Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So which species would have a calm and docile temperment: milk or king? Basically, what is a nice easy, colorful snake to start with. The tricolors or tangerines are gorgeous. A snake that would max out in the 3'-4' range or smaller.

Do their temperments change as they grow larger?

Do their colors change or become muted as they mature? Seems like there are a lot of very colorful babies, but don't see quit as much color in the adults. I know the colors become less vibrant during shedding.

I'm not a complete newbie. I had a red tailed boa for about 4 years but would like to give a home to a more manageable cold blooded friend.

Thanks, Tom

I think you cant lose with a Ruthven king be it albino or normal color. I find them incredibly docile even my baby was very calm within the week .
Great eater and dog tame.

Out of my 19 snakes, my kings are the tamest, but my hondos will be tamer as they get older. Most of the smaller milks seem to be skiddish as babies. Some snakes will change their colors as they get older. Hondos are really nice snakes although they are a little skiddish when young. They get to around 5 ft or bigger. If you go to this website, they show the sizes and what they look like of most kings and milks. Derek

http://www.pitt.edu/~mcs2/herp/Lampropeltis.html

Tom,

Many of the kings have agressive feeding responses and are always hungry (meaning they'll "taste" your finger). Hondurans and Pueblans are hyper as babies. Hondurans calm down considerably as adults.

Normal phase milks often get darker colors as they age. In Hondurans this is represented by a dark "wash" as well as black flecking. In Pueblans the yellow bands get black flecking.

I highly recommend Nelson's. They are generally calm as babies and hold their color into adulthood without darkening much. Nelson's are as tame and as easy to keep as corn snakes.

Tim

Third Eye

I have a Ruthven which I think great snake . My friend has 2 Nelsons one albino one reg and they are also very tame . I was suprised how tame .

Pueblans are nice too. They start out a little skittish, but calm down as they get older, and they're colors usually don't get too muddy with age. They're also reasonably priced and easy to care for.
Take Care,
Phil Patton