Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Whats breed ok kingsnake is the largest. Do Easterns get the largest? Do males normally get larger then females?? How old do kings live for. Thanks

Eastern kings, Florida kings, and Apalachicola kings all grow to about the same adult size. Both eastern and Florida have been recorded at nearly 7 feet.

Males almost always grow larger.

If well cared for, kingsnakes can live for 15-20 years in captivity, or longer.

I got a cal king male that's at least 20 years old, prolly almost 25 years old.
I got him sometime around '92-'93 and he was full adult size then. I measured him when I got him home, and he was a little over 4 feet. I haven't measured him in the last 10 years, but just eyeballin' him, he hasn't grown much, he's maybe 56"

On the classifieds there is a 6ft male eastern king for sale. The owener is saying its only 7 years old. Im not really into kings as much as I am with boas and burms, but I may like to buy it and grow it past 7ft. If it is only 7 years old, and if given a rat every week and space to crawl, it could be a world record king. And for that reason is why I might purchase this animal and why I ask. Opinions?

Snakes grow less/slower when they get older.
That snake may live 10 more years.
But who's to say it will grow much more?
Besides.
The length records don't count for captive animals.
Only recent wildcaughts.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com
^ Updated 9/23

Hate to rain on your parade, but snakes do most of their growing in the first few years.
For example, I have a corn collection.
I have a pair of yearling corns that are HUGE!!!!
I have one that's 3 years old that's smaller than the yearlings.
I went back to the breeder of the huge corns and asked about the parents of those snakes. It was then that I found out that the father of the corns in question was over 5 feet long, obscenely big for a CBB corn snake. He also has very impressive girth.
I am currently feeding those yearlings one medium adult mouse sized rat every 4 days, and neither has ever refused a meal.
I wouldn't consider that power feeding, but I'm not known for starving my animals, either.
I'd say it's genetics, but they really don't grow much when they get older. If you want a big animal start with a baby from big parents, and feed him what he will eat.

Hate to rain on your parade, but snakes do most of their growing in the first few years.

Yeah that statement had nothing to do with my post.
I never said anything that suggested snakes didn't do most of their growing while they are young.
I said their growth slows down as they get older.
Older as in, after they are adult size.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
www.kingpinreptiles.com
^ Updated 9/23

My response wasn't directed at you, it was directed at the person originating the thread.
I was actually trying to reinforce your point, not trying to steal your thunder.