Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I currently have a Mexican Black King that I think is the most beautiful snake. He shines out in the sunlight in all shades of the rainbow.
Now I have heard them called a poor man's Indigo, could someone explain this?
Do Indigo's they stay all black? Do they shimmer all those lovely colors? How expensive are they? How big do they get?
I am not real comfortable with super large snakes as I am a small female. I might really like one of those "little Snakes".

Thanks in advance for any and all info.

You say:

I am not real comfortable with super large snakes as I am a small female.

Which tells me that you would probably not be comfortable holding and dealing with a 7 to 8 ft. indigo.

Their feed response can be somewhat intimidating and the cage cleanup (they mess up their cages pretty .... lets just say it's unique) is a lot of work.
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Thane

there is really no comparison between the two.

The Eastern Indigo, in my opinion, represents the standard for what a 'pet snake' should be. Yes, they are messy, yes they get HUGE, but they ain't a thousand bucks because nobody wants one

My advice? FWIW I would find someone local who can introduce you to one of these snakes. Bring your purse because once you handle one you'll want to take one home. No sense paying that kind of money having never 'met' one.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and keep in mind there is plenty of support here (and there) should you decide to 'go blue'!

Landon Johnson
My Snakes

Thank you both..
Maybe I will get to see one up close and in person at the repticon show which will be in my town in late June.
This one will be the first show I've gone to so it can't get here soon enough.

The cost of a black king snake is afordable whare as an Indigo will cause your bank account to go into convultions.

The other consideration is that our ever thinking government is protecting them by doling out permits but there are no set rules for obtaining a permit if you have an Indigo shipped from out of state which is the most likely senario.

If you live where they are native you will be denied a permit and will have to resort to an even more pricy specimen the Rubidus (Mexican Indigo) a similar looking snake to the Eastern Indigo) that is without any regulation.
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Lets not forget the black milksnake either.

http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/Lt_gaigeae.html

http://forums.kingsnake.com/view.php?id=1502298,1502375

VERY neat snakes. If I couldn't have my indigo I'd be happy with one of these gems.

No, it's not an indigo. But it IS a darn neat snake IMO.

Heck, I'd HAVE one if I didn't have an indigo. But whats the point of ANOTHER big gorgeous black snake LOL ?
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Thane

NP
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"Life without risk is to merely exist."

Could not agree more to that! I own three and they are my poor man indigo! hehe But I just love those guys! Big thick calm black snake... Way better than the black kings in my opinion.
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Nicholas Bertrand