Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hello all, wondering if i can get alittle info. Im gonna purchase in the next couple months either a baby az mt king or a knoblochi king. Im gonna order online from a reputable dealer that has these guys eating already(have not decided where yet) but im looking for more info on these two breeds. just looking for general care and all that good stuff..Other then color,which from pics i see the knoblochi is orange, whereas the AZ is red,but other then this, what is the difference between the two? are they basicaly the same snake? are they both generally the same temperments? is one better in captivity then the other? better eaters? i thaught i read somewhere that the knoblochi is less shy then a AZ mt king, and is more likely to be out during the day. I also heard that they like to be handeled more then a az king(not that any snake likes to be handled). but any info would be greatly appreciated, I did have my selection narrowed down to a AZ mt king or a pueblan milk snake, but I hear better things about kings then i do the milks(publens being very very flighty for the first year or so)..I was all set to get the az king until i found the knoblochi earlier this week(darn it, thaught i had made up my mind..LOL) thanks much, Pete

They are the same snake, Knoblocki comes mostly but not entirely from the southern part of their range. They range north into southern az. They are blotched instead of rings.

In southern Az, you can find regular pyros and knoblocki in the same populations.

As far as color, both can vary from orange to red blotches or rings. Thats an individual thing. If you like red, pick red ones, if you like orange, then pick those. Its not about subspecies. Good luck

L.pyro pyro and L. pyro knoblochi have exactly the same personalities. The knobs have a chain link as the white bands connect at the bottom. Here is a site that has albino pyros and pyros from the most localities: www.ophidiarium.com. Anyone that knows Ryan knows that his snakes are the highest quality of anything available. The mountain kings are so much cooler than milksnakes. They are much more handleable than a pueblan milk

snake adventures

These snakes have a very calm demeanor compared to milksnakes.

One difference in captive care is that these kings are more sensitive to high ambient temps compared to Pueblan milksnakes for example.

All kings and milks need most of the cage cool, but there will be those days when ambient temps get high. So make sure if you get the mtn king (either, basically the same snake) that you have a place to put the cage (floor is best) during heat waves or if the A/C fails.

My Ariz ntm kings did great with a heat pad basking spot on one far end of the cage, and the cage being plenty roomy so the snakes could get well away from the heat if desired.

Oh, and if you have very low ambient humidity, periodically put the snake in a plastic tub with moist sphagnum moss or paper towels, and place part of the tub over a heat pad. Let it get nice and steamy in there. I do this during parts of the year when humidity gets low. A few hours in the humidity chamber and the snakes come out well hydrated and very hungry.

I treat milksnakes and mtn kings the same way. Pics show some milks being hydrated. They get really colorful when hydrated. They eat like mad when hydrated too.

-----
Mark

"but I hear better things about kings then i do the milks(publens being very very flighty for the first year or so)"

In general hondurans are much more flighty than any king. I would go as far to say they are spastic as babies.

Now Pueblins are pretty calm as neonates and as adults. maybe there are a few flighty Pueblins out there but the ones i raised and proiduced were pretty calm.

The pueblin is a tougher captive. They are hardier and all arounjd great snake. Unless you want to work hard and have patience raising up Mtn kings.. I'd say get a pueblin instead.

hypo honduran:

normal honduran:

knobs:

AZ Mtn king:

Hypo PUEBLIN:

-----
www.Bluerosy.com

"Pray for Obama. Psalm 109:8".

"They that can give up essential liberty, to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety." -Benjamin Franklin

Campbelli are some of the calmest milks as adults and neonates, at least the ones I've had. Very hardy and mellow, plus great eatters.

Scott