Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had doubts about this girl when I first got her. I was told she was MBK but I thought Splendida. I posted pics here and it started a little debate. Here are updated pics that were asked for. It has only been since February and the color change is pretty dramatic.

Pic from February with and with out camera flash:

pics from today with and with out camera flash:

Wow!

That's really cool.

I'm of the (speculative non scientific) opinion that MBK and splendida are in fact the same subspecies.

I've heard of MBK x nitida producing splendida like offspring - and someone posted an MBK x floridana that sure looked splendida to me.

Anyway - imho either they are the same subspecies, or very very closely related subspecies. And splendida may be the "master race" from which all other getula came forth.
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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 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
3.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I remember that post, and keep both species- the earlier pics DEFINITELY looked to be splendida to me, but man o' man- that is a major dramatic change!

The recent pics of that snake look like my MBK pair I got, except they looked like that from day one!

Looks like he's going to turn into a nice solid-black snake after all!

//Todd

That second pic is one of the highest yellows I have seen in a long time. Keep timeline pics on that lil dude as well and let's see if his side walls turn cream or stay yellow.
Todd Hughes

change.... I remember when you first posted that snake... I cant believe how quickly it's changed.

byron.d

That's an amazing color change in such a short amount of time. So is she solid black, or does she have a touch of pattern under the chin, or ventral area? I think she's looking pretty good.

Steve

you can still see a little faded pattern but it is VERY faded. I tried to catch it on the pics but couldn't.

Yeah!,.....I remember that post well!LOL,.....some boxing gloves, and head-gear were needed as I recall!LOL

Now that is VERY interesting!,....I'm really glad you posted the photos.....what a difference! ..like night and day!

I remember that I thought it would more than likely turn black in your original post!......as I recall, you were hoping that it would as well, and that the breeder/seller was being honest with you about it becoming solid black later on, as all the others he said he had did!

Thanks again for sharing that stuff!.....I think that's great!

"the proof is in the pudding" as they say!LOL

best regards, ~Doug

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

np
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I was very skeptical when you posted the original pics. I have never seen a king go through such a dramatic color change.

Do you have any belly pics?

there doesn't appear to be a whole lot of change to the belly

before:

now:

the colors shown on the belly here are no where near as bright as they look in the this pic. I had a hard time trying to capture them as they really appear.

Outstanding change in such a short time!!!

Mine's not near as dramatic as the change yours has gone through, but here's my little MBKs progress so far.........

Then.....

Now.........

Mine seems to be darkening on the lower half of her body more rapidly than her upper half. Did you notice this with yours, or did yours just darken over it's whole body at the same time?

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Ace

I noticed it pretty much over her whole body and it started almost as soon as she started eating fuzzies....