Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm a beginner and I just have a simple question. Is starting off with a kingsnake a bad idea? I understand corns are easier to handle, but I still think the kingsnake looks far better in terms of looks. Let's put my questions in an easy to answer form:

1) Is starting off with a kingsnake a not suggested idea?
2) how nippy are they?
3) I've only got bitten by a corn in the past, but how does the pain from the bite of a kingsnake compare?
4) Some caresheets said the corn and the king grow to about the same length. Is this true?
5) Does the king need more care as compared to the corn?

I started off with a wild caught gopher snake. And she was a biter.

Starting off with a king is fine. Kings do musk more than corns, and are more likely to be nippy - but many kings never bite, and even when they do, it's really not a big deal.

If you are deciding between a king or a corn - get what you like and you'll be fine.

If you want a king that grows fast - I would highly recommend a Brooksi. Some people say Brooksi are more likely to be biters, and maybe that's the case - but the only time I have ever been bitten by the Brooksi I got from Nokturnal Tom was when I was feeding it and it missed the mouse and grabbed my hand (you can avoid that kind of bite by using tongs). Even as a baby, he never bit me defensively.

MBKs are also an excellent choice, as are my favorite - Cal Kings.

As far as I know, almost any Lampropeltis makes a good snake - provided that it eats rodents. Some species/lines are more likely to want lizards as hatchlings (IE Gray Banded Kings) so just make sure you get one that is accepting rodent prey.

btw - some corn lines are also notorious for preferring lizards as hatchlings (IE Miami's).
-----
I decided my old sig was too big.

About growth and final size - depends upon species/subspecies/line.

Some kings break 6 feet while other may only break 3 feet.

King bites are the same as corn bites. Nothing to write home about.

I keep my kings (all getula) the same as I keep my corns. My kings seem a little more prone to tipping water dish - but get a heavy water dish and it doesn't happen.
-----
I decided my old sig was too big.

Get a king ... Ive had many different animals in the past and kings are my favorite. They seem to have more personality than other stuff Ive kept as well .. they interact with the keepers much more ... sure its because they want fed.. but still it makes life more interesting

I began with a Corn. He was not nearly as active nor curious, and tended to poop on things he was allowed to crawl on.

Kings tend to be more spirited and inquisitive. One desert phase Cal King in Joshua Tree NM approached 4 hikers and sniffed their boots as he was photographed!

Con: The begin nippy as juveniles, but no problem. Just handle often, and rinse them & you when they musk. They get the message fast and stop in a few weeks.

After a few months, you'll have a nice-sized, engaging reptile pet that brings you delight for years.

(Kings are also somewhat less domesticated and specially bred for special colors than Corns are, since Corns were domesticated first. But Cal King specimens are quickly catching up to this Mutant state.)

Others will surely answer your points favorably toward the King. I can only say that I have one corn and two kings and my limited experience would be that kings are much easier to care for and handle. My kings are perfect, perfect pets. My corn, not so much. But as I said, I don't have a lot of experience, but my vote would go kingsnake all the way!
-----
1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

I don't see any problem with starting out with kingsnakes. My first (and currently only) snake was a normal banded California kingsnake, and I've never had a problem. They can be a little defensive as babies, but you are likely to encounter this with most young snakes you handle. If you're planning on getting a king, I would go with a Mexican black king, California king, or a Brooksi. Of these, I have only owned a Cal king, but I've heard the other two are easy keepers and fun to own.

Here's my girl: 6 years old and as calm as the day I got her.

damn your cali and all cali's are stunning. They're awesome because they look like sea kraits LOL.

What equipment do I need to house one?

Heat lamp? tank? substrate and what else?

Thanks for the comments.

Now for your questions. For a small (less than three feet) Cal king, I would start out with a ten gallon aquarium or similar size sterilite container with lots of air holes. You need a good substrate (i.e. aspen shavings), water bowl, and a hide at each end of the enclosure (one at a warm spot and one at a cool spot). My substrate depth is about three inches for my adult snake. A juvenile or hatchling can deal with more shallow substrate. Most people will recommend using under tank heaters, but I don't have much experience with those. Doug (DMong) and some of the others should be able to help you there. If you decide to go that route, you need to get a thermostat and a good thermometer with a probe that sits right on the heater so you can know the actual temps your snake is experiencing. You will also need a humidity gauge. Improper humidity ranges can lead to retained sheds which can lead to health complications.

Here's a picture of my setup:

75 gallon glass aquarium
Substrate: aspen shavings
Temps: 80-82F (warm)/ 74-76F (cool)
Humidity: approx. 50%

I hope this is helpful. Please post pics when you get your snake (whatever you decide to get).

This all depends on what kind of kingsnake you are considering. Grey Banded kings and Thayeri (Nuevo Leon or Variable Kings) can be difficult feeders and not great choices for a beginner. Asl Mt. Kings (pyros) can be difficult as well.

I suggest narrowing it down to a specific King snake and then comparing.

Basically care for kings, milks, and corns are pretty similar minus a few.

The bite from any are similar and more nuisance then painful. Although a full grown Florida king biting in a feeding response can be a bit on the painful side.

-----
"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which ones pink?"

Wow pretty kings you got! Oh, and I had a cali king in mind.

Does anyone know how much more active cali kings are compared to cornsnakes?

I started with corn snakes and they where very easy to care for and since then i have had all kinds of other snakes from boas and pythons to bull snakes but i just got my first cali king around a month ago and in my opinion he has been just as easy to care fo as the corns where but a lot more active during the day. He seems a lot more courios then the corns and has yet to strike at me. So in my opinion i say if u like the kings u should go with the kings

That's a neat pattern on that Cal king! Very pretty.

The 1st snake pictured has THE COOLEST head markings i've EVER seen on a Kingsnake!

Looks like tribal paint! super cool!

thanx 4 sharing

~ZF
-----

**Floridana Morphs: Resource Site**

Sorry, Corn guys! You've gotta go w/ Kings hands down. I've got 3 Cal Kings, 1 Speckled King, and 1 Sinaloan Milksnake (Kingsnake family). All are great!

reako45

You are on Kingsnake.com on the Kingsnake forum. What do You think everyone is going to suggest you get, a corn or a king? Despite the partisanship on this forum(and you would of course get some argument from the other forums as to which to start with), going with either a corn or a king(if a California, as you seem to be intent on)is a win-win situation for you. I have worked with more than a few representatives of getula, and many corns over the years, and love both. Choose what YOU prefer, not what others suggest. You'll be alot happier that way. Happy Memorial Day all!!!

>>>"You are on Kingsnake.com on the Kingsnake forum. What do You think everyone is going to suggest you get, a corn or a king?"

That would make far too much sense!......."LOGIC OVERLOAD!!!"...AAAARRGGHH!!!!

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

I agree with Howie. Get the one you want. Either choice is great. Here's one of my corns that came from Howie, at around five foot. Steve


-----
I got a rock!
Charlie Brown

Hey buddy, whats going on? Thanks for the reply, and I loved the pic of the Okeetee. Happy Memorial Day! You missed a good wings outing today.

Hey Howie, how are you doing? Hope you had a good time at the wings place. We were out boating on the mighty Chickahominy River, so we had a pretty fun holiday weekend. Talk with you soon.
Steve

-----
I got a rock!
Charlie Brown