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My husband had a friend over the other night so that they could play some video games and indulge in some intoxicating beverages. While they were playing, I noticed that Damien (my MBK) was out cruising his tank. I went over, opened the lid, and Damien cruised right on up the side of the tank and out onto my shoulder. Our friend started tripping out because Damien didn't shy away or go racing for his hide. He had neve seen a snake actually come to a person before. Ever since I got Damien he's been like that, even when he was small. I don't know if it's the type of King that he is or if it's the fact that he's been handled alot, but this snake is just extra mellow. I'm just glad that Tom still had some of these guys left when I decided that I wanted to get a MBK.

Here's the most recent pic I have of him. This was a couple of months ago and he's a bit bigger now.

Manda in Seattle
Damien- Mexican Black Kingsnake
Nibbles- Normal motley cornsnake
Gratch- Okeetee cornsnake

Very nice Manda!

I've got a pair of those from Tom, too, and as long as my big male isn't hungry, and you don't tickle him while he's sleeping under his hide, you'll keep all your fingers...

Of all my snakes (kings, pits and pythons), that MBK male has the craziest, most psycho feeding response of them all- absolutely goes berzerk! He kept missing his damn rat one day (feed F/T from long tweezers), and was about 8" out of his sterilite, lunging with his mouth open from in his rack, about nose level to me trying to get at it. He had me backed into a corner!

//Todd

Your mbk sounds like my ball python I was recently given... He's got a good aim, but won't hesistate to inhale fingers if given the chance... I'm debating on feeding with tongs and leather gloves just because he's got me once and I don't want to feel that again...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings (Spot and Fry)
1.0 Brooksi
1.0 Ball Python
0.1 Red Belly Piranha (Fluffy)
1.0 Australian Shepherd (Spooky)
1.0 Springer Spaniel/Beagle mix (Snoopy)
0.1 German Shep mix (Shadow)
0.1 Cat (Echo)

MBK are known to be mellow and great beginner snakes. Mine is no exception either.

I have two kings that exhibit the same behavior. A thayeri and a Cali. Both are males and both come straight up to me and go right up onto my arm. My Cali likes to travel and moves a little faster, so I have to keep a better eye on him, but my thayeri likes to take it slow and hang out wrapped around my wrist or inside my shirt.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo, Het Anery
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Pueblan Hypo
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.1.0 California King Blue-eyed Blond
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
1.0.0 San Diego Gopher, Poss. Het Applegate
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

http://www.cafepress.com/shedz

This species is known for docility, probably more so than most kingsnake subspecies. (Individuals can vary, of course, and extreme examples exist in every subspecies.)

Oddly, in the wild just the opposite is true! Sonoran Black Kingsnakes in the wild are often VERY aggressive snakes. Why they are so mellow when captive-bred seems to be a profound mystery.

My hatchling is still quite shy and is seldom seen in his 20-gallon vivarium. He has faint, yellowish/green banding, and white spots on both of his undersides for about 1/3rd back down his body.

I'm hoping that "Tucson" is as mellow as your snake when he's an adult.