Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Interested in other fans of Baja kings - either conjuncta or nitida phases. Please reply or post photos if applicable.

Ameron in Portland, OR

1.0 L. getula californiae (Mojave phase)
1.0 L. getula nitida

Here's a pic of mine in the blue a few weeks ago......

I noticed with mine that he SEEMS very picky about prey size. He's been only taking hoppers till recently and just moved up to small adult mice where at his size I would've had many of my other KIngs on regular adult mice. I've also noticed that he seems to be a very slow grower compared to some of my other Kings(maybe BECAUSE of his prey size preference). Have you noticed similar things with yours?
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Ace

No, not similar experiences with feeding. Almost opposite. Mine has already eaten pinkies & fuzzies; his last meal was a Hopper. He has also had 2 lizard species (incapacitated). I feed live.

At times recently, both he and my Mojave King regurgitated, but both have stopped and eat quite regularly and are quite active. (The Mojave phase regurgitated at someone else's place where he stayed for 1 month, so location & feed may have been factors.)

"Baja" is unique in one distinct way: he bites! He is only now stopping. He seems like more of a chow hound than prior Kings. (I've had 4-5 species.) If he's quite hungry, he still bites me as soon as I enter his "room". It took awhile to train him that my finger is NOT prey.

His hunger & feeding instinct may be stronger than most Cal Kings due to less breeding/tampering by humans. This subspecies has only recently been bred & available to the public, so he is not so far removed from wild ancestors?

Size? They are alleged to be smaller than Cal Kings. Don't know why, since they live in an even more advantageous region, with abundant prey. (The Cabo San Lucas area is just south of the Tropic of Cancer, and gets no frost.)

I just got an adult female Nitida, and she's definitely grown on me. Now I need to find a male! LOL!! Not many people seem to be working with Bajas. Every once in a while the subject will come up on the forum, but there isn't much info on them.
-Phil

So true.

Such an under-rated King. Maybe we should be grateful? Like knowing that not many people know about your favorite camping spot??

Thanks for the feedback.

Ameron