With more than 3,000 different species of snakes in the world, the Palmetto Corn Snake stands out as one of the more unique forms.
The Palmetto Corn Snake is a genetically inclined snake with inheritance that makes it a noteworthy breed. Its genetics are expressed in a colorful spotted pattern, while also possessing a calm and docile nature. Palmetto snakes can make for a good first pet or hobby of interest.
Of course, there is more to know, so let’s dive in and see what Palmetto snakes are really like.
Palmetto Corn Snake Colors
Palmetto Corn Snakes have an interesting color pattern. Typically, they present themselves with nearly all-white base color that coats them from their snout to the tip of their tail.
On top of their cloud-like color, they also have small dots that run along their dorsal area. You may find a few on their sides, but the spots usually are localized to their back.
These spots are one of the defining features of the Palmetto Corn Snake and can come in various colors. Mostly, you’ll find brown, orange, and red spots; some of the spots could also appear clear or a foggy gray color as well.
They rarely stray from this shared breed pattern but have been mixed with other morphs to create different colors.
Interestingly, Palmetto hatchlings are born with little-to-no spots, as they will develop as they grow.
Palmetto Corn Snake Genetics
The mode of genetic inheritance for the Palmetto Corn Snake is through an incomplete dominant gene mutation; meaning that it will still take on the major features of the gene, with some differences in and on various parts of the snake.
Although there are striking similarities, the Palmetto is incompletely dominant to its wild form and takes on its own characteristics and traits.
Palmetto Corn genetics are stable throughout the breed and will usually develop the same snake when it comes to breeding, which makes it a reliable type of snake to create more.
The genetics of the Palmetto also account for other interesting physical features such as their wide eyes and color change from hatchling to adult.
Additionally, when a Palmetto snake mixes with another breed, their genetics are more prone to be a fine blend of the two based on the strength of the dominant gene.
How Much is a Palmetto Corn Snake?
A Palmetto Corn Snake can cost within the range of 400 to 4,000 dollars each.
This is because of their popularity and rarity. As a hatchling, you can haggle for simpler prices and come out with a couple of baby Palmettos.
The price begins to increase as the snake does.
As the hatchling begins to come into its white color and develop more spots, the price will spike. By the time they are 12 inches to 16 inches, a Palmetto Corn Snake can range between 800 and 1,500 dollars.
Sexual maturity plays a role in the quality prices of a Palmetto. Once the snake is capable of reproduction, they can sell from 1,500 to 3,000 dollars depending on whether they are male or female; and females typically cost more than males due to their larger size and maintenance.
Rare breeds of Palmetto Corn Snakes can cost between 3,00 and 4,000 dollars depending on what the breed of the other snake they are paired with.
What Do Baby Palmetto Corn Snakes Look Like?
You would think that baby Palmetto Corn Snakes are born white like their adult self, but that wouldn’t be true.
Baby Palmetto Corn Snakes crack out of their eggshell in a bold pink color.
As they grow, their skin cells develop various forms of melanin that will be used to help saturate the Palmettos scale color.
Speaking of scales, although it isn’t apparent from afar, if you look closely at one, you can see that baby Palmetto Corn Snakes in fact have scales, despite their lack of color. The definition of their scales that create the famous diamond pattern is what gives away their sensitive covering.
Their eyes are wide open from the time they are born and present the same way across the Palmetto snake breed.
As hatchlings, baby Palmetto Corn Snakes can have spots; however, they are very faint, or a tannish-brown color that can be a challenge for some to notice.
Palmetto Corn Snake Morphs
Palmetto Corn Snakes are a dominant form of snake that can be intermixed with a different type to create an offspring that shares the qualities of both parent snakes.
These morphs can then become their own breed if mixed with the same type because of similar genetic makeup.
There are of different kinds of Palmetto Corn Snake morphs, so I’ll list a few here with a small description:
- Caramel Palmetto Corn Snake: a dark brown snake with darkened scales that resemble dots.
- Scaleless Palmetto Corn Snake: lacks the scales and spots of the typical Palmetto.
- Het Palmetto Corn Snake: Similar with white base along with oval-shaped patterned scales.
Wild Palmetto Corn Snakes are a rare find, so, creating or finding different morphs are an uphill, yet obtainable challenge for breeders and snake hobbyists alike.
Palmetto Corn Snake Shedding
Palmetto Corn Snakes can shed once to twice per year as mature adults and 2 to 4 times per year as hatchlings.
Shedding is simply the process that all snakes go through as their muscles and scales become bigger than their skin; and the Palmetto Corn Snake is no different. When your Palmetto is starting to shed, you’ll notice that its eyes have become a cloudy grayish-blue color.
This is the initial process stage that takes a couple of days to pass. Once their eyes clear out, the physical shedding of their skin will commence.
For the next 3 to 4 days, the Palmetto will rip and wipe away its old skin on random and coarse objects that it can find.
During their shedding process, they’ll spend a lot of time by themselves because of the sensitivity and vulnerability of their skin. After about one to two weeks, their shedding is complete, and their new skin has grown in.
Palmetto Corn Snake Facts
Palmetto Corn Snakes are interesting reptiles that live easy lives in the wild and within domestication, and there are some cool facts about them that could expand your horizon about them.
Did you know that Palmettos can grow to be up to 6 feet long? This is rare for most Palmetto Corn Snakes, but it is possible under the optimal environment and feeding conditions.
Also, baby Palmetto Corn Snakes do not have the colorful spots that their adult version has. This is because of the lack of melanin that it possesses.
Additionally, Palmetto Corn Snakes do not have any venom in them, which makes them a non-poisonous snake. They don’t have fangs either; their small teeth are used to push whole mammals down their throat.
These snakes rarely bite humans and despite their size, are unlikely to try to strangle you; and this is because of their nature to be a relaxed and nonchalant type of animal.
How to Breed Palmetto Corn Snake?
Palmettos can be a shy breed to intermix at times; and although it may take a few sessions to get the first mating action underway, it’s an achievable process to breed new Palmetto Corn Snakes.
You’ll want to wait until your female and male are both sexually mature to produce gametes, which is around 9 months for males and 2 years for females.
Once this is confirmed, you can pair your Palmetto with another snake, whether it be a Palmetto of different type. Over multiple sessions, the snakes will engage in mating rituals that will lead to coitus.
It takes several weeks for the mating process to complete, but once it’s over and she’s pregnant, your Palmetto will soon release her eggs.
You can choose to manually hibernate the eggs with a heated lamp or choose the natural way of letting the mother snake do it for about 60 days.
Palmetto Corn Snake Big Eyes
Palmetto Corn Snakes present with big round dark eyes that slightly protrude from their eye socket; this is part of their genetic mutation and has lasting impressions on many that notice them.
Like other eyes, their pupils are black, yet their iris is a dark brown tone, which boldly clashes against the white of their skin.
Another reason as to why their eyes are noteworthy is because of how wide they are. Imagine opening your eyes as wide as you can and never closing them…that’s what it is like to have the eyes of a Palmetto Corn Snake.
They do not have eyelids to protect their eyes like us humans; instead, they have a thin layer of sheath that covers their eyes and keeps them moist throughout the day.
Palmetto Corn Snake Origin
The Palmetto Corn Snake has its origin from South Carolina.
Since this snake can be found in the forest amongst the state trees Sabal Palmetto and Inodes Palmetto, this Corn Snake has accurately earned the nickname “palmetto”.
It’s a great indicator of where it’s from, as well as a strategic way of finding others to create more Palmetto Corn Snakes.
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