Corn Snake? Miami Phase? strange tail

[LawrenceM]

I need your opinions on what type of corn this is, if a corn at all. I found him in my skimmer (thus named him skimmer). He is a hatchling, handles well, eats lizards. The first half of his body is very corn-like. Blotches - deep maroon, grey backround, the last half is very gray with blotches not very well developed. Another young member opined that it was a black racer. I doubt that very highly because they are competely black. Please take a look and let me know your opinions.

[elaphe4herps]

I dont think that is a corn because the saddles look more like bands and the head pattern is all wrong. i was thinking a corn X king hybrid, but since it is wild caught.... its probably not. Where are you located? its not a racer, although adult racers are black, they aren't black as juveniles. Try asking a milk snake forum to see what it might be. It looks to me like a coastal milk.... maybe :shrugs:

hope it helps...

[Jason B.]

not a corn or a milk I can tell you that.

[newt]

Its a Eastern Fox Snake. The patterns will stretch with age, and the colour will get dull. The colour will be dark brown with grey patches.

[Rich Z]

I don't know why this was posted in two different places. But this is a baby black racer, as mentioned in the other thread (http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12999).

[LawrenceM]

Thanks so much for your opinions. The saddles really aren't bands. They really are saddles. Thanks for your idea. I live in Jensen Beach, which is about 1 hour north of West Palm Beach. I have seen 4 corns on my property over the last 10 years. The first 3 were typical normals -orangish brown and reddish brown. They were probably 2 years olds. I was not comfortable attempting to handle them, they were stressed and angry, so I didn't and let them be. The 3rd was a full grown normal who was hybernating on my porch in winter! Fla. is great for things like this. He was litterally pooping on my patio! My wife found him and freaked etc. I released him. What is odd is that about a month ago I unfortunately found a really massive dead adult by mail box. It had been hit by a car I assume. What was odd was that the coloration was more grey in the background. I was thinking that maybe that was Skimmer's mommy who had died after laying her eggs. We shall see. Thanks again for your input. Sorry I posted this in 2 different areas. I am figuring out the forum as I go. I will research the eastern fox snake idea.

[cowboyman13]

Being it was found in FL could also be a coachwhip. Check out the snakes of FL on http://www.myfwc.org

[CornCrazy]

I agree that it is a black racer! It will change colors and lose it's splotches as it matures.

[gardenmum]

Cowboyman......
You need to watch what you are replying to. This is a very old thread...7/4/2004. It really is not worth the band width space to be replying to very old threads like this. I am sure this question was long settled. Best to reply to the recent postings. Just a heads up advice. :)

[CornCrazy]

Thanks Dianne...I didn't even notice the original date or I wouldn't have replied either!

[Missie]

definatley not a Miami phase... they tend to have patches of orange or red, lined with black... with a silvery sometimes tannish background