Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I want one of each, lol. Sadly I can only afford one. I've been looking at graybands, thayeri, cal kings, I just can't make up my mind! A friend of mine also highly recommends splendida. What is your guys' experience with them, size, temperment, feeding? Thanks a bunch!
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1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
1.0 Giant Jungle Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Baldy Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Leopard Gecko
0.1 High Yellow Lavender Leopard Gecko
1.0 African Fat Tailed Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.1 Cornsnakes
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Sinaloan Milksnake
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Rubber Boa

Well, splendida are very nice looking, so are californa kings. I like brooksi myself. Most kings if you get a well started CB snake are similar in care. They need a minimum of a 20 gallon when full grown, some people prefer 30s or 40s especially for the larger subspecies. All the temp stuff can be found either on a website or in any of the books available on them. I find that if you pick any of the getula subspecies you'll have a good time and find that they have some very anthropamorphic qualities (people like).
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-J.Hill

well here's my Bias opinion...

i really like Florida kings they can get pretty hefty and feed alot! but i think that's all the better in smaller snake species!

hatchlings vary in temperament but that is with any king

they feed readily (mine never miss a meal once they get started)

size varies: 3-6 feet

easily socialized with handling.

the thing i like most about Fl. kings is that there are soooo many different looks to choose from in both the normal phases and the Morphs.

another option a king that is just as hardy/durable ( very similar to) Fl. kings are Goini kings

~ZF
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***All New Updated Pix in Gallery***


Royal ReptileZ
Home of Bklyn's Finest Brooksi

I recommend Mexican Black Kings as a first kingsnake. In my experience, they're less "nippy" than the other common kings.

Tim

Third Eye

Some may be a little hard to start, but overall, I have never had a splendida that refused a meal, usually the same or next day of arrival! I like em all and have some of all you mentioned, seriously consider MBKs as I have also never had a problem with them. All grow similarly in size, 3-4 feet with cals, mbks reaching a larger size. Any of the above would be a good choice if bought well started and from a reputable breeder. I would stay away from pet shop snakes, unless they give you a guarantee, as do most breeders.
Todd Hughes

I have had experience with cal kings before, but I'm looking at something different from that. I don't ever buy pet store snakes, I'm fortunate enough to live a half-hour away from the excellent snake breeding facility The Great Valley Serpentarium. They breed pretty much every king subspecies imaginable. They make sure all animals are well started and healthy before being sold. I also have the added bonus of knowing some of the employees, so I can go into the back snake room with them and look through the racks of juvies, which is normally the best day ever, lol. Unfortunately, their mbk's are just coming out of brumation in a week or two. If they had baby mbk's i'd be giving them some serious consideration. I like the look of splendidas, and they always seem to have a few. They graybands and thayeri also appeal to me. A quick question, how big do splendidas usually get, and how are they handling wise? Thanks a bunch for putting up with my long post! -The Geckofantic
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1.0 Hypo Tang Leopard Gecko
1.0 Giant Jungle Albino Leopard Gecko
0.1 Normal Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Baldy Leopard Gecko
0.1 SHTCT Leopard Gecko
0.1 High Yellow Lavender Leopard Gecko
1.0 African Fat Tailed Gecko
0.1 Crested Gecko
1.1 Cornsnakes
1.0 Ball Python
1.0 Sinaloan Milksnake
1.0 Kenyan Sand Boa
0.1 Rubber Boa

They are about the same as Cal Kings, all the gutulus are pretty close IMHO. The Splendida will probably stay a little smaller but four feet + is a good bet. I've seen calm and nippy in all of them but most are okay.

I posted this in reply to another post last month, but, of all the snakes I have worked with over the years, I would have to say the Thayeri are the most fun. None in a clutch will look alike and many are not even close to each other. There is a full spectrum of colors and patterns, they grow fast and breed readily, are less likely than getulus to eat each other, and are smaller so easier to house.

I doubt anyone that breeds Thayeri can dispute how much fun it is to see what will hatch out in a clutch of Thayeri.

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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

Rick, I love the one on blue! Awesome! I want one like that. Derek

That top milk phase is awesome! check out those eye spots.

wait...actually all of them are awesome, nice snakes.

that Thayeri are one of the best snakes around and should be part of everyone’s collection, beginner or seasoned breeder. I’ve kept the big “like to eat each other” Kings and they are cool but I find the Thayeri more enjoyable with infinite possibilities. I will admit that I occasionally pine for the big Hypo Brooksi (but man are they big) and every time I see an aberrant or striped Cal King in the field they tug at me; at the end of the day I am simply more fulfilled working with the Thayeri.

Derek, sorry you are about five months too late (lol). The other two are 05’s, I kept the spotted one; here’s a couple of his siblings (05 & 06).

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Rick
Never Enough
Reptiles

I have Brooksi, Getula, Graybands, Knoblochis, and Pyros. Not one of them has ever tried to bite me. Am I lucky? I don't know. I have several pairs of most of them. The Knoblochis are more squirmy than the others, but not too much. I recommend any of them as long as they are already eating. Rearing the hatchlings is another story. Getula are my new favs. Derek

That is one fine snake in the middle!
Todd Hughes

Thanks, that pic was taken in '05. I'll take another one in a couple days after he sheds. He looks nothing like the '05 pic. He has really lightened up. This was going to be his mate, but she died last summer. I was able to find 2 females similar to her last fall. It will just take a little longer to breed. Derek

about3-4 feet is normal, seen a few over but not many. Hatchlings can be a little shy or nippy and musk a little but calm down fairly quickly. If you've had Calkings, you can easily handle splendies, they are near cousins and are a less fussy at suppertime mostly. I have 9.
Todd Hughes

dude , i like the mini KING......tri.....?