After reading so many posts on this forum about Eastern Kings, I decided to add a hatchling to my collection last year. After a year I'd say that he's definitely lived up to his reputation. I have never actually measured him but I'd guess that he is well over 3 feet long at approximately 1 year. The only other snake that I have seen that even comes close to his aggressiveness at feeding time is my Brooksi. Three to four days after feeding he is roving around his cage turning things over. At that point, lifting the top off to change water and spot clean is risky business, to say the least. Despite the fact that I have always fed him in a separate enclosure, he launches himself out of the cage, sometimes snapping at me.
On feeding day, I place his f/t mice in a separate container in another room. When I manage to get him out of the cage without an attempt at swallowing my finger, he’ll grab one of the mice before I've even laid him down in the container. At 12 months old he routinely eats 2 large mice every 7 - 10 days. Actually he's been eating two full grown mice for quite some time now.
I'm not sure what locality he is, as the goofball I bought him from had bought him from someone else without inquiring about location. In any case the price was right and he turned out to be a really fun snake to keep. So I suppose that my reason for posting this is to thank all of you for posting so many pics and so much good information on the Easterns, I was definately inspired. I plan on starting my first breeding program with a pair of Easterns so if anyone knows where I can get a nice pair with locality information (preferrably Northern stock) I would appreciate it.
Thanks Again!!!
! Click on Brad Bauserman's email link below he will have Maryland Eastern Kings available from beautiful parents.