Reptile & Amphibian Forums

How large do Eastern Kings get? I've heard they are one of the largest kings.

The record is 6'8" but that is a wild specimen. I know their are larger cb animals but they are few and far between. Ive owned a couple of 6' Easterns and one 6'4" Florida King.

Keith

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6' foot 8" Florida king ?!??!?!?

The largest I have seen was a 6'3" male that was almost as thick as a similar sized boa constrictor. But 6'8" is huge. I would like to see where that is recorded. Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt you - but I do want to SEE the record. If you have ANY leads let me know. I am hoping one of my two Florida's hits at least 6 feet.

One question, are males or females typically larger? It seems to me that I am always seeing larger males.

You are right the record for a Florida King is smaller. 6'8" is the record for a Eastern King (post was titled "Size of Eastern Kings" I only commented that Florida Kings like Easterns have the potential to be very large. I think the on record size of a Florida King is 69" but I owned a specimen that was considerably longer at 6'4" (see pic in othe post)

Keith
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All this talk of record kings got me wondering, so I dug out Conant and Collins (Peterson Field Guide 3rd Edition 1998). They give the following data for wild caught Kings:

Eastern King (L.g.getula) 82 inches (6 ft 10 in)

Florida King (L.G.foridana) 691/2 inches (5 ft 91/2 in)

These records certianly don't apply to CB snakes. My thought is that CBs could easilly exceed the WC lenghts, considering hybrid vigour, optimal conditions, and plenty of nutritious food.

Too bad L.g.goini isn't recognized like it used to be.

HHmmm....Now I wonder where my first edition is...???

Regards,

John D

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0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"

I know I've found at least one FL king over 69". I'll have to find out if that record is still current, because I'm sure I'll find more wild FL kings that exceed that length.

What about fresh air, variety of diet, and variety of temps?

Honestly, I don't think the typical 85-90 degree set-up and one mouse a week regimen most people follow is optimal at all for kings. Safer, yes, but in no way superior to the environmental conditions the animals have been adapted to. It's probably why most of the bigger getula in captivity don't hit beyond 3 or 4 feet.

Another thing to consider is that in captivity, genetic flaws are able to propogate. In the wild, the snakes that hunt the sharpest and grow the fastest are less likely to fall victim to predators. Isn't there an estimate that out of a single clutch, usually only one baby in the wild ends up surviving to adulthood? You can bet that baby was the natural survivor of the bunch. Natural selection assures that only the biggest and bestest survive. But with captive breeding, all of the other clutchmates that don't grow as quickly, have slower reflexes, poor hunting skills, etc. have an equally opportunity to grow to adulthood and reproduce. So CB animals are only doomed to get smaller unless people intentionally breed for size instead of fancy color morphs.
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www.BugChick.com

chickabowwow

Well Ive found yearling Foxsnakes and Gartersnakes in the wild that are not much bigger than when they hatched. Compared to captive bred counterparts that have had a regular diet there was considerable size difference, CB are just bigger at a year. I think if you ask some of these guys who look for Getula in the wild they might say the same thing. I think the reason most Kings only get to 3-4' is that that is a more common size that genetics is allowing them to max out as. If you have stock from locale animals that get big then you get bigger animals. Bigger animals isnt always a given either with gentics but you have a better chance. Maybe it was misleading about the record sizes but big Kings in the wild are pretty rare with the exception of those Florida Kings that are chowing on those sugar kane field rats !

Keith
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I think it's safe to say in alot of places the average length of eastern kings is about 4 and a half feet.

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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
www.captivebredforum.com

They DO average 4.5 foot (like Mike said). Here's a couple of six footers: First pic is the wife holding "Big John" who topped out at 77" before passing away last year. Next pic is another large 73" male (he was captive born in 98'). Last pic is of "Big John" again, with my hand holding him and a dollar Bill for scale. I have three others that are between five feet and five and a half feet long . . . All of my big ones are eating medium rats as well (cheaper to feed them that way)

Zee

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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-

POWERFUL looking snakes!!!
NICE!

Thanks! Those medium rats keep em' nice n' healthy!

Zee
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"I am an expert on everything, but I know so little and have so much to learn!" -Carsten "Zee" Zoldy-