Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am thinking about getting a snake, and a Cali King is currently near the top of the list, because (although I've had other herps) I've never had a snake, and I've heard they might be good, they don't get as big, and they seem pretty cheap to buy. (at the show they were about $40-60)
What is everyones opinion about them?
Someone had said that a lot of them were inbred, so they saw some that were really dumb??
Is there any other snakes similar to them that I might be able to find? Are they different from mountain kingsnakes??
Opinions about them are welcome!! thank you for any info!!

""Someone had said that a lot of them were inbred, so they saw some that were really dumb?? ""

Cal kings are no more inbred than any other snake.

So, THIS PERSON is soooo observant that they can distinguish the difference between a smart snake and a dumb snake, AND they can trace it back to in-breeding?? LOL

Kerby...

I dont know about being inbred and dumb, snakes arent really on the top of the genius list anyways!! LOL

As far as temperament, just like any other of the colubrids. The more you handle the snake the more it gets used to you and will tolerate handling.

As far as size, that just depends on the individual snakes genetic makeup. I have a male that is 4 years old and last time I measured him last month, he was right at 54" and still growing. Gonna be a nice sized snake once he finally finishes growing!!

Here is a pic of him, he is a coastal phase, and is a normal variant.
Good luck on picking out a snake!!
Brian

-----

RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

Do you live in CA now? Is that coastal phase captive-bred, or wild-caught? (I had a great banded Cal King named Vorlon in 2002, since released back into the wild.)

You have quite the collection of snakes! Ever get teased about "crossing over the edge"??

Don, age 44
Portland/Vancouver

Don
No I live in KY, and the cal king is a CB.

My collection isnt complete yet, still have a few Elaphe and Lampropeltis ssp to add. And probably some Pituophis as well.
As far as "Crossing over the edge", I am trying to figure out what you mean. LOL Guess Im not understanding that one. Explain please?? LOL

Brian

>>Do you live in CA now? Is that coastal phase captive-bred, or wild-caught? (I had a great banded Cal King named Vorlon in 2002, since released back into the wild.)
>>
>>You have quite the collection of snakes! Ever get teased about "crossing over the edge"??
>>
>>Don, age 44
>>Portland/Vancouver

-----

RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Yellow rat snake "Wolverine" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

MILKS
0.0.1 Eastern Milk snake "Cable" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Eastern/Red milk intergrade "Omega Red" (KY locale)
Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

[I really enjoyed your ABOVE, newer photos, by the way.]

Been to KY only once, drove from Madison across the entire state to be in Louisville the next morning, from which I flew back to OR. Met some exceptional persons there.

Okay, explanation. Keeping in mind that I was just joking, and that the comment was made in the spirit of online humor.

"Crossing over the edge", "going to far", that type of thing. Too much interest in, or too much priority in, a thing or hobby. (Not happy with just 1 or 2 snakes, wanting many.)

Like my uncle, who collected bikes. Or my stepfather, who collected guns. Sometimes they were teased that they had "crossed that line" of sanity.

You asked!

(Happy that you are enjoying the posts and the online herp community. Just beware of the thorns, as in any public patch.)

Although care & feeding for Kingsnakes is "generally" the same, each subspecies is unique, and has its own traots and dietary needs. (Speckleds seem to be the most aquatic, eating frogs more often than other subspecies.)

Some subspecies prefer lizards & snakes, and will reject rodent food if they have any choice. Best to avoid them:

Mountain Kingsnakes
Gray-banded Kingsnakes

Mountain Kings are also from higher elevations, and are prone to hibernate earlier than other species. In the wild, they are only active about 3 months of the year. Plan accordingly. The more southern the subspecies, the later in the year the specimen will be active.

California Kingsnakes are great snakes, I've had one, but they CAN be inbred. How do I know that? From the Labrynth variety that I had 2 years ago that was so pathetic that it could not even stalk and constrict properly. When it attacked the water dish, that was the last straw! (I've known other enthusiasts who have seen their Cal Kings try to contstrict rocks!!)

Young Cal Kings are also known to be more squeamish and timid that those of other subspecies. They tend to bite and musk more, too. As adults, however, they behave similarly to other subspecies.

It goes to figure that the variety that has been around in herpetoculture the longest has INDEED been inbred the most, for color and other traits. If you can get a spirited specimen with strong hunting skills, then don't hesitate. Much depends on the breeding stock.

Less common varieties, like the Mexican Black, have not been inbred as much. (They only became popular at about 1995.) My specimens seem to be somewhat more lively and have stronger instincts than other specimens I've had. (I've had 4 species of Kingsnakes.) None have had the crisp, efficient stalking and constriction techniques that my Mexican Blacks have demonstrated. They are also known for how well they handle, too.

Take your time, and based on diet and nature, get the snake that is best for you. For a beginner, I recommend one of these, in order:

Mexican Black King
Eastern Kink
Desert King
Cal King