An Okeetee corn snake is a specific color morph of corn snake specially bred from animals originally found in Okeetee, South Carolina. They are characterized by large red patches with dark black borders on an orange ground. Often called rat snakes, they are constrictors that suffocate prey before eating. Corn snakes are common pets, easy to care for, and can be obtained from qualified breeders.
Most wild corn snakes are orange with black-bordered patches and a black and white checkered belly. Through selective breeding, corn snakes have been produced in a rainbow of colors, and some have stripes. The Okeetee corn snake has similar markings, with bright red, yellow, brown or white patches and extremely black borders. Ground color varies, but the borders are the distinguishing characteristic of this morph.
Corn snakes are usually about 24 to 72 inches (61 to 182 cm) in length. They are diurnal and like to climb around in trees, poke into hollow logs, and investigate rodent burrows looking for prey. Habitat is mostly in the southeastern US, including Florida. They love to eat rats, mice, birds, and sometimes bats. Hatchlings often dine on smaller lizards and tree frogs.
The Okeetee corn snake and his relatives are constrictors, which means they squeeze their prey to suffocate it before eating. They first bite the prey to hold it, coil around it, flex until the prey is dead, and then swallow it headfirst. Corn snakes don’t eat often, perhaps every few days to once a week. With good care, the snakes can live to over 20 years old in captivity, but have a shorter lifespan in the wild.
An Okeetee corn snake has a mild disposition and makes a good pet. It is somewhat shy, and needs a place to hide in its enclosure. Adults should have at least a 30-foot (9.14 meter) aquarium or cage to move around in, with a heating pad or under-tank heater at one end. Hot rocks are discouraged because they are not natural to the snake and can cause burns. Lots of fresh water in a flat container will make it happy because it enjoys a good whole-body soak.
Mice, rats, and crickets can be bought for pet snakes in retail stores. It’s recommended to feed dead food to a snake because many people don’t like to risk injury to themselves or watch snakes kill live prey. A pet Okeetee corn snake will become obese if overfed. Although it sounds funny, a fat snake looks just as someone might imagine, and is not as healthy as a leaner animal.