Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Alright I don't have a huge collection, but I thought I would share some pictures anyways....and maybe get some opinions from you guys.

Here's my first King ever (Desert Cal King--right?)

And here's my recently acquired Black King

And I got this guy today....I'm not really into morphs, but this guy was completely free and I've really taken to this guy's "personality". (T-positive albino Brooksi-right?)...The previous owner said "extreme red albino"....obviously the red didn't last.

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2.4.0 Leopard Geckos
0.1.0 California Kingsnake
0.1.0 Copperhead
1.1.0 Eastern Box Tutles

Nice cal king,whats it eating in that pic?
Where is the black king from ?
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"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

Cal King is eating an Agkistrodon contortrix neonate that was born prematurely.

The Black King (I posted a few threads earlier) was collected by a university herpetologist in Knoxville, TN. He has all the permits concerning the legalities. I'll probably end up giving it back to him once it's eating consistently and it's a little bigger.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

While I don't keep Cal. Kings anymore because I got tired of being chewed on by many of mine over the years. I know, others have never "experienced " that joy of showing someone that snakes can be good pets just then to look down and see the Cal. King chewing on your hand and then trying to constrict your hand. And yes, they were well fed and no other animal scent was present.Sure scares people off of the hobby and the look of horror on their faces is kind of funny in a dark humor kind of way.lol There is no denying the beauty of the desert phase black and white. Good luck with them.
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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Very laid back generally, not nervous,beautiful and display well instead of always staying hidden(because they are smaller they don't tend to uproot all the cage furniture like larger Kings can/do).Another benefit is that when they defecate it's not seriuos stink when you walk into the room like other larger commom Kings.

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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Is that L. p. pyromelana ?

I've actually been looking to get one of those, but I prefer to see the animal before I buy it so I'd have to wait until I attend my next show/expo.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

Yup. That's a PYRO. I agree. It's nice to pick them out in person when you can. That Desert phase you have there I think is one of the sharpest kinds of Bi-colors out there.

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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Yep, I've always wanted a Cal King. However, they seem under-rated and common-place nowadays due to their availability.

Here's a high contrast pic

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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

nm
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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

That is a nice looking Cal King, the jet black and bright white, that was my first and favorite snake that I started with. But I'm with Bob S. on the biting thing. But I still have some moody albino Cal Kings that I have to keep my eye on, when cleaning their boxes.I also agree with Bob S on the pyros, about being good show snakes and such, not stinking up the house.
-Bob Bichler

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Nice picture! Is that outside or in a very-natural vivarium?

I've never been bit my my Cal King....I do make a point to not get my fingers close when feeding time initiates.

My Black King on the other hand is a nippy little booger......but I guess most neonates are.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

>>Nice picture! Is that outside or in a very-natural vivarium?

It was outside, in the back yard.

>>
>>I've never been bit my my Cal King....I do make a point to not get my fingers close when feeding time initiates.

That good, sometimes you can find a nice one, and they will calm down as the older they get. I have a 04 that finally calmed down last year.
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>>My Black King on the other hand is a nippy little booger......but I guess most neonates are.

Very true.

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>>1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
>>0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
>>0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
>>1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
>>2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
>>0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
>>0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Beautiful Pyro Bob.Nice pic! Albino Cal.Kings. Really takes you back. They are classics now. My worst/most memorable bites were from Albino Cal.Kings. They sure are pretty though aren't they?! I like that earth tone type gravel in your pic. Very pleasing to the eye. thanks for showing the pics.

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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

>>n/p
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Under-rated or over-rated whatever peoples opinions of them may be, there is nothing like coming across them in the wild( however, I suppose for us King lovers, it's like that w/ all getula ssp). Your b&w is a beauty. Daughter friends and I found this one up in Kern last year.

reako45

Lucky! I would love to go herping in Cali, but TN and neighboring states are nothing to complain about :} as far as herping goes.

Nice photo BTW
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

Looking on the classifieds today, I'd say that hypo Honduran milks are far more commonplace and available than a nice black & white Cal king.
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Mark

Maybe, but as far as local stock goes around TN, all that's available are CKSs and BMKs. And all the BMKs have green stripes on them....I'm holding out for an all black BMK.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

>>
>>
>>Very laid back generally, not nervous,beautiful and display well instead of always staying hidden(because they are smaller they don't tend to uproot all the cage furniture like larger Kings can/do).Another benefit is that when they defecate it's not seriuos stink when you walk into the room like other larger commom Kings.
>>

I agree completly Bob S.
-Bob B
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Wow, this is great to hear, as I had always heard mountain kings are nervous and jumpy... That sort of kept me away, I don't care for nervous snakes.

Does this apply to zonata as well?

Me too. For some reason, a long time ago I had somehow gotten the idea they were nervous highstrung "tri-colors" and stayed away till a friend showed me different. Same friend told me Black Rats were nice mellow snakes and all the ones I'd had experience with thought they were Retics in disguise. Sure enough, went over his place and he had some of the mellowest giant cornsnake type Black rats including leucistics that I've ever run across.I kept a bunch of his Leucistic Black rats for a lot of years and except for their feeding response they were just giant cornsnakes. Displayed really well too in large 6' Neodeshas.

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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

>>Wow, this is great to hear, as I had always heard mountain kings are nervous and jumpy... That sort of kept me away, I don't care for nervous snakes.
>>
>>Does this apply to zonata as well?

I have one Zonata, and he's about the same as the Az. Kings, Maybe a little more shy.
-Bob B

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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

Nice decsription of the benefits of pyros. Truly a great choice for captivity. And I bet as you are seeing, they are very communal.
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Mark

My Pyros are nowhere near as ruthless as my Eastern Kings!

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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Like taking Hannibal Lechter out for lunch! LOL! Sorry. I had to. Long day at work.
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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Man,I know what you mean about the biting thing! I have a female splendida that does that,Ouch!! lol! Jeff

I've NEVER been bit by any of my 3 WC Cals. I was bitten while applying a shed aid to my, @ the time, hatchling holbrooki. I guess cuz it was such a young snake I didn't really even feel it. Only upon close inspection did I realize that it was because this baby snake was biting me, was why my finger was stuck to the animal's mouth.

reako45

Wow. Don't Complain! You've got Beauty without the beast! Youv'e got your cake and get to eat it too. LOL They are beautiful snakes for sure.
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Sometimes I think the kid with two pet snakes has something that those of us with 50 to 200 lost a long time ago.

Nobody ever really answered my question directly.......Is that L. g. Holbrooki just considered an "albino speckled" or is there some other trade name used?

Thanks!
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

I think that is a lavender brooks phase Florida king you have there, not an albino holbrooki.
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Todd Hughes

Your Cal King looks like he has a nice setup. Is that fake rock in there, or an actual slab of rock or concrete?

*Question*

I've been away from the forum for awhile. Previously, people used this designation:

1.0 Cal King

Now they are using:

1.0.0 Cal King

Does the extra digit mean that your unsure of the gender?

Below is a link to my coastal phase Cal King and his setup.

Thanks! It's actual rock placed on top of ceramic tile to prevent cracking. I really like the ned result after substrate is added as filler.

1.2.3.4

=

1 male
2 females
3 unsexed
4 eggs
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major