Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have always wanted to take a photo of this "pair" of snakes together.

Here's the male...

Here's the female...

Here they are together (they were decidedly uncooperative!!)....

So what's wrong with this picture?

The male is a Mexican Black King and the female is a Black Milksnake. Both are almost 6 feet long.

Here's a body shot showing the difference in color and scalation (king on top).

In case you are wondering, no I didn't buy them as a pair. I just happen to be snake sitting for a buddies MBK, so I figured I would try to get this "black lampropeltis" shot. The snakes had other ideas, so that's the best I could get.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Sorry to reply to my own post, but I just noticed something.

Black Kings have black/brown skin while Black Milks have white skin!

Color me stupid, if necessary, but I hadn't ever noticed that before. Is that true on all black milks/kings?
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Interesting, I had never noticed that. I'm not sure if it's true across the board or not. I did notice the milks have a glossy black while the kings have a flat black.

I have on 07 black milk, so that's not going to offer much help as far as if the skin is white between the scales. You can see the black on mine, but at this age the scales don't have any gap bewteen them that shows if the skin between them is white or black. I'll have to check that out the next time I see adults or sub-adults at a show.
Excellent photos Chris. I love seeing nigrita and gaigeae in some comparison pics. That is a huge MBK. Steve

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Velvet Ant(Dasymutilla occidentalis) This colorful ground wasp (female only) has a sting so potent that it also earned the nickname "cow killer"

564564
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Diego

Very interesting observation Chris!,....I'm pretty sure that IS the norm for the two species from the ones I have seen and owned, but like many things, there could easily be some exceptions to the rule.......also,....Very nice pics!(as usual I might add!)

~Doug

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

Cool. We now need to add a black thayeri to the pic.
Anyway, I've noticed that even the blackest black kings, when in bright sunlight, are truly dark dark brown. Maybe more so than the milks.
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

I've noticed that too. All my five Mex blk kings (plus another one on the way) are pitch black indoors, get them outside and they are a very, very dark brown. Unlike my Blk kings, they are stark black, not counting the markings. Cool pics though!

Snakes are my teachers, I'm just the student!

Scott D

Cool pics. Its interesting to see just how different they are when photographed together.

Yes, my gaigeae have white skin as well. Here is a my female in shed prior to egg laying. The flash makes it hard to see the white skin, but it is.

Dave

DNS Reptiles

Had they both been the other guys...swap them in their cages and see if the owner notices.

Now THAT'S a good one!!, I'd love to see how long it took for the guy to notice!,..........if EVER!..LOL

~Doug

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

Cant you see "I dont know what happened. They bred so easy last year and now all they want to do is eat each other." LOL