Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi...i´m thinking of getting a new snake since both i have are already mature and i miss having a baby snake
Well...i was thinking wether to get a californiae, an eatern or a splendida....i can´t really decide since i adore all of them.
Which would you recomend? i´ve heard easterns and desert kings are tougher and eassier to care/handle.....but i´ve also heard that calis are the best choice for not experienced keepers.
Dunno....what do you think? what´s you´re favourite?

Eastern Kingsnake.
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Peter Jolles
East Coast Colubrids
www.eastcoastcolubrids.com

Easy- let the image speak for itself...

//Todd

so you both put eaterns or deserts as better choices than calis....mmm....ok....
I´ll see which subspecies between those two is more available here and decide after that.
I kinda prefer deserts cause they catch my eye a bit more...so i think i´ll try that one if i can.
btw...what´s the average adult size of both???I´ve done research in the net but each place seems to give different info....

Not sure about the eastern, but I think the splendida get around 3.5'- 4.0'...

//Todd

Easterns are a much larger snake than the deserts-the average size for easterns is about the maximum for the splendida!

Brad Chambers

Well Ive kept every singler subspecies of Common Kingsnake and of the 3 you listed I think Easterns are the best...They have their own subtle beauty and are genrally very handleable and mellow. You really cant go wrong with any of the three you listed I just think Easterns are the King of Kings

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In my opinion which is easier depends alot on where you live. I live in California and I have kept Californias, Easterns, Floridas and Speckleds. The Easterns, Floridas and Speckleds were more finicky for me and I had to be more careful with raising the humidity around shedding time but I have heard just the opposite from keepers back east.
I would note that that is comparing wild caughts. I also have kept captive born Californias and captive born Brook's and both were very easy so I think if you get captive born ones you will have no problems no matter which type you get.
The Easterns and Floridas get larger and hence eat more food.

My .02....I have all 3 now, but the easterns are this years hatch from Peter, gorgeous, a little jumpy at feeding time but good eaters. the calis are great, come in a variety of flavors and remain at a manageable size. Most experienced with splendida, have quite a few from all over Texas and one from Arizona, never an issue at feeding time, very laid back and great looking in their own right. Consider a dark splendida(Mexican Black King).All are great but I agree for now with Todd,splendidas control most of the range and are easiest to keep IMO!
Todd Hughes
Get one of each and do the math, send me the losers,lol!

I actually now have a splendida I just caught in August but I don't feel I have enough experience with it to say anything about it. It is a small black and yellow female, probably one of last years babies, from south of Alpine. It has been a good eater so far and I think it's gonna do well. I'll have to post a pic soon when I find the time.

yes, i will be waiting for the pics! I like those westerns, the patterns are crisp!
Todd Hughes