Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am pretty new to having Mexicana spp. in my collection, but I have had or have other subspecies of kings.
What I noticed in that my San Luis Potosi Kings are quite secretive and enjoy their hides quite a bit. If I do ever see them it's a nite and they don't seem to be happy that I turned the light on and usually go back into their hides. They are both in display terreriums. Handling wise they are great, especially the male I have never had a musk, bite, squirmish when held.
Are the mexicana spp. generally a secretive snake and enjoy spending most of their time in their hides or do they get bolder when they get older?
Any responses or your experiences with mexicana subspecies would be appreciated.
Uncloudy

Mexicana complex kingsnakes are secretive to an extent. I would say they are slightly more secretive than Common kings, but I have NEVER been bitten by or musked on by a Mexicana king. I have been bitten hundreds of times and musked on even more than that by common kings (Getula). And with my experience Albino getula seem to be way more testy than normal morphs of getula. My albino Ruthveni has never tried to strike me.
All in all, they are great snakes to work with. Nothing in the world beets the variability of offspring. You can't get this variability with any other snake in it's true form. Morphs and hets are needed in common kings to produce variable clutches. Sure they sometimes differ in pattern, but you will never have a yellow, orange, black, grey, buckskin, milksnake phase and two tone offspring in one clutch of common kings as you do with Thayeri.
Mex mex, Greeri and Alterna have there own variable capabilities
as well.
-John Lassiter-

I see 5 or 6 colors on this snake, how about you guys?

john, i see 7 if you count the white! pretty good.
todd

My guy seems to be prety shy too but hes still getting used to his new surroundings he hasnt nipped or musked me yet so thats good. A cali king I had would musk you every time I took her out of the tank.

Tom

Thanks for responses and it is true their temperment is very in this subspecies.
What I was wondering about is my baby mex mex's love their hides and are quite secretive.
Are mexicanas secretive in behavioral nature and stay in thier hides or do they grow out of it?
It could also be the personality of the snakes I have now, but I do know from observing these two they love their hides.
I see many colors about 5 also John, I just wish pics could do justice to these snakes they are much more spectacular in person and when your holding them.
Thanks for the responses,
Uncloudy