Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright, some people have been telling me to get more mature king snakes that are grown up, im looking at a few at petco for just under 100$ and i have the tank all set up for one, the ones at petco are maybe just over 12" or so, ive been hearing they can change there attitudes really quick and bite...i wanted to carry it around a lot this summer in my car and walking around here this summer, my towns really small so i didnt think it would be a big deal...but ive heard corn snakes would fit me better but i just want a kingsnake...

looking at either a california king, a mexican black king, a milk snake, or a striped king....whatever i get i guess...like the black, but yet i like the striped, but i also like the milk snake and its colors....

any help? how mcuh is it for the mice they eat? thanks!

Maybe you should get the kind of snake that comes in a can and when you open it it springs out.

Wanting a snake you can "drive around in your car with" or "walk around town with" is a bad idea. The diasters that could happen when driving around with your snake are truely frightening, and just screaming for headlines.... "Man with snake loses control of car and runs down old lady".

Buy a snake because you enjoy them not to impress people.
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"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which ones pink?"

Well, to be quite honest, I wouldn't really recommend that you drive around, or walk around town alot with snakes in the summer, as it can get very hot, and quite uncomfortable for ANY type of snake. I can certainly tell you that a milksnake, especially a young one ain't gonna' make a good handling companion, as they are extremely nervous by nature, and will want to "BOLT" all over the place, and sling smelly musk and feces all over you. Certainly not a good scenario for pickin' up chicks around town!..LOL!!

Corns and Kings generally have a more placid nature to them, and I'd also recommend feeding the kings VERY often, as they can sometimes look at your fingers as tasty rodents.

I would leave the "novelty" animal accessories to someone like Paris Hilton, and keep them at the house.

best regards, ~Doug

Florida King(brooksi)

hypo Lavender Corn

albino tangerine/peach Honduran Milksnake

Mexican Black King

Extreme hypo Honduran

ghost Honduran

another extreme hypo Hond.

50/50 California King

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

I don't know if you are joking or are serious.but lets say you are serious for the sake of the snake.
GET A PITBULL if you want to "walk around town" or drive around and show off or whatever you want to do.
Leave your snake at home and enjoy it.They get stressed out enough just being in holding tanks for sale etc....
and as far as the price of mice??? there is no real answer to that.Its like asking how long is a piece of string?
I will sell you mice at .25 but pet-co will probably want 2 bucks a crack??????

L8r Shannon

Think its $1.75 frozen mice at PETCO lol as you know they dont sell feeder mice thus you have to buy mice on ice .

The pet mice are $3

A "carry around" type snake is more of a ball python a king or corn arent the king has a good chance of getting scared/nervous and bite sun bothers them if prolonged and to hot.
Corn will be to hyper.

A snake isnt type of pet for that but if you are going to do it once in awhile and not long a ball python is best bet never drive in car with lose snake never leave it in your car as heat kills it.

Infact dont take it in your car at all remember its a snake not a pet dog that you can walk on leash . Give a lot of thought before you get one

First of all, I wouldn't buy anything from Petco or any pet store without thoroughly inspecting the snake for (1) overall condition (muscle tone, etc.), (2) temperament (i.e. is it calm or does it freak out when handled?), (3) parasites (can you see mites or ticks - sometimes you can't, so be careful!), (4) health (i.e does the snake have any discharge from its nostrils? Are its eyes clear? Is it alert?), (5) environment (a snake kept in a dirty cage is probably not healthy and is a bad investment).

Second, I would not recommend riding around with the snake in your car. A new snake can be easily stressed if it isn't used to you or your habits. Improper environment (too high temps, etc.) can also stress the snake. Another thing to think about is most snakes are escape artists. If the animal gets loose in your car, you may have no way of knowing where it is, and this type of distraction could be very dangerous for other drivers. Driving around with your snake is just asking for trouble, and after the python/boa law issue, I don't think any snake owner wants to see a similar law enacted for kings.

The reason people are telling you to get an older snake is they are often much easier to deal with than hatchlings. These older animals, if in good condition, are usually feeding well and tend to be a little calmer than your typical nervous hatchling. In a nutshell, older animals are usually easier to deal with especially for a first-time owner.

The last thing: snakes are individuals. Just because one snake of a given species is nippy, it doesn't mean that all examples of that species are that way (the reverse is true as well). This is why it is so important to hold the snake in its normal environment where it is comfortable so that you can assess its temperament.

If you're looking to buy a first snake, you might try asking around the forum to see what everyone has in the incubator. A good reputable breeder should be willing to help you find the right snake and assist you with any problems you may have with that snake.

Sorry for such a long-winded post, but I hope it helps.

Orocosos

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

Hilarious!

~ Mike Russo

Kings are ok for taking on little spins in the car and for quick shopping trips but what you really want is a good old fashioned Coachwhippper. My friend has a big pink phase that he caught as an adult and he frequently does just as you described. Sure, he is now blind in one eye and has a few scars about the head, neck, chest, breast, face region but the lawsuits being leveled against him are not that bad.

I told him not to use the sidecart.Him and peter ran right into a bunch of pedestrians because they were drinking and playing with the little night snakes.

L8r

Aaaaack! Cobra sting my eye! I lay on my side and play the flute.