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Thanks for the advice folks. I fed my 17 1/2" (no more 18" comments ) a fuzzy last night instead of a pinky. I really thought it would be too big, but listened to those of you who have been at this a long time. Well, he was one happy little snake!
Thanks!
Ray.

Nice floridana, but where are the pics of your goini?

Brandon Osborne

OK, so educate this newbie some more.
When I bought his cage was labeled, and I was told that he was a goini. I've read up on goinis, and have learned that they are variable in design, and thought mine was just another variation.
So, tell me why it appears not to be a goini, which is fine with me, I'm happy with him whatever he is!
Ray.

I bought a pair of South FL (Brooksi) recently, and yours is definately a South FL king. Here is a link with an Apalachicola Kingsnake (Goini). Derek
http://www.reptileartistry.com/hatchlings.html

Doesn't resemble a brooksi/south florida king either. The pattern and color are typical of a "florida king" or penninsular integrade. Either way, they are all great snakes to keep.

Brandon Osborne

Here is another link for Goini. Derek

http://www.eastcoastcolubrids.com/Main/LG/LGF/Apalachicola/Apalachicloa_King_Snakes_Index.htm

That is neither a goini or Florida. The side pattern looks all wrong for floridana. Some better pics could help me in making a guess what it is crossed with.

what I meant is it definelty has floridana in it but there is something else in the mix. Maybe 1/4 splendida Cali or speckled and 3/4 floridana.

because of its strange look is why the person who sold it to you said it was a goini.

The weird speckling on the lower 1/4 of the side of the snake is what lead me to this. Maybe it is just the pic angle but something does not look right.

Here is another photo. I know they aren't great pics, cheap digital. I appreciate any help you can offer. I looked over a number of web sites after I got him and I could not tell for sure what he was, so I was just going with what the store told me.
Ray.

Doesnt look like a cross at all. It looks like a Brooksi King or Floroda King. Now it may have something else in it who knows but on the surface I would say you have a Florida King and a nice on at that.

Keith
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I've been looking at tons of pics today, and I've found some Florida Kings that look just like mine, so you're probably correct.
But, it doesn't matter much to me - whatever he is he has me hooked on kingsnakes! Already thinking about my next one. Maybe a nice eastern ...

Ray.

It is hard to beat a nice eastern. Derek

What I mean is someone bred a cross back into a florida king.So it is not just a 50/50 cross.

I have been doing crosses and studying crossed florida kings (a specialty ) and going to different florida shows... Floridian residents tend to cross the florida kings back into many things. So you see all sorts and get the eye for it after a few seasons. I also was a connesuer of pure brooksi before the morphs hit the market. I would weed out the good looking brooksi for the bad from breeders clucthes when a high yellow brooksi was all the rage (pre hypo brooks). My opinion is it has something else in it.

Not saying anything bad because I like crosses. So please do not think I am devaluating your snake in any way. Just an opnion from someone who knows something about outcrossed florida kings..

Speckled / yellow rat X florida king breeding:

Even from this breeding which is 50% florida king the babies came out looking very floridana. If you breed these babies back into a pure floridana you would get something that looks like yours and they would only be 1/6 speckled 1/6 yellow rat..

"Not saying anything bad because I like crosses. So please do not think I am devaluating your snake in any way."

No, I didn't take any offense. Besides, the real value is what the owner places on the snake, and this guy is pretty valuable to me!
Thanks for your info, it's all very interesting to me, and all new to me, as well.

Ray

here's one of Rainer's awesome Florida X Honduran hybrids. This one is called "Hypo Sunset". Not the greatest lighting in this pic, but here it is anyway.

I almost bought that one! That is really a looker
Tom Stevens
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TomsSnakes.com

Looks consistent with wild Floridana that I have found. It could be a cross, but looks like a straight floridana to me.