Which snake is this? Is it a Corn Snake?

[aneezh789]

I got this snake from a pet shop, They told me its a corn snake but I am confused? Please help me identify this snake guys?

Regards

[Sharlynn93]

the eyes kinda make me think rat snake? not saying thats what it is...i just haven't seen corn snake eyes like that...head shape kinda looks different too...

[aneezh789]

Thanks for your reply, I am confused too. I have never seen patterns like these on a corn snake or rat snake. I am afraid that it may be venomous.

[Detroitboa13]

To me it looks like a cowboy corn, which is a gopher snake crossed with a corn snake. IDK.

[aneezh789]

As for the behavior(I think it will help in identification of this snake) I noticed, its a slow moving snake, a little faster than sand boa's.

very good climbing ability.

this snakes can move backwards, and it usually hung itself by coiling up its tail.

Sometimes it moves it's head side to side.

I am also attaching a head closeup.

[aneezh789]

Thanks Detroitboa13, I saw some pictures of cowboy corn.
Gopher has quite similar patterns.
But I am still confused.
Can it be venomous?

[Detroitboa13]

No it is not venomous. It is a cross breed between two constrictors both of which are very harmless. In my opinion this is a great find because you have the beautiful scales and patterns of the gopher snake and the head and body structure of a corn snake.

[Sharlynn93]

It really is very pretty! :)

[aneezh789]

Thanks Sharlynn93 :)

Thanks Detroitboa13 it bit of a relieve. We will see what other members have to say.

[TheFrogman]

Wow, whatever he is it has a stunning pattern and colors, very pretty animal.

[kwhitlock]

No idea for exactly what it is, but looks like a eat snKe of done nature, completely harmless.

[sharthun]

Hey and welcome! Cool snake you have there!

[LiL Zap]

For sure it is some sort of rat snake and they are NOT venomous at all. Beautiful snake.

[drumcrush]

Wow, beautiful snake!

[StudentoReptile]

Where was the snake acquired? Was it bought/found even in the U.S.? The reason I ask is because it somewhat resembles a Diadem rat snake (found in Africa), but I'm not sure.

It does not look like a corn snake at all to me, but I would not completely rule out a hybrid because Lord knows there's been a million crosses between corns and other species.

[CosmicOwl]

Doesn't look like a corn snake to me. The head shape is very "rat snake" looking though. A corn x gopher snake isn't out of the question, but it does look like the Diadem rat snake Student mentioned.

It could also always be a captive hybrid or a wild intergrade.

[aneezh789]

Thanks TheFrogman, kwhitlock, sharthun, LiL Zap, drumcrush and StudentoReptile.. Thanks everyone. This community is real help and reptile lovers seems to be united here. I am glad I can find many people here with same interest like I have the reason I said this is in my country people rarely love reptiles. lol.

[aneezh789]

Thanks CosmicOwl for your suggestions.

StudentoReptile I got this reptile in Pakistan, in a buck. Its beautiful.

Yeah, corn x gopher and Diadem rat can be the answer. But this one looks more brighter, more sunny but they have very very similar patterns.

Rock Pythons, Rough scaled and Indian sand boa are native to Pak but I am not sure about this one. but if its that cheap it can be a native.

[StudentoReptile]

If you acquired the snake in Pakistan, then I would say Diadem snake is the most likely candidate over all other species mentioned. Diadem rat snakes are quite variable, and if I am not mistaken, there are a couple different species (or subspecies?).

It definitely is not any boa or python. It is a colubrid.

[poison123]

Red-spotted Royal Snake (Spalerosophis arenarius)??

[Pirarucu]

Poison beat me to it. Spalerosophis arenarius without a doubt.

[Kera]

I agree with the red-spotted. gorgeous, interesting snake :)

[Jinxygirl]

Definitely not a corn, maybe a hybrid of some sort... it really looks a lot like an albino Gopher snake. Gorgeous animal though!

[poison123]

Definitely not a corn, maybe a hybrid of some sort... it really looks a lot like an albino Gopher snake. Gorgeous animal though!

It has black eyes so its not an albino.

[mistersprinkles]

Aneezh, it may be slow moving because it's cold. Do you have a proper heated enclosure with the correct humidity for it? What are you feeding it?

It does not look like a Diadem rat snake. It does not look like a cowboy corn. Face shape is totally wrong for a corn. I don't think there's any corn in there.

[StudentoReptile]

LOL....this thread could be used as an good argument against hybrids.

At this point, I would suggest getting a dichotomous key that includes all of the species listed, and starting eliminating one by one. This is the only way you will be able to determine for certain what you have. This what taxonomists and biologists do when they find an animal and they don't know. They get the keys out and start at square one. Get ready to do scale counts and have some patience!

[aneezh789]

BINGO!
"poison123" you are 100% rite bro, It is Red-spotted Royal Snake (Spalerosophis arenarius).
"StudentoReptile" you are very correct (Spalerosophis arenarius) is Diadem snake.

Thanks poison123 & StudentoReptile.
Thanks everyone else.

You know guys, I got a much bigger Red-spotted Royal Snake. way much bigger then this one.
I will love you share pictures with you guys.

Regards to all.. :)

[poison123]

We would love to see pics :)

[rynine]

Gorgeous snake and really glad to see everyone chime in with info as to the species! #ssnakess

[Tsubaki]

I have to agree, when i first saw this picture what immediately came to mind was : Spalerosophis! gorgeous animals!

There are venomous btw, but not dangerous.
So not a rat or a cornsnake :)