Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So a lot of pictures of Okatee's I see look like normal corns and vice versa. Tell me why this normal hatchling isn't an okatee please.

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1.2 Normal Cornsnakes
1.0 Snow Cornsnake

>>There is a large division on what is considered Okeetee and what isn't.
In todays corn snake world an okeetee corn snake is a normal corn snake that has a specific look. Thick black borders, red saddles, orange background.
Some say it can't be an okeetee unless it is from the Okeetee hunt club in South Carolina.
Some say this, some say that.
I will not get into that.
Simply put if it looks Okeetee you can call it okeetee.
When I look at the borders on your snake it looks to me like it could very well grow up to look okeetee.
Time will tell.

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Corn snakes and rat snakes..No one can have just one.
"resistance is futile"
Jimmy (draybar)

Draybars Snakes

If you are referrencing the Okeetee phase, then all one needs in a snake is thick black borders, deep red saddles, lighter orange red ground coloration, and thick black checks on a mostly white belly. This is what I call the "lookeetee," and it is what most people mean when they call their animal an Okeetee.

However, there is a subset of collecters and herpers, who are dedicated to locality specific snakes. These people refer to Okeetees only if the animal was collected, or descends in every direction from others that were collected, on the Okeetee Hunt Club. To these keepers, the (mis)use of the Okeetee name is an aggrivation at best, and mine field through which to tread at worst. For them, they usually will not buy snakes from someone they do not know VERY well, so as to not inadvertantly introduce some non-locale specific bloodlines. I have encouraged these individuals to identify their snakes as Hunt Club corns to differentiate them from the okeetee phase animals, but old names die hard.

So, to answer your question as to what keeps it from being an okeetee:

If you're speaking of the okeetee phase...nothing at all. It is purely subjective as to whether you think it is an okeetee phase or not. Others may well agree or disagree, but since there is no definition set in stone on the issue, to each his own.

If you're speaking about the locality definition, your snake can only be so identified if it a) was captured on the Okeetee Hunt Club, or b) it descends in every direction from animals from that locale.

Hope that helps a bit...
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Darin Chappell
Hillbilly Herps
PO Box 254
Rogersville, MO 65742