Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can someone please tell me the answer to this:
Is it true that young Scarlet Kingsnakes have white bands where the yellow should be? I read only in one place on the internet that they do and that their white stripes will turn yellow when they become an adult. Can someone confirm this info for me? Also, if this is true what age are they when their white bands turn yellow? Thanks! I hope someone knows.

Yes. It's a geographic color variation. I believe the southern populations are usually white, while those found up north are usually yellow (although it could be the other way around).

Tim

The Florida snakes tend to have more yellow in the bands, if I remember correctly. Further north, they are whiter/ligher yellow. Most hatchlings however have stark white bands.
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Chris Harrison

Chris and Mark are correct here are my pair the female laid 10 eggs this year.

By the way these are from central Florida and the babies have white bands for about a year.

In my experience, it has taken more than a year (and sometimes 2 or more) for the babies to start showing the shift from white to yellow or peach. I have only worked with animals from FL. but have seen that the more northern localities remain whiter longer. Some snakes from the more northern edges of their range often stay white through maturity it seems.
Here's a baby. An adult of mine is at the top of this forum.
:Mark

Thanks for the info everyone! And Mark, what a beautiful young Scarlet Kingsnake! I am always impressed by the beauty of these snakes.

I see four or five scarlet kings a year in the Southeastern corner of North Carolina from Hatchlings to 20" plus adults and in many years have never seen yellow bands. Here they start white and stay white in my experience. The band edges also see much better defined than in the older snakes I,ve seen from GA south.

Great looking snake. I find they look much nicer with white bands than yellow. Overall are they secretive snakes when kept in captivity?
I imagine they hide more than most kings due to their small size.
Lia