Reptile & Amphibian Forums

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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

That girl is getting huge, they are liking the ne cage I guess? Is that third snake the het jelly???
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Gerard

"The only difference between myself and a madman is that I am not mad."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

He is Sulfur het Lavender. Did you see how big my turtles are?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

That's the girl I was talking about. She is huge! I will send you one of these this year.

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Gerard

"The only difference between myself and a madman is that I am not mad."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

What is that? A caramel?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Just asking a stupid question, but have any of you had any problems with the snakes attacking each other when put in the same enclosure? I've seen videos on youtube where they do. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

>>Just asking a stupid question, but have any of you had any problems with the snakes attacking each other when put in the same enclosure? I've seen videos on youtube where they do. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

This has been an ongoing debate here on this forum for ever it seems. James Bond will probably jump in soon, but to give a straight answer, Yes it happens. There is always a chance that a king can turn on it's mate. There are many things that can be done to reduce the chances of that happening, but there are no guarantees! I have several pairs housed together right now, but I understand that I might wake up tomorrow and find one dead, or eaten. I usually watch them close when first introduced, and make an experienced decision on whether or not to leave them together or separate them. For instance I have a Pair of Hondo's which I am too scared to leave together. I will put them together for a while and check on them, but return them to separate cages. The main reason being, that they are some of my favorite snakes in my collection, and I would hate to lose one. It would be near impossible for me to replace one at this stage of the game. Even though Hondo's aren't known for eating each other, I am very carefull with them. I also have some graybands that I would hate to loose, but those I feel more comfortable leaving together. Some of my Florida Kings would hurt to loose, but I would be in tears. So you have to make that decision for yourself, and be ready to live with the consequences. no matter what anyone tells you here, there is always a chance of it, no matter how small that chance might be. I won't say anything else on the subject.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Some of my Florida Kings would hurt to loose, but I would "NOT" be in tears.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Good thoughts Jorge! Science has a funny way of overshadowing any emotional rationalization or opinion, and very good that you do see things clearly when it comes to this subject.

Your kings rock by the way!
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Genesis 1:1

Thanks Billy, wish me luck this year!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Yes they will attack each other.

Some people have a hard time with reading and comprehension on this forum so i will give a short synopsis on how to keep your kings SAFELY and properly. You can email me with any questions as i don't want to get into the same banter with other on here who don't like another opinion.

They will not eat each other if bonded. I have been specializing in brooks for over 20 years with my collection being over 2000 at times (see my website link below).

To bond your snakes it should be done during winter brumation and when they are young but big enough to eat small mice.

I keep all my florida king paired up or in larger groups. Over the years i never had one incident of cannibalism.

The reason introduced pairs THAT ARE NOT BONDED eat each other is they don't recogonice each other. In the wild they bond. Otherwise there would be no kingsnakes if they ate each other with every other kingsnake they came across. But will eat a stray king coming accross their paths should it venture.

Bonding in the wild happens with other kingsnakes as well. Especially those found in isolated pops or smaller isolated habitats like rock outcroppings. So it is not just with Florida kings.
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www.Bluerosy.com

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Gerard

"The only difference between myself and a madman is that I am not mad."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

I've only had one adult king that showed any feeding response toward other kings. It was a WC adult female eastern. The nearest I can figure is that she had grown accustomed to eating other kings in the wild. Needless to say that snake had to go.

I've been housing FL kings together for around 8 years, both CB and WC, and I've never had a single cannibalism event. Even when one accidentally bites another during a feeding frenzy, they quickly realize their error and let go, just like I've seen corn snakes and boas do. Cannibalism is not a foregone conclusion with kings. They do recognize other kings and will react to them in a social or anti-social manner. Place a corn snake with a kingsnake and it will be wrapped up before it hits the floor.

House a large group of babies together and that's another story...
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www.brooksi.com

I had Speckled Kings eat each other twice as a youngster, but now that you mentioned it, they were WC. I always felt that if a snake has grown all it's life eating rodents then it would be less inclined to eat another snake, but then I have heard stories from others saying different. It's always good to be cautious. There was a guy last year with Mexican Kings, who said his male was tearing up his female, but he didn't know if that was normal breeding behavior. Biting can be normal, but what he was describing didn't sound normal? Good thought on the WC aspect though.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

Interesting that you experience cannibalism with your speckled kings. I've also experienced the same thing, come to think of it, but there was some disparity in size. I did once have a Sinaloan milk eat another.

Most of my experience is with Eastern and Florida kings. It may be different for other subspecies, or even specific populations. I did catch a wild adult FL king that regurgitated another FL king that was only a little smaller. I have also, many times, found 2 FL kings together under the same piece of cover, even outside of breeding season.

I recently saw a picture of an eastern black king eating another in the wild. I've also found adult black kings together in the wild that had no reason to be together.

Could be that there is a certain amount of conditioning that occurs in the wild that makes certain kingsnakes prone to cannibalism. Maybe they started out eating their clutchmates. Could also be that some subspecies are just more prone to cannibalism. I've heard of desert phase cal kings eating each other after years of cohabitation.
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www.brooksi.com

Both times the Speckleds that ate their mates were only a little larger than their meal mates. Both times the snake was puked up after a couple of days. That is some of the most fowl stuff ever! The mexican Kings I mention earlier were Mexican Blacks (nigritus).
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

The fact you keep giving advice based upon and experince with two "unbonded" wildcaught kingsnakes (that aren't even Florida kingsnakes) and always warn people who come here with your "cautionary" details. Leave me empty.

I have been keeping Florida kings together for more years. With the largest collection. i would think my test bases has more info than your single unrelated and non sensiscale observation ever has aor can be.

And yes, as Nick said, they DO let go when feeding time comes. They share their food. let me repaet this they SHaaaaaRE their food. How do you think I can feed so many without watching them? I certainly don't use paper bags.
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www.Bluerosy.com

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