Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi. I purchased 2 King Snakes today. A WC Cal King was the first snake I ever kept more than 10 years ago. My question is these were listed as a Chocolate king and an Albino Chocolate king. One looks like a simple striped cal king and the other a albino striped cal king. I have never heard of a Chocolate King. Are these for real or just a name given to spice up the Cal king? Also these rane my $120 before tax. Thats not a bad price correct? I was told by the petstore that the lady they got them from said she paid that for each snake and they gave them to me for $60 each. Price aside they are very cool. I am just wandering how much over or under I payed. Thanks in advance everyone. They are curently quarentined and geting use to there new homes.
FOOT HILL REPTILES

There are several shades of brown or black that a cal king can have for the dark color.

My understanding is that chocolate refers to a caramel looking light brown, but I can't guarantee that.

There you can see dark brown bands vs what I think is chocolate bands.

Albino chocolate I assume refers to the color it would have if it wasn't albino, but I really haven't a clue.

$120 before tax - are they babies?
That sounds about right for retail pet store for 2 adults that aren't special morph (albino are so common they aren't special morph) - but it's high IMHO for babies, which I've seen as cheap as $35.00 each in retail pet stores, $25.00 each from specialty stores.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

I believe that if you are satisfied, then it was worth the price, but if you are buying snakes from a pet store, they have to make a good sized profit to keep the store running. That price doesn't sound bad to me even if they are babies. Post some pics. Derek

Yeah - I guess it kind of depends upon where you are.

In the Bay Area and up here in Redding, Cal Kings are relatively easy to find in the wild, which may explain the low retail price for typical specimens.

The pet store closest to me doesn't even carry typical cal kings anymore unless you order them, only morphs (such as reverse striped) because they can't profit off of normals.
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3.0 WC; 0.1 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 CB L. pyromelana pyromelana
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Thanks for the replys everyone. These are both babys. I did notice that the one is a lighter shade of brown than I am use to seeing in a young king snake. The pet store I purchased them from is very reputable in my book and I have been shopping there for years and know them all like family. Its just a small mom and pop pet store. They said the person they got them from was an ex emplyee who told them she purchased them for $120 each, They purchased them from her for $45 each and I purchased them for $60 each. I am very happy with them so the price dose not matter I was just wandering. I will take some pictures and post them when I get up in the morning. Its 1130 and I just got home from work and am to lazy to try to get a snake to pose right now LOL Thanks agan for the replys.
FOOT HILL REPTILES

IMO this patternless cali king is as chocolate as it gets