Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Any advice would help, I have had fish and turtles and now a uro which i adore wanted to try snakes. Saw a florida king in petstore and really liked it. Also like the blacks an thayeri I've seen here. Need some advice

thanks

Just jump on the.....

...and get what everyone else here does. lol Common kings are pretty easy to maintain.

Be prepared!!!!! You're going to hear about everyone's favorite kings and that's OK and, really, kind of fun. So here is my opinion!!!!! I would suggest either a Florida King or a Mex. Black King. Both are subspecies of the Common King and both are eating machines. They are good about handling although they sometimes have a feeding response that is fast and furious.(I found out not to go barefoot while feeding!!!! Had to pull a female off my left heel a month or so ago!!!!!) But when they find out you are not on the menu they usually spit you out!!! If you can, buy from a breeder. The season is beginning so babies should be available soon. I would recommend contacting Tom Stevens (posts as Nokturnal Tom on this forum). He has some of the best Florida and Mex. Black Kings available every year!!! Be patient and wait for the Spring hatch. You will have better peace of mind than with a Pet Shop critter!!!! Good Luck!!!!

Shalom,

Pat

Well a while back at a reptile show (my wife had a lizard) we decided to get a snake. We settled on this Florida king and took her home.

She has been an absolute dream pet. Very mellow, you'd be hard pressed not to call her affectionate even. Doesn't mind being handled. Eats drinks poops and sheds right on schedule and looks great too! My next snake was a cornsnake and he's cool but not as friendly. Then I got a future mate for Belle here, he's a florida king also, and he seems to be just like her: mellow, very handleable, easy to care for.

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1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

Eddie!!!
I really wish you would quit posting pix of that beauty!!!! I hate cleaning the drool off my keyboard!!!!!!LOL That one is just so sweeeeet!!!!
Shalom,

Pat

Thanks so much! I know the regulars here are mostly tired of seeing my same ol snake pictures. But I only have two kingsnakes and I love to take pictures of them, so there's going to be some repetition!

I do feel strongly that if people could meet Belle they would go out and buy a florida king right away, she's just really enjoyable to be around.
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1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

Eddie,
Don't you dare quit posting!!!!! You've got two of the neatest Brooksi around and it's so cool to see how the guys are progressing! Keep the pix coming!!!!

Shalom,

Pat

IMHO Get a Mexican Black or a Brooksi.
Cal Kings are also good but they do musk more - a lot more - than my MBKs - and my Brooksi experience is limited but the one I have is an awesome specimen, very aggressive feeder, never musks, extremely beautiful.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

Both of these were purchased from Nokturnal Tom last year, and were about the same size when they arrived. When the brooksi arrived, he initially did not eat for 3 weeks - but when he did start, he really started, hasn't refused since.

I'm posting to show the growth rate difference between the two species.

The MBK eats large fuzzies, the brooksi eats small adult mice.

I did not feed over winter - they would be bigger now if I hadn't cooled them, though I don't know by how much.

About two seconds after I snapped the pic - the brooksi bolted around and attempted to hunt the MBK. I think that's the last time I photo a brooksi with a smaller king ...
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

I've kept corn snakes for years. About 5 years ago I decided to get a Cal King. I liked the bands. It was a male hatchling and ate like it was constantly starved. He never really tamed down either. I kept him several years and then traded him off. This year I tried a Mexican Black King and it is as different as night and day. She's an '07,eats 2x a week, very docile and extremely beautiful. She is one of my favorite snakes and has me hooked on kings. I'm having a brooksi shipped once the weather warms a tad!

While I agree with the posters that MBK's and floridanas are hogs and as Tom puts it, bulletproof, I still like a good ol' splendida or desert king, get a captive born that is feeding well and you too may never look back. Thayeri that are feeding well are a good choice because they are so mellow and come in a variety of flavors.
Did I mention splendida, lol! Whatever you get, do your homework and provide the best home you can with choices of temps and hides and your captive should thrive, good luck!
Todd Hughes

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Todd Hughes

i agree with antelope..get a desert king or like all of them just said...get a brooksi or MBK. i have a pair of black kings and they are just great. i also have a pair of whitesided brooks kings and they are awsome snakes. any of them never bit me so far.

You know Todd I thought about Splendida as a first snake. Frank Retes is one of those who thinks that MBK's and Splendida are color variations of the same subspecies. I have had two CB "Splendida" patterned hatchlings that lost all their pattern and were as Black as any MBK!!!! Btw--that first pic of the Black and white Splendida is an outstanding snake!!!!!!LOL Sweeeeeet!!!!

Shalom,

Pat

I've had cali's, speckleds, prairies, alterna and thayeri. My thayeri is my all-time favorite to keep as a pet. Great eater, easy to maintain and the best personality. Active and eager to explore, but not at all flighty and never bites. Comes right out and crawls onto my arm and wraps around my wrist like a bracelet when I pull his tub out of the rack.

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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

I find my Thayeri and Ruthvens dog tame great eaters and overall great snake never been bit and after 3 yrs handling them M/F about once every 1 to 2 weeks still as calm as can be .

I've found MBKs to be the least "bitey" of the common kings I've worked with (Californias, easterns, deserts and Floridas).
I consider MBKs right up there with corn snakes as one of the best pet snakes.

Tim

Third Eye

Here's my female 2003, 5ft 1000grams, a real sweetheart. I would highly recommend a MBK as your first.

I have a pair of Milk Snake Phase Thayeri. Without a doubt the coolest snakes. Very comfortable around my kids and me, never musked or bit, like to be held. Great snakes, beautiful as well.

Find a King that YOU prefer, then research it, have the enclosure and all accessories set up before you make the purchase, and enjoy. What other people prefer has value, but remember they are just saying which Kings they prefer. I have worked with most of the genus at one time or another and have my personal preferences but will not recommend one over another as I have no wish to sway you in your personal choice. I merely wish you good luck with whichever King you choose.

I know what I like, florida, black and thayeri but I did want to hear others preferences, likes dislikes. Thank you to all who chimed in. Great reading for me. Now just have to convince the wife to let me keep frozen mice in freezer...

Ahhhhhhhhh

I suggest you invest in one of these Avanti Upright freezers... save you the trouble with the wife (TRUST ME!!!)

you can use it which ever way you'd like in addition to your feeder mice, and there is no conflict!

As far as which snake to get... it's all about what you'd like to look at and display (Florida Kings are addictive though! )

goodluck

~ZF
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Floridana Morphs: Resource Site

Go with the thayeri you wont regret it I dont anyone who has them including me that can say anything negative about them very calm great eaters and lots colors to pick from

Tell her she can watch the ice skating competition on Superbowl Sunday - and that you'll take her shopping during the Daytona 500.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

thanks, but luckily my wife likes the superbowl and we are from the north so we don't watch the daytona. she was against havin g the snake but caved in until she thoguht i'd be using her freezer and ti would it large mice

A tiny little freezer will hold a lot of mice. You can put it anywhere

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