Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I was looking into getting a Kingsnake for my mom. I am looking for info on the different sizes in the different sub species. I have looked at quite a few caresheets and ore info on them, but I am still a little confused with this as most of them give relative info for all kings. I don't think I am too fond of grey bandeds, but I like pretty much any of the other kings. I like anything with the name albino in it! I also like the pure blacks. I just LOVE the looks of these, my mom dosen't care much as for color, so I figured I will pick something interesting.

Please give me your thoughts and suggestion. Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I don't know if you have limitations as far as size or anthing, but since you did mention all black, I have to say a Mexican Black King is hard to beat. Average 3 1/2 to 4 feet, very tractable, very aggressive feeders. Excellent all around kingsnake.
If you want something smaller, Thayeri Kingsnakes are hard to beat. They are about as tame as tame can get, come in many colors as well as solid black. Those are two excellent choices in my opinion. Cal. Kings have about the largest selection of different morphs, including various albinos. If you like a larger King, Eastern & Florida Kings are great. All are excellent feeders. Good luck with your choice.

Steve

"Hi, I was looking into getting a Kingsnake for my mom. I am looking for info on the different sizes in the different sub species. I have looked at quite a few caresheets and ore info on them, but I am still a little confused with this as most of them give relative info for all kings. I don't think I am too fond of grey bandeds, but I like pretty much any of the other kings. I like anything with the name albino in it! I also like the pure blacks. I just LOVE the looks of these, my mom dosen't care much as for color, so I figured I will pick something interesting.

Please give me your thoughts and suggestion. Any opinions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!"

Thanks, I will look into the ones you recomended. I like bigger, the bigger the better (I think my ball pythons are small), BUT, this will be a display animal and we are looking at a 20 gallon size for a while, and I don't want to cramp them up. We will be getting it as a hatchling, so 20 gallon should do, and I hear some kings can be kept in that size there entire lives? My BP is about 44" and his new enclosure is 48" so I definitly don't like cramping them up, but I have used racks in the past, and I know racks are pretty small, so I guess it woulden't be too bad, although I hear kings need room to stretch because of the R.I. possibility with the one lung thing?
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I looked up the Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri and that looks to be probably the best for me, but here are some visuals from the classifieds that really interested me. I hope this gives a good Idea of what I like. (In no particular order)

I REALLY like the albino here.
market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=59&de=256581

market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=59&de=263157

market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=59&de=263157

market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=59&de=246257

Not albino or all black, but georgious none the less.
market.kingsnake.com/detail.php?cat=59&de=259394

I think all black speaks for itsself, so I didn't post those.

Again, thanks for all the help!
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain

"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."

~~ Krystal ~~

I have 13 snakes, 5 greybands, 3 corns, 1 knoblochi, 1 scarlet king, and 2 pyros, and 1 red milk. My 5 grays are the most docile easy going best eaters of the group. All of them look different, too. They get to about 3 feet. They are awesome! I recommend them highly, but there are allot of other nice kings that get much larger. Go to google.com and type Lampropeltis. Here they list most kings and milks. You can get an idea of sizes there. They have pictures of all of them, so you can get some ideas there. Derek

You should consider a Mexican Black King...i have a female and she's a real sweetheart...good eater too...

I've had 4 species of Kingsnakes. Love my MBK best of all because:

1. Longer active season (from Sonoran Desert, only brumate about 8 weeks annually).

2. Very aggressive eaters, even in pre-shed phase!

3. Very docile when handled; maybe the most tame subspecies.

4. Not as inbred as Cal Kings and more common varieties; still retain spirited nature and wild stalking traits. (I've seen inbred Cal Kings attack water dishes, or try to swallow rocks.)