Hey, Mike,
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"I assume they are Easterns."
Yes sir, these are Easterns.
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"The Easterns are generally lighter in overall color than Westerns, correct?"
Mostly, but there are some very light Westerns, and there can be quite a bit of variability.
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These two 2005 posts may help. Very generally, Easterns grow larger and heavier but the blotch count between the head and the vent is the most obvious difference with joined blotches sometimes adding to confusion.
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Conant/Collins/Johnson say that Westerns average 41 dorsal blotches and Easterns average 34. Key word here is average.
Tennant says that Westerns have 32 to 52 and average 41 dorsal blotches and Easterns have 28 to 43 and average 34.
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http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=777489,780216&key=2005
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http://forums.kingsnake.com/viewarch.php?id=777489,780217&key=2005
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How much does a pair of hatchlings usually go for? Anywhere from $45 to $90 each.
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I understand they need a pretty cold winter cooling to breed. I live in Florida.
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I kept them fine in the air conditioning when I was in North Orlando. The adults do much better at 75 – 78 F than 78 – 82 F.
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Some general comments.
There is some conventional wisdom documented several places on the web that say to breed them, you need 3 - 4 months of brumation at 50 – 55 F. I am not here to challenge this.
But….
This is my story:
I have kept them in a bottom cage in a room that has stratified temps (no circulating fan) for several years. They are typically around 76 F with no heat strip, but in some years, I had a small, halogen, basking light; some years not.
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Mine are brumated along with Grays, Blacks, Yellows, Everglades, Texans, Deckert’s, GulfHammock, Bairds, Subocs, Triaspis, Emory’s, “intermontanas”, Kisatchies, Corns, alternas, annulatas, and Western Foxes in the same room at the same temp (58-60F), for the same time (2 ½ months). All above are kept in communal cages as pairs or trios (no separation of males and females). All old enough, breed every year with no problems.
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IMHO
The two best things you can give E Foxes are spatial cages (they are active and often you see captives with damaged rostral shields), and lots of food. They are eating machines and fast to digest. I feed small rats.
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Regards, Bill McGighan

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