Standard Corn Snake

The corn snake, also referred to as red rat snake, belongs to the genus Elaphe and species guttata. Colour variation is diverse, and no two snakes are the same. Corn snakes are popular in the snake hobby since many mutations are available. Corn snakes are easily recognised by the 30 - 60 brown-red saddles along the back of the snake, as well as the spear-point on the head, and black checks on the belly of the snake.

Corn snakes occur naturally in parts of New Jersey, Florida, Louisiana and Tennessee. Juveniles are born at around 15 - 20cm in length and have a pail grey background colour with dark brown blotches. Adults will grow to a maximum length of around 1.3m. Corn snakes will reach sexual maturity at 18 months. Females lay anywhere from 5 - 25 eggs in a clutch. Corn snakes are hardy, even tempered, breed easily and generally do well in captivity, making great pets.

Great Plains Rat Snake The great plains rat snake, Elaphe Guttata emoryi, is the second subspecies of Elaphe guttata, and it resembles the corn snake in many ways. It has the same build but is slightly larger than the corn snake. The great plains rat snake presents with a light grey/brown background colouration with dark brown - black saddles. Juveniles resemble the adults and are much bigger than that of corn snakes and much more aggressive. Great plains rat snakes occur naturally in parts of Mississippi, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Mexico. Clutch sizes are fewer than the corn snake. Great plains rat snakes integrate naturally with corn snakes and are often used in captive breeding programmes to strengthen blood lines.

Grey Rat Snake One of the larger Rat Snakes, the Grey Rat Snake, Elaphe Obsoleta spiloides, reaches a length of around 1.5m. These snakes also have a much thicker girth than the corn snake. These snakes can lay up to 30 eggs in a clutch. The grey rat snake presents with a light - dark grey background colouration with darker h-shaped blotches along the length of the snake. The belly is white with grey flecks and the snake has a silvery eye.

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The grey rat snake occurs naturally in parts of Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama. The grey rat snake integrates naturally with the black rat snake, yellow rat snake and Texas rat snake, where distribution borders overlap. Juveniles resemble the patterning and colouration of the adults and are born at around 20cm in length. A light variation occurs, called "Oak Phase" and these make stunning specimens.

Yellow Rat Snake The Yellow Rat Snake, Elaphe Obsoleta qadrivittata, has a simple coloration and pattern that is easy to identify. The yellow rat snake presents with a pale brown to bright yellow background coloration. The pattern varies, depending on the age of the snake from saddles (in juveniles and sub-adults) to four stripes in fully grown specimens. Yellow rat snakes have a pale white belly and they have yellow/orange eyes with black tongues.

The yellow rat snake is native to southeast United States of America, parts of Carolina, Florida and Georgia. Juveniles are born at around 20cm and are a light grey with dark saddles which change into yellow and stripes as the snake matures. Yellow rat snakes grow to a length of around 1.5m. Yellow rat snakes are less aggressive than grey rat snakes. The yellow rat snake integrates naturally with the black rat and grey rat snake in the wild.

Everglades Rat Snake The Everglades Rat Snake, Elaphe obsoleta rossalleni, is a beautiful snake presenting with bright orange-red background colour with black stripes or faint saddles along the back of the snake. The distinguishing feature of the everglades rat snake from the yellow rat snake is a red tongue.

Similar to the yellow rat snake, Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata, the everglades rat snake grows to around 1.6m in length and is a hardy, easy to keep and well natured snake. the stunning colouration of the adults is what makes the snake what it is. Viewed in these photographs, are yearling everglades rat snakes. The orange colouration is just starting to show on these yearlings. Adult specimens will be a bright orange-red colour.

Taiwanese Rat Snake The Taiwanese rat snake, Elaphe Taeniura taeniura, often referred to as Taiwanese beauty snake or stripe tailed rat snake hails from parts of southeast China, Burma and Thailand. The Taiwanese rat snake presents with an unusual pattern and colouration. The posterior 1/3 has a yellow striped, the head has two black stripes extending backward from the eyes. The background colouration is kaki green to a yellow-green. It has black blotches along the side and along the back with flecks of white.

The Taiwanese Rat Snake, grows to 2.5m on average. The juveniles are born around 40cm long and will take fuzzies readily. Juveniles resemble the adults in pattern and colouring. Taiwanese rat snakes are also quite arboreal and need a large enclosure. The Taiwanese rat snake has proven to be quite tricky to breed in captivity. Clutch sizes vary from 6 - 12+ large eggs, that often have to be cut around hatching time, as the shell is too thick for the snakes to cut themselves.

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