Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering if you guys can help me identify a snake.
I received a call earlier today from the super of the high rise building I just moved out of regarding snakes that have been found in the building. They have currently found two snakes in the building (one of which got thrown out a window by one of the supers) and the second of which was captured by a security guard. They are guessing that someone is breeding them in the building and had some escape from him (They are only hatchlings). I was the only person the super knew of that kept snakes, so he called me to see if I could figure out what it was. I can tell immediately that it wasn't a corn snake, so I apologize for posting on this board about it, however, I do believe it some sort of rat snake, and was thinking that this board is better than most I've seen.
I don't have a digital camera, but am trying to borrow one, so a description will be all I can give, and I'm aware how vague they can be, so I'll be as descriptive as I can.
The snake is about 10 inches long, and overall body shape is almost exactly that of a corn. If anything, I'd say that the head is slightly more compact, and I still think there's something about the eyes that seem odd to me. It's background color is a grey/white, and the other pattern's color is black. The pattern on the snake is stripes that go from one side of the snake to the other, not head to tail, but across the body. Each stripe is maybe half a centimeter thick, and the background between the stripes is about one quarter the thickness of the stripes. The side of the snake has the same type of pattern, however, the black stripes coincide with the background of the top and vice versa. The belly also is distinctly not corn snake. It is like black and white stripes, each thick at one end and thin at the other.
Any help identifying this snake is greatly appreciated, and again, I apologize for the length of the post.
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"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
J.R.R. Tolkien

Without seeing it or knowing were it's from it could be a kingsnake or a bullsnake.

Actually, I live in eastern ontario, Canada.
However, since it was found in a high rise, I would tend to believe that it was captively bred, and thus, our location could have little to do with what it is
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"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
J.R.R. Tolkien

First thing that comes to mind is a banded california kingsnake...

ex:

http://users.eastlink.ca/~burmies/periwinkle.jpg
(Disclaimer: Not my pic)

The bands can have varying widths.

You can try the 'Snakes - What Kind?' forum - those guys are good.
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

Almost, except this guys dorsal stripes/bands/splotches stop at his side, and then new ones start, but between the dorsal ones.
Thanks for the tip, I'll try posting on the other forum too
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"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
J.R.R. Tolkien

It could still be a cal king - they are highly variable in pattern. I -know- I saw a pic just a few minutes ago that fit what you are talking about,
kind of like this from the side:

|_|XXX|_|XXX|_|XXX|_|XXX
XXX|_|XXX|_|XXX|_|XXX|_|
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-audri
Webpage/Pics

Just a quick note to say that I have now uploaded pictures of my mystery snake to the Snakes - What kind? forum. If interested, you can find the pictures there. Thanks for looking.
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"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."
J.R.R. Tolkien