Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I seem to have possibly inherited a snake a friend found huddled up to their door in their apartment building. They called me since I at least have a couple snakes already(0:1 Rainbow Boa, 1:0 Spotted Python)so know more than them. She is definitely someones pet, or was. I am just unsure if she is a Kingsnake or a Milksnake. I understand that the two are very closely related but I don't know the real difference.
Basically she is about 1&1/2 feet, seems a little skinny to me. She is mostly black but has some pale yellow that almost forms really thin bands on her all the way along, however they are far from the defined bands that I have seen on most Kings & Milks. Her belly seems an almost checker board of black & pale yellow. Her head is all black but definitely the right shape for either.
Anyways, I was just curious if anyone could tell me how I would tell the difference between the two. I will try to get some pics of her tonight. (She's a real cutey & super friendly, very docile but adventurous)
Thanks for any help you can give me!!!

Nicole

I may have had my question answered...
I was looking through some of the posts in here & I saw a post from HotShot not too far down & he had 2 pics in there that look a LOT like my new baby. They are the TX locale desert kings. The male especially looks exactly like her markings. Anyways, I would still be interested in knowing what the major difference would be between Kings & Milks if anyone could tell me.
Thanks!!!
Nicole

Post a pic and we can id it for you. If it is indeed a desert king, then caring for it will be easy. It can be kept with the same husbandry as any of the rats or corns. If it is a milk, then it will more than likely be a picky feeder, as most milks are hard to get started eating.

The major difference between milks and kings are the kings get larger and eat just about anything, rodents, lizards, birds, other snakes. While most milks eat only small rodents, lizards and skinks and occasionally a snake, depending on the ssp of milk.
Hope this helps
Brian

>>I may have had my question answered...
>>I was looking through some of the posts in here & I saw a post from HotShot not too far down & he had 2 pics in there that look a LOT like my new baby. They are the TX locale desert kings. The male especially looks exactly like her markings. Anyways, I would still be interested in knowing what the major difference would be between Kings & Milks if anyone could tell me.
>>Thanks!!!
>>Nicole
-----

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 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

>>I seem to have possibly inherited a snake a friend found huddled up to their door in their apartment building. They called me since I at least have a couple snakes already(0:1 Rainbow Boa, 1:0 Spotted Python)so know more than them. She is definitely someones pet, or was. I am just unsure if she is a Kingsnake or a Milksnake. I understand that the two are very closely related but I don't know the real difference.
>>Basically she is about 1&1/2 feet, seems a little skinny to me. She is mostly black but has some pale yellow that almost forms really thin bands on her all the way along, however they are far from the defined bands that I have seen on most Kings & Milks. Her belly seems an almost checker board of black & pale yellow. Her head is all black but definitely the right shape for either.
>>Anyways, I was just curious if anyone could tell me how I would tell the difference between the two. I will try to get some pics of her tonight. (She's a real cutey & super friendly, very docile but adventurous)
>>Thanks for any help you can give me!!!
>>
>>Nicole

Nicole,

Desert kings make great pets. Kingsnakes and milk snakes are in the same genus, so they're related. Most milk snakes are tricolors, while most kings are black and white/brown and yellow. Kingsnakes are much more likely to eat other snakes than milk snakes. You can get some general kingsnake information at:

http://www.anapsid.org/king.html

Tim

Third Eye

I have positively id'd her as a Desert King. I still don't have a pic but if you look at any pics of the darker ones, that is her. It seems she must have been lost for a long time as she seemed very lethargic & not too strong, and skinny too imo... But we got some fresh killed mice for her last night & she ate those real quick. Poor girl must have been starving. I'm hoping that noone decides they want her back cuz I'm getting more attached to her. I think she'll be real happy with us anyways.
Nicole