are 2 to 3 years old. Females should be at least 300 grams in weight, while males can breed at a slightly smaller size.
Breeding Season: Corn Snakes, including Blizzard morphs, usually breed in the spring. To simulate natural conditions, you can provide a cooling period during the winter months by lowering the temperature in the enclosure to around 55°F to 65°F for a few weeks. This process is known as brumation and helps trigger the breeding cycle.
Mating: Once the cooling period is over, gradually increase the temperature and introduce the male corn snake to the female’s enclosure. If successful, the pair will mate, and the female will lay a clutch of eggs approximately 30 to 45 days later.
Eggs and Incubation: A typical clutch contains 10 to 20 eggs. The eggs should be incubated at a temperature of 82°F to 85°F, with high humidity. Incubation usually lasts 55 to 60 days.
Hatchlings: Blizzard Corn Snake hatchlings, are usually around 10 to 12 inches long at birth. They will begin feeding on pinkie mice after their first shed, which occurs about a week after hatching.
Famous Blizzard Corn Snake Combinations
While they are already unique and beautiful morphs, breeders often create new and exciting combinations by pairing them with other morphs. Some popular Blizzard Corn Snake morph combinations include:
- Blizzard Pied: A combination of the Blizzard and Pied genes, resulting in a snake with pure white colouration and patches of unpigmented scales.
- Blizzard Lavender: This morph combines the Blizzard and Lavender genes, producing a snake with a light lavender hue and a ghostly appearance.
- Blizzard Snow: A mix of the Blizzard and Snow genes, leading to a snake with a very pale, almost translucent appearance.
These combinations enhance the already stunning Blizzard morph, making them even more desirable among collectors.
Blizzard Corn Snake Care Sheet
Caring for a Blizzard Snake is simple and easy, for both beginner and experienced pet owners. Here, we describe its care sheet in detail. You must know how to care for this corn snake morph if you want to keep it.
Enclosure
For an Adult Blizzard Corn Snake, a 20-gallon enclosure is recommended. Length-wise, they required 30 inches long, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches tall tank. This tank length will give your snake enough space to move comfortably.
For Corn snakes, a glass tank is usually recommended. Because they allow easy viewing and maintain humidity well. However, plastic or wooden enclosures can also work, as long as they have proper ventilation.
Make sure the enclosure has a secure lid. Because Corn Snakes are escape artists. So, arrange a tight-fitting lid that prevents their escaping.
Temperature & Heating
The enclosure should have a temperature gradient, meaning one side is warmer than the other. Keep the warm side at 85-90°F (29-32°C) and the cooler side around 75-80°F (24-27°C).
This allows your Snake to regulate its body temperature by moving between the two areas. Also provide a Basking area, on the warm side of their enclosure.
A basking area is important for them. Because it warms up when needed, which is crucial for their metabolism and overall health.
At night, drop the temperature slightly, but make sure it doesn’t go below 70°F (21°C). Use heat mats or ceramic heaters to maintain the correct temperatures.
Avoid using heat rocks, as they can cause burns. Also use a thermostat, because it prevents overheating and ensures that the temperature stays within the safe range.
Humidity & Lighting
Blizzard Corn Snakes thrive in humidity levels between 40-60%. This level of humidity is achieved by a water bowl and the right substrate.
To maintain humidity, you can use a large water bowl placed on the warm side of the enclosure, which helps increase humidity through evaporation. Also, use a hygrometer to keep an eye on the humidity levels.
Corn Snakes don’t necessarily need UVB lighting. If you choose to use UVB, ensure it’s not too strong and is on for 10-12 hours a day.
Set your lights to be on for about 12 hours during the day and off for 12 hours at night. This simulates their natural environment and helps regulate their activity levels.
Substrate
For Blizzard Corn Snake morphs, Aspen shavings are a popular choice. Because they hold humidity well and are easy to spot clean.
The substrate depth of about 2-3 inches is generally sufficient for Corn Snake morphs, that’s enough for your snake to burrow. If your snake enjoys burrowing more then you will require a deeper substrate.
Change the substrate in your corn snake’s tank completely every 4-6 weeks. This keeps the tank clean and helps stop bacteria and bad smells from building up.
Blizzard Corn Snake Diet
They mainly eat mice. The baby blizzard corn snake feeds on pinky mice (baby mice). As they grow, you can move up to larger mice. Occasionally, some people might feed them small rats, but mice are usually sufficient.
Juvenile Blizzard Corn Snakes should be fed once every 5-7 days. Adults can be fed every 7-10 days. The prey should be about the same width as the snake’s widest part.
Feeding prey that’s too large can cause digestive problems. It’s best to feed frozen-thawed mice rather than live ones.
Read Also, What Do Corn Snakes Eat?
Handling
After a meal, it’s important not to handle your snake for at least 48 hours. Because handling can disturb the snake’s digestive process and cause stress.
Support your snake’s body with both hands and avoid sudden movements. Let the snake move through your hands rather than restraining it.
If your snake hisses, becomes stiff or tries to escape repeatedly, it may be stressed. In these cases, it’s best to gently return them to their enclosure.
Blizzard Corn Snake Shedding
Young Blizzard Corn Snakes shed their skin every few weeks while adults do less often. If your snake’s eyes turn cloudy, it is a sign, the shedding process will begin soon.
Increase the humidity in the enclosure slightly during shedding. This helps the old skin come off more easily.
If your snake has trouble shedding, you can help by providing a rough surface for it to rub against or gently soaking it in lukewarm water.
Blizzard Corn Snakes Health Issues
A healthy Blizzard Corn Snake will be active, have clear eyes, and shed regularly in one complete piece. Watch out for respiratory infections (symptoms include wheezing or mucus), mites (tiny black or red dots), and scale rot (discoloured or damaged scales).
If you notice any of these signs consult with a reptilian vet. Early treatment can prevent more serious problems.
Conclusion
The Blizzard Corn Snake is a stunning and easy-to-care-for pet, making it a great choice for both beginners and experienced snake owners. With its unique white appearance and gentle nature, this snake is truly special.
By providing the right care, habitat, and diet, your Corn Snake can live a long, healthy, and happy life. Whether you’re interested in its genetics, breeding potential, or just love its looks, this Snake is a fantastic addition to any reptile collection.
