Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanted to get a king snake and im deciding on either a MBK or a cali king...im leaning more towards a MBK because of its simplicity...and plus ive read good things about them on this forum...any suggestions to help me make my decision?...oh and im also deciding on a ball python but thats a whole other forum...thanks

The care is the same for both, so you're decision comes down to one of color/morph preferences.

The nice thing about nigrita (Mexican black kings) is that you get one pattern and one color. None of the "I need the other color/morph" syndrome that you get with snakes that come in many patterns/colors. What you see is what you get and all you can get pretty much.

However, if you want some color or stark contrast like a nice black & white Cal king, well Cal kings are the way to go. So many neat patterns.

One other thing. Kingsnakes can be muskers. Many are as babies; some grow out of it. In my experience, I've raised Mexican black kings with very few that musked as adults or young adults. I've raised Cal kings with a higher percentage of musking sub-adults and adults. Could be the strains I had or other factors, and I didn't do a study. Just general observation that with nigrita you may be more likely to get a snake that doesn't musk as an adult. Of course, any individual snake can break the normal pattern, so please don't think that MBK=no musking, or that Cal king=musking. Both may or may not be. I just think MBKs are less likely to be the adult muskers. If that even matters.

Also the california king can attain larger sizes than the mexican black king. MBK - 36-45" cali 36-60"

My male '00 cali king is pretty close to 5'.

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Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

thanks for the input...I think my decision is leaning more towards the MBK...ill probably get it in about 3 weeks or so...i just want to do more research before getting it...right now i have a normal corn and i love it...its temperment is great and it feeds well..no problems wat so ever with it...

If i were to get a 30 Gallon tank and split it with a divider and put the MBK i'm going to get and my corn in each section, would it cause stress to any of the snakes??

Putting them in the same tank with a partition dividing them is a bad idea in my opinion.

Kingsnakes are canibalistic. I would think that if your divider is compromised at all or if there is even the slightest possibility that one of the snakes could venture over, under, around, or whatever, you'd be down to one snake. And I'd put my money on the MBK.

My two cents.

Marcus

oh and are MBK all black on its belly also??..or is it white

I keep both, but personally I favor the nigritis. To me, there's nothing cooler then a four foot solid black snake(the belly too).
Also I would have to agree with Mark that the nigritis seem to be less inclined to musk than their California relatives. They also seem to outgrow that stage quicker. Not scientific fact, just personal observation.
Enjoy!
Perry

Mexican Black Kings rank right up there with corn snakes in terms of ease of care and disposition. They generally are not as nervous as Cal Kings. As far as your caging situation - baby snakes are best kept in small enclosures - no bigger than a shoebox. Even with a divider, the scent of the king (a natural predator) could stress the corn.

Tim

Third Eye

I have to put my 2 cents in about MBK's, but this is just from my personal experience:

I have kept and bred cal kings (and other snakes, lizards) for many years now with minimal problems. Last year however, I purchased a young pair of MBK's, partly because I think them absolutely beautiful, and partly because I wanted a 'change'. But I must tell you, 'change' is certainly one way of putting it, and the 'beautiful' part stops at their looks, lol. Yes, they are just as easy to care for as any Cal king or corn, but temperament-wise? LOL, My female is by far the NASTIEST little snake I have ever dealt with! She is also an escape artist, has escaped TWICE out of locked & supposedly secure containers, and as a matter of fact is STILL out from her second escape a few months ago. She has been out more than she's been in over the last year she's been here. I have never had a snake go AWOL like that for more than a day or 2, if even that. I know she's around, I just can't seem to actually come into contact with her to recapture her. And due to her supreme '[bleep]iness', this is not the type of snake I really want loose as I am due to have a baby at any time and already have a 2 year old running 'round who shows no fear of snakes at all. This snake bites repeatedly, musks, wraps, you name it. Glad I have 3 good mouser cats around. The male isn't quite as bad, at least he's never tried or succeeded in getting out (and he's kept in the exact same type of cantainer that she was), but he also has a poor attitude. Great eaters and absolutely gorgeous snakes both, but VERY bad tempered and problematic as far as handling since they've been here.

Go with a nice cal king =P But, that's just MY opinion.
Best of luck to you!

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"Klaatu...Verata...Nicht--cough, cough, cough!"