Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I need to pair up a female speckled king I found in my barn (go figure). Rather than waiting patiently another 7 years for one to show up on its own I want to try to field collect one. Anyone had any success collecting specs in the field in the daytime? If so what do I need to look for habitat wise?

They can inhabbit so many different types of habbitat. They are usually not far from a water source. In New Orleans where I grew up they were near swamps, and canals or ponds. I have found them in the heart of the city taking out the trash to a dumpster, and even crossing busy streets, and along railroad tracks. But I would start by loking for some water with good vegitation around it. Keep in mind these can be some of the most cannibalistic of the Eastern varieties of King Snakes. What part of the country are you in?
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Disclaimer: I do keep several snakes in pairs, and some in groups. However I realize that things can go wrong, and I have to keep a close eye on those groups, to be sure they are not being adversely affected by these living conditions. Also if one happens to eat it's cagemate, it is 100% my fault, and I know the risks in advance!

What's wrong with using CAUTION?!?!?!
King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
~ Jorge Sierra www.SierraSnakes.com

where there is one. There usually is more.

Go back into checking your barn during the same time next season.

Otherwise i put out AC. But that will take at least a season of sitting for them to use it. Better do it now.

As far as walking around what to look for. Believe it or not field guides like stebbins contain more information than people realize. We all just tend to read over it. But answers are right there as far hints what to look for in the right habitat. Sometimes even down to what plants to look for.

If it was me. I would just go for where the food supply is.

Hey look! A barn!! Lets ask the owner
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>>I need to pair up a female speckled king I found in my barn (go figure). Rather than waiting patiently another 7 years for one to show up on its own I want to try to field collect one. Anyone had any success collecting specs in the field in the daytime? If so what do I need to look for habitat wise?
>>

Lay out tin and wood.....AC...in layers with good crevices.....near a water source.
Typically AC doesn't get ripe enough for a year or so....lol

Ive found many on the coast in this manner, including Splendida and intergrades from 6 different counties.....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

You will be surprised how quickly AC can produce if you set it up right. I'd put it around the edges of the barn and if there is grass, leaves, etc., just remove whatever you can that would be underneath it. I have found things within a month under AC that was setup like this. Typically it's best if the AC has been sitting for a while but preparing it can speed up some finds.

>>You will be surprised how quickly AC can produce if you set it up right. I'd put it around the edges of the barn and if there is grass, leaves, etc., just remove whatever you can that would be underneath it. I have found things within a month under AC that was setup like this. Typically it's best if the AC has been sitting for a while but preparing it can speed up some finds.

Great info.......finally!
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

ya finally huh!
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Jeff, don't boot me off for suggesting this, but Hubbs' kingsnake book is loaded with all of those details you are talking about.

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Jeff, don't boot me off for suggesting this, but Hubbs' kingsnake book is loaded with all of those details you are talking about.
>>

Lol....
Yea, but he got some of the coastal range incorrect.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

Well, I guess every book on the planet has a couple goofs here and there in them, but he still presents tons of good info on conditions and habitat to find plenty of different types of kings in different situations. Like the very edges of wooded areas near water sources as was mentioned already, etc...you know the deal..

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Whre do you think that Hubbs learned how to find kings?

The stebbins field guide.

He gets his info from there. One just have to read it and pay attention to the hints and details. It is all right there.
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Just listen to the book.......
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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Actually it is that way in herpetoculture. And i hope you continue the tradition so that area don't get raped.

What is the point of telling somebody to go down this road. Stop at the curve. hike 1/4 mile. Crosss the stream and look for a rock that has the "X" on it and lift it and you will find your target species.

The way you learn from the snakes and in in the field is learning habitat, elevation, time of the year, ..basically undestanding and listening to what and why nature has these crature in a given area. It is all in thE feild guide book IF YOU PY ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS.

A lot of good locations have been raped by others who told someone, who told someone ELSE and he tells his friend and in a year or two that spot is completly torn to peices. Not to mention the greed factor,

Heck, the snakes are everywhere. Not just follow this road and take a left. If someone wants to find snakes they should learn how to from the OBVIOUS hints that you can find in a good field guide that was written by old herpetologists who studied snakes and knew 40 years ago what to write and what would happen before the internet was even conceieved.

Now people want direct answers on the internet. LOL!

It is all right there in the old field guides man. listen to the snakes. Listen to the old herpers. Then grasshopper , you may try and snatch the pebble out of my hand. BOIIIING!
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I have listened to a lot of old time gentlemen and have learned a lot, I wasn't asking for help. I have found that there are plenty of old time guys around and some of them actually know what they are talking about, not just saying I am old, there for I know.
You should post on the field herping forums, I would like to see all the stuff you are always catching.

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Gerard

"Sleep my friend and you will see, your dreams are my reality. "

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

They're generalist sort of species, though I would avoid looking in closed canopy forest. Like most kingsnakes, they seem to do real well in agricultural areas

I've walked up speckled kings on canal banks and levees in Louisiana, in similar fashion to the stories of Florida kings in the canefields. I've also found them crossing roads in the heat of the day near water.

Cover flipping in the cooler months is probably the most productive method of finding them. I would start by laying cover around the edges of your property if you have the land.
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www.brooksi.com