Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've had a Eastern Chain king in the past, and LOVED his easy disposition. I'm considering getting another chain king, and have heard that the S. Georgia Chain kings get even bigger than the east coast ones (like I had before). My only question is do they have the same fantastic dispositions? If not, I'll just look into getting another regular chain king. Thanks!
-----
1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.0.0 Ball Python, Frank Langella
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
1.0.0 Boa, Benedict Cumberbatch (or Big Ben)
1.0.0 Sweet Rosy Bourke Parakeet, Didgeridoo
1.0.0 Ringneck Dove, Pimmdale Plumington
0.1.0 Smart & Loving Daughter

Well, the record length common kingsnake (L.getula) was said to be 82 inches and was a wild Eastern getula x floridana intergrade from S. Georgia as I recall. I wouldn't say "all" S.Georgia's are going to be any bigger than Eastern getula by any means, because both can get quite large. It really depends on their genetic predisposition for size from both parents, and how much prey they can consume during their lives, especially in the first several years of life.

Their dispositions can vary quite a bit too from individual to individual, but as a general rule, both are usually very easy going and make good captive pets.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend either one to be quite honest, or even a huge Florida king..

~Doug

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

........three counties south of the Georgia/Florida border was where the 82 inch intergrade was found.

cheers, ~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I wouldn't assume that all Easterns are going to have the same disposition as the one you had. In my experience they can be quite "bity" and dispositions vary from snake to snake.

Tim

Third Eye Herp

I've found that most chains from throughout their range tend to be mellow & handle quite well, often even immediately after capture. However there are exceptions. As has been mentioned, disposition varies from animal to animal regardless of where they come from within their range. Every once in a while you'll find a chain king that will rattle their tail, strike, bite & musk, even after spending time in captivity. Others, won't bite, but don't hesitate to musk.

Regarding size, I've noticed, on average that southern chain kings (NC, SC, GA - 4-5ft) tend to be bigger than northern chain kings (NJ, MD, DE - 3-4 ft). The largest chain kings (close to 6') I've ever found or seen were from GA. I've also noticed that the heads on northern chains seem to be smaller than the heads on southern chains.

Incidently, I've also seen some very large cane field FL kings, so it doesn't surprise me to learn that the largest chain on record was an intergrade.

Hi,

I have bred easterns from their entire range for over 20 years, including the s. GA morph which Kevin Enge and myself developed from animals that he originally collected from Echols and Tift Cos in S GA. As a general rule, southern locality easterns are larger than northern types, with s. GAs generally being the largest and NJs generally being the smallest. However there are always exceptions. In fact, a notable exception is the original wild NJ female that started my lineage (a looong time ago). She was reportedly a six footer collected by a NJ DNR guy crossing a Burlington Co. highway. While in his care, she layed 20 plus eggs. Those babies went on to found the most common line of NJ easterns, which are typically on the smallish size. Adults that I have bred and raised, even 5 generations later, seem to max out at 40-48 inches or so.

As far a GAs are concerned, well cared for adults are usually 5-6 feet for males, and 4.5-5 feet for females. All of the adults that I have bred and raised have fallen within this range, although I have heard of smaller adults from the same lineage in other collections.

Healthy eastern kings from any locality have a savage feeding response, which can be mistaken for aggression. If they are well fed, are hooked out of the cage, and you don't smell like a snake or rodent, they tend to calm and curious, but I have often made the mistake of handling an eastern after other snakes and have chewed on.

Good luck, and an eastern from any range makes a great addition.

Will

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

How True! I'd guess that many of us have learned the hard way that it's not a good idea to handle a getula king after handling other snakes (without washing your hands & arms first).

......inadvertently forgot to wash like I usually remember to do one day before picking this mild-mannered (but voracious) girl up. Didn't take her long to smell the other snakes on my hand that I was cleaning prior to taking her out...D'OH!!!...

-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com