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My kids and I found this snake in a local park, we live in Northern California near the SF bay area.

>>My kids and I found this snake in a local park, we live in Northern California near the SF bay area.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

I added the picture of the snake. I had to add it to the gallery first.

have any better pictures?

That is an aberrant California Kingsnake. It looks like it also might be partially melanistic.

I think you can find wild cal kings like this near Mendota, CA and also around Long Beach, if I remember correctly.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks Chrish,
I think snake must be a baby cuz it is only anout 8 inches long.
I have few questions about the snake? I apprieate any help I could get.

What should I feed a snake so young or is it older than it looks?
When I caught it the snake had a liquid bubbling out of the mouth, is that normal for a kingsnake?
What does melatistic mean?

Actually the snake is about 10-12 inches.

It means the snake is over producing melanin-dark brown to black pigment. Note the lighter bands which usually are yellow or white.

The bubbling could be a sign of a respiratory disorder.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

I agree on the ID - Califonia Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getlus californiae).

>>I think snake must be a baby cuz it is only anout 8 inches long.

You are correct, it may in fact be a hatchling.

>>What should I feed a snake so young or is it older than it looks?

Baby Cal Kings will eat pinkie mice with gusto. They make excellent pet snakes. The abberent pattern might makes yours particularly attactive to enthusiasts - try posting the pic here on the Kingsnake Forum!

>>When I caught it the snake had a liquid bubbling out of the mouth, is that normal for a kingsnake?

It could be a respiratory problem, or it could be that it had just hatched and was expelling amniotic fluid from its lungs.

Congratulations on a great find!

Regards,

John D
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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"

How often should we try and feed the snake?

We put the snake and pinky mouse (thawed) into a shoe box for over an hour and half and it did not eat.

When should I try to again or should I just leave them alone in the box for longer?

Try again with a live fuzzy if you can. It might be nervous. Just keep trying. Or try a small lizard or small snake. It looks really cool!

I actually used to have a kindsnake that looks almost just like that, brown and black.