Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I was wondering if anyone here knew the expected lifespan of the Mexican Black King? I've seen everything from 12 years to 25, and am rather confused.
My male is 9 years old, and has started some cranky behavior in the past six months. He looks fine, and eats normally - and no changes to his home or care. Before I put it down to just needing more handling time I'd like to be sure he's not just getting older, and maybe needing to see a vet. I'd hate to be unknowingly causing him pain or anything. Anyone have any suppestions? Thanks!
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1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent Price
1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete (Peter Cushing) and Kali
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
2.2.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela Lugosi, Spook, Sid Vicious & Ember
1.0.0 Pet Rat, Punkin
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter
0.1.0 Goth-Punk Teenager
1.0.0 Tolerant Husband

12 to 25 is about right. There is a lot of variability.

Personally I think that this variability is because people don't notice specific causes of treatable illnesses. I wouldn't consider a 12 year old snake to be very old. ANd if they died I would say it was from a specific medical cause, not just old age. BUt people like to feel better about themselves.

At 9 your snake, especially a male, is still at his prime.

I would chalk it up to needing more handling time. Unless...Its not really a male. How sure are you? Females do not like to be handled when they ovulate.

cheers

here is a 15 year old cal king, healthy as a horse and still breeding.

I've seen some pretty sickly horses
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3.6 L. getula californiae - 5 eggs (Cal. King)
1.1 L. getula nigrita (MBK)
1.0 Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I completely agree with you Zach. 9 is in no way old at all for a kingsnake.
By the way, I completely love your cal king pictured here! THAT, to me, is one of the most beautiful ones I have ever seen in my life. I really mean that.

Billy
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Genesis 1:1

Well,..like others also stated,....9 years old is not what I would consider old, and there are just way too many variables that come into play when it comes to snake longevity, that the number of years a certain type of snake can live will always very greatly, depending on MANY things.

If it was a female, and she was "double-clutching" all the time, I would say that she might be starting to get up there, but would probably still have a few years left in her....but I would not consider a 9 year old male to be "over-the-hill" by any means!
Unless it has a specific problem of some sort, and snakes get them just like humans, and any other animal.....I would not consider him to be ready to "kick-the bucket" at that age at all.

Medium sized colubrids can easily live 15 plus years, and many well beyond that!..especially if it's not a female using up precious energy on developing and laying eggs all the time.

I remember a cornsnake being documented at 21 years of age!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Thanks,guys, I appreciate the info; that rules one thing out.
I'm hesistant to mention this, but is it possible for a snake to just prefer women to men? This snake only bites my husband. I and my women friends can all handle this snake fine without any issues. It's kind of frustrating for my husband, as this was his snake he raised. But he got really busy at work, and for a couple years the only ones handling this Mexican Black was me and my friends. Now when he takes this snake out the snake tenses up, and has actually bitten him (this snake has NEVER bitten - that's why all my friends like him). But he's still fine with us.
Does my husband just have to handle him more to get the snake used to him again?
I know this is a really weird theory, but I can't figure out anything else. Oh, the snake has a clean bill of health from the vet, now, too.
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1.0.0 Mexican Kingsnake, Vincent Price
1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.1.0 Ball Pythons, Pete (Peter Cushing) and Kali
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
2.3.0 Bearded Dragons, Bela Lugosi, Spook, Ramoth, Sid Vicious & Ember
1.0.0 Pushy Lovebird Baxter
0.1.0 Goth-Punk Teenager
1.0.0 Tolerant Husband

I don't think that gender has anything to do with the fact that he gets nervous around your husband, but rather that the snake is more used to the scent of you, and your friends!.

Also the way the snake is held by you and your friends could be a little slower, and gentler......Snakes have an EXTREMELY keen sense of smell, and everytime he smells your scent, and the others, he associates that as being nothing to be nervous about.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

I'm glad to here the snake seems to be healthy, hopefully it has many more good years ahead!

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"