Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know you all probably get this a lot.

I'm just looking for a little info anyone could spare, I don't have any real questions though. I went through this site and any others I could find the other day before I bought this little guy getting information.

I bought an albino lavender king snake, I don't know what his pattern is, it is like a mix of all three to me. I'll post pictures soon. I couldn't get my camera to focus well last night. Any tips on how to get a good photo?

Oh yeah, it's also hard to get a good photo because he's really small right now.

I initially just signed up and was going to ask some questions about feeding, but while I registered he started snacking away on the first pinky I've got to feed him .

My house gets pretty cold in the winter (Michigan), our heating sucks. I have a heat pad under a hide in his tank, but I'm not sure if that is going to be warm enough. I need to pick up a thermostat.

I gave him the pinky when it was still warm.. but he waited till it was cool to start eating it, is that okay?

Sorry about the long post, I'm really just excited. This is my first pet that I can really call mine. (I'm 19). We have a family dog, but you get the idea.

Thanks for reading! I'll get photos soon.

- Ryan

Eating his first pinky . I don't have a name yet.. don't even know what gender he is. The vet I took him to said he was too small to tell me yet. Is that true?

Here is the photo! (okay here are the photos, there are two.)

Is that pattern strange or is it usual? Also what is it called?

Snakes can be sexed the moment they are born although many wait a few days before doing it (popping or probing)...

Nice looking cal king...cool abberant pattern... it's amazing the colors/patterns cal kings come in... Good luck with him/her.

Really? I'll have to take it to a different vet soon to get that checked out.

Thanks .

I'm very happy with this little 'guy'.

You don't need a vet to sex the snake. Chances are the vet does not know what he/she is doing unless they have bred colubrids themselves. Somethings you cannot teach from reading a book or learn in vet school.

The heat pad is all you need. The snake will thermoregulate itself from either being on the cold side or hot side.

Provide heat on one end and have a hide spot on both ends (hot and cold).

Very nice! I assume you will keep the heat on him all winter and feed him through winter? It sounds like you have it started well, I would put in another hide on the cool side and make sure he has plenty of fresh water, don't handle him much for a week or so and feed, feed ,feed! Then handle him a little, increasing the time he is with you to get him acquainted with you. Don't handle before and after feeding to avoid the feeding response issue and it looks like you feed him in a box, good! Welcome!
Todd Hughes

tell you something: WHADDDUP, DUDE!!!!
How's it going, man! Hey, next year it's ON - In alterna land!!
Can't wait, bro! I'm going to have to start checkin' the calendar for next June!
How's your Subo doing? still eating good?

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-

DOOOD! Just got back from black Gap, tons of crotes and paired up the Brewster counyt splendida, scored a nice Longnose and a pair of subocs. Tons of herps including luteola! Man, you was my good luck charm, hurry back, subo is eating mice now, occasional gerbil. I may have one more rocket run left in me, it stays warmer in the mountains longer, weird! As soon as I get an adapter for the camera I will post on field notes and alterna forum with a small segment here on the Brewster pair of splendidas.
Todd Hughes

GREAT! You Thcored!
Glad you had a productive outing!!! Can't wait to see them pics! That's great, you got a pair of those nice B & W splendidas!

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-

No, she is a normal, but next year I hope to introduce them and we begin. Good trip, good friends, but you were missed! How's the weather over there? The season is turning as we speak, last day of summer, less and less animals moving. This winter while everyone snoozes, the bigger cages go in and I hope we will all be happier and healthier here. Show me the COBRA!!! LOL! If you can catch lepidus......
Todd Hughes

Thank you so much for the warm welcome .

About having a hide on both sides.. I have one on the warm side, and I have mossy stuff on the cold side that he likes to go under. Is that good enough for a hide?

Also.. water placement.. warm side or cool side?

I have been handling him quite a bit. I bought him from a pet store, PetCo, and he ate really well today. Should I stop handling him for the next few days then? (Will be tough to do, but I will if it is better for him. They're so much fun to have out!)

He hasn't pooped on me yet, but he did musk? my friend earlier today, that was funny.

Thanks again!

- Ryan

Yeah a couple of days to digest or he might regurge and that ain't good for the snake. I use water dishes from Walmart that have a hollowed out spot in them an put it on the cool side, They cost about $2.00 and serve as water dish and cool hide.
Todd Hughes

Always glad to hear more folks joining in this great hobby we all share on this site. I assume your lavender is a Cal king, right. Glad to hear is eating alright for you. If your heating in the house (in Mich.) is not so grand and you want to increase the warmth of your pets cage, get a light and place it on top of the cage (provided you got a screen top). Place the light near one end of the cage, so you will have a warm end and a cooler end. This should be all you need. In my experience this has worked better for me than an undertank heater (even though those will work too, of course). AND yes, I do check the temp of the cage once the light has been on for at least an hour. You will probably have a reading in the nineties under the light, and hopefully a reading in the (low) eighties or lower is fine too, on the other end of the cage, away from the light. this will allow your snake to thermoregulate, as most Kingsnakes species DO bask every now and then. My Cal kings grew like WEEDS with this type of setup, and wanted to eat EVERY DAY (to include my hand,lol)!!! AND the temps in the rest of the house were pretty darn cool!
Eating "cool" pinkies is perfectly fine for little ones. As long as they are not of the frozen variety.
I have a lot of kings too (about 50 or so - not counting all the babies I've hatched). AND I don't mind cleaning cages EVERY DAY for years on end - cause I LOVE THIS HOBBY!!!
OK - nuff' rambling . . . WELCOME TO THE CLUB, BRO
Oh, and don't worry about the picture thing, you'll figure out how to manipulate the camera you have to make it work for you. I am not a photographer and I can tell you trial and error is the best way, lol! Keep on postin' and ask anything you wish,

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-

Thanks so much!

It really does get very cold in here. Currently I have a very small and not very warm pad under the warm side, along with a heat lamp over that side, and then a cool side.

Which side should I put the water on? Currently it is on the cool side.

I've only got it up to like 75 degrees on the warm side so far, I might need a stronger bulb. THe one I have is a 50 watt bulb, and it's infrared. Is that okay? I got the red so I could sleep at night w/ it on, hopefully.

Thanks a lot for the warm welcome. Sorry for the questions.