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Tangerine Blotched Kingsnake (Help/Info)

garystewb Aug 26, 2006 10:45 AM

Hi, I have had this kingsnake for 3 months now and he is about 8 months old and is 2'4" in length. When he was sold to me i was told that he was a Tangerine Blotched Kingsnake, i have tried but as yet i have found no reference to this. Does anyone out there recognise his type and any info would be great.
He is shy but playful when handled. So far his eating and shedding are very good, i have posted 4 pics on my site and can post more if needed. I would also like to know the best was to sex him (?).
many thanks

garystewb (UK)

Images
Images

Replies (7)

garystewb Aug 26, 2006 10:53 AM

Sorry, the picture link has been fixed.
regards garystewb
images
images

Rivets55 Aug 26, 2006 11:46 AM

>>gary

The term "Blotched Kingsnake" is a matter of lively debate here. I suggest you look at some of the previous posts. Try "S. GA Easterns" for starters.

That particular phase was at one time considered a subspecis named L. g. goini. Recent published work has reclassified the phase as L. g. meansi. Not all agree as to the taxonomic status of these snakes.

All agree they are awesome Kingsnakes! Yours is too!

Regards,

John D.

PS Here's a link to an excellent site with tons of pics and info...
Eastern Kingsnake Resource Site

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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

garystewb Aug 27, 2006 02:14 AM

Cheers for the info, the link was great , kept as a favorite, thanks

ZFelicien Aug 26, 2006 12:23 PM

1st let me say the term "Tangerine Blotched King" is not correct... some breeders use colorful terms to describe eye catching snakes, i can't blame um, but it could do more harm than good...

2nd That's a killer snake, it looks a lil like a "Blaze Phase" goini king (aka Blotched Kingsnake)...


but it could also be a cross btwn a Goini and Brooksi (Florida king)

either way it's a really nice snake!

~ZF
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Royal Blue ReptileZ
Home of Bklyn's Finest Brooksi

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signature file edited 4/22/06; contact an admin.

garystewb Aug 27, 2006 02:16 AM

Great pics, thanks for the info. all the best garystewb

Sean Aug 26, 2006 11:52 PM

Like the others have stated it is called a Blotched King, Apalachicola King, "goini", and way back it used to be called the Chipola King. The old scientific name was Lampropeltis getula goini but it's now known as L. g. meansi. This is debated by many but at least you know the history. These Kings are found in a small region of the Florida panhandle known as the Apalachicola lowlands and are extremely hard to find today but very common in the hobby. Be aware though, many have been bred with Florida Kings and other kingsnakes to introduce certain traights to make albinos, axanthics, etc. Yours looks like a typical Blotched King, although much redder than normal looking ones (hence the name Tangerine applied to it), but with all the breeding done today, if you don't know where your snake came from, it's hard to tell if it's the real thing anymore. Some of us here care about that kind of stuff and other's don't. Either way, if you want to find out more info on these kings, there are a few papers out there dating back to the 50s. The most recent ones are available online including this one by Kenny Krysko and Bruce Means:

http://www.calacademy.org/research/herpetology/ch/ch/2001/5/index.htm

garystewb Aug 27, 2006 02:12 AM

Cheers guys, info was very helpfull and i have checked out the links, veerrry nice and informative. I had seen pics of the Apalachicola lowland king and thought they were very simular. but its good to know its origins. Thanks

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