Corn Snake - Ghost Tessera

Product Description

Application to Purchase Required - live animal purchases require a review of your setup. After placing your order, a Customer Care Specialist will reach out to review your husbandry and habitat. Approval for purchase is NOT guaranteed and if denied, the order may be cancelled. Upon approval, you will receive a link to set up a shipping date for your live animal. All animals ship via Fed Ex overnight.

Species Overview

Common Name: Ghost tessera cornsnake
Scientific Name: Pantherophis guttatus
Size: Well-established yearlings. Approximately 15” total length when shipped.
Adult size: Adults can reach 3'-5' total length.

Sex: various

Diet: Frozen thawed adult mouse - Feeding schedule provided after purchase

Each snake is carefully evaluated in-house for

Clean fecal
Nido Virus testing
Healthy body score
Normal activity and behavior
No retained eyecaps or stuck shed

Defining Traits

Keeper level: Cornsnakes are great for beginners due to their usually docile temperament and hardiness.They can live 15-25 years with proper care.
Temperament: Docile, active, curious.
Physical appearance: Corn snakes can be identified by their elongated oval head, round pupils, defined neck, and slender body. The “Ghost” morph is a genetic mutation in which there is not the typical orange and red pigmentation. Instead the Ghost corn snakes feature a very elegant muted gray, silver, or lavender coloration. Tessera refers to a mutation that results in a distinct, unbroken stripe down the length of the snake.
Biological niche: Terrestrial/semi-arboreal, cornsnakes primarily occupy temperate forests, but they can be found on rocky hillsides and meadows where multi-layered habitats are present. They're known to be irregularly active during day and night and are typically designated as crepuscular.
Native Range: Native to southeastern United States and Cayman Islands.
Kept as individuals only. It’s recommended to keep them individually. Some keepers house multiple corn snakes together, but this comes with the inherent risk of the snakes injuring one another and should be done with caution.

Care at a Glance

Vivarium size and setup

Temperature

Create a broad, naturalistic gradient with a basking temperature around 90F and a cool side temperature of 75-82F. Nighttime temperatures should not drop lower than 60F
Juveniles are more delicate than adults, so their nighttime drop should not go lower than 75F.
Overhead heat
Ensure thermal safety via thermostats and gradient testing.
UVB:
We recommend installing one of the following UVB bulbs above the terrarium mesh at the listed distance:
- Arcadia ShadeDweller MAX UVB kit — 4-6”
- Arcadia ShadeDweller 7% UVB kit — 5-8”
- Zoo Med T5 HO Reptisun 5.0 with Zoo Med fixture — 7-10”
- Arcadia T5 HO Forest 6% ProT5 UVB kit — 10-14”
- Zoo Med T5 HO Reptisun 10.0 with Zoo Med fixture — 12-16”

Humidity

Target 65-75% average humidity levels, with fluctuations slightly lower during the day and higher at night.
Monitor environmental humidity levels with a couple of digital probe hygrometers: one in the middle of the setup, and another with the probe inside the humid hide.
Use a humidity-friendly substrate, live plants, and mist the enclosure 1-2x/day — every night, and again in the morning if needed.

Diet

Frozen / thawed rodents only. Never fed live.

Caresheet & Resources

Full caresheet:

Click here for caresheet

View Lampropeltis californiae on the IUCN List

Important Policies (Please Read Before Purchasing)

After purchasing, upload your habitat for approval here:

After approval, we will email you the animal purchase contract found here

Read our Live Arrival Guarantee prior to purchasing here

Scheduling:

We care about long-term success. All live animals require a scheduled shipping date set after the approval process. To book your shipping day, click here.