Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've been thinking about getting a kingsnake for a while. I've had my boa for over a year, and she is growing fast and perfectly healthy, and now i want a kingsnake. I was thinking a mexican black king or just a normal california king. What do you guys think? I want something i can hold.
Thanks
Tony

Florida kingsnakes get dog tame as adults, and you have some really attractive morphs to choose from that don't cost an arm and a leg.

Just curious, is the king in addition to your boa or to replace the boa?

King is in addition to the boa.

Well IMHO Eastern and Florida Kings are less fiesty as juveniles and are very handleable as adults. Cal Kings and Mex Blacks can be somewhat nervous. Thats not to say all Eastern or Florida King babies are docile but I think they are more so than any other sub specie of getula. Below is a pic of what I consider to be the best of all the sub-species, an Eastern Kingsnake. They have it all size (they get the largest-up to 6'+), color and pattern (see below) and to top it off they are extremely docile. Good luck in what you get no matter what it is.

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If you are looking for a kingsnake that will not eat you out of house and home, does not get real large and will almost never bite you look into getting a Mexicana ssp. kingsnake......
My favorite are Nuevo Leon Kingsnakes (L. m. thayeri).....Durango Mt. and Queretaro kings are just as docile.....

Here are some Thayeri pics......

John Lassiter

I've thought about getting a Mexican for a long time. They are outstanding.

If I outlive my Cal King, or decide on a 2nd, I'll strongly consider one like yours.

.....These are so addicting. Once you get one you will want each and every color and pattern available....I have around 25 and am still looking for more all the time.

I am truly a Mexicana-head....good thing these aren't crack.....LOL

John Lassiter

John:

You are a very bad man. Posting pics like that could cause the unsuspecting to become hopelessly addicted to thayeri, reduced to selling blood or organs to raise funds for "just one more." Those are some good ones!

Bob

Thanks Bob,
I just would enjoy having more people with my addiction.....LOL
Mexicana usually never musk, bite or flee like getula.....I do like getula but nothing beats a Mexicana (thayeri especially) for color/pattern variability and tempermant.
John Lassiter

Thayeri kingsnakes are an excellent choice. I have Cal kings, Sonora Mtn kings,(pyros) Desert kings, (splendida) & grey banded kings, (alterna). I've had 6 other subspecies of kings in the past too. None of them have the excellent temperment and variability that thayeri possess.

Man Chris those are awesome.......I still like the "sharktooth" MSP and the last one looks like a mini "big yeller".....

Great looking snakes Chris......I bet you are pacing the floors waiting on next year....Just like me?????.....LOL

John Lassiter

LOL!

Get a hybridized king and get the best of all kingsnake worlds.

1)Every egg in a clutch will be a surprise because they all hatch out different looking.
2)They get good size.
3)They are not inbred.
4)They eat good
5)look good
6)are calm to hold and they have a little thing called "hybrid vigor".

Those are KEWL looking snakes Rainer.......

I really enjoy variability....I get that with thayeri without morphs or hets for such morphs....Just plain ole thayeri.

Again, those are great looking snakes......
John Lassiter

Hey Rainer... how are those Holdback and Imperial Pueblans doing?

i remember the snake in the 1st pic very well "tomato"

post some updated pix of those when you get a chance.
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF
Bklyn's Finest Brooksi & Goini Fanatic

Do you have a website where you show off all of these beauties? I could look at them all day.

Thanks,

Bill

Realizing that an animal can be quite an individual & defy the rules that generally categorize it's species:

Mex Black
Most docile, great feeders. Top choice.

Cal King
Juveniles tend to musk, but adults are very aggressive eaters and handle well. Desert phase specimens are especially confident & curious.

Desert
Great, all-around specimen. Great feeders.

Easter
My first King, named Solomon. He handled great, and loved to customize his home.

My pick? I have a Cal King, Mojave Desert phase. Although he has beautiful, crisp colors & patterns, I've learned to choose based on:

1) Personality, enjoys being handled & interacting with Human.
2) Aggressive feeder
3) Curious, confident, spirited.