Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased this snake about 5-6 years ago and bought him as an Arizona Mountain Kingsnake. Never questioned it, until recently since I've been looking at a lot of pictures and have started to think he looks more like a milksnake.
I was 13 when I got him and he's my only snake, just a good pet. I don't care much either way, but I'm curious as to whether he is a king or a milk.
Can anyone offer any insight into whether or not someone tricked me?

Thanks!

One thing it positively is NOT, and that is an Arizona Mountain kingsnake(L.p.pyromelana). I see some milksnake characteristics in the animal, but it doesn't look like any particular milk subspecies either.

It looks to be a cross of somesort. But it is virtually impossible to say exactly what.
This is a pic of an Arizona Mountain king.

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Come on Doug, those two snakes are EXACTLY the same thing. I bet they are from the same clutch.

Really though, Doug knows his Milksnakes. If he says it's a cross and that you probably won't be able to pin down exactly what it is a cross between then I'd believe him. Milksnakes, Kingsnakes, and just about the rest of the egg-laying constrictors in the Colubrid family can hybridize. In captivity, this has led to lots of snakes that can be difficult to pin down the origins of. For breeders and dealers this can be a problem and people might end up with a pure-looking snake that actually has some blood from another species in it. In your case, as you mentioned, it really does not matter. They make great pets either way.

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Kind of resembles a Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata [california mountain kingsanke] little bit. sometimes tricolors can be mistaken for other tricolors and the possibility of wild hybridization where the species zones overlap in the wild definitely exists. The specimen in the picture looks very healthy and well taken care of. Good luck with your snake and as always -HAPPY HERPING

Seems like ou've got a hybrid on your hands there. I see both in it, and this is why Doug and I harp constantly on folks NOT hybridizing....and this is one of the MANY reasons.

Be it as it may, if you were hoping it to be a pure Arizona pyro, I'm sorry. If it's immaterial, then enjoy your pet!

If you DO want a pure pyro however, there's a gorgeous adult for you to look at. Take a peek on my site under "available offspring". Its one that I produced several years ago that my friend is looking to pass along to make some room.
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Jerry Kruse
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Yep!,....that pretty much sums things up on the matter. BTW, that really is a great looking pyro specimen on your site too!

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Poor taste trying to sell in the forums.It is just not right.
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Archie Bottoms