cornsnake / gray-banded kingsnake comparison

[nivek5225]

For anyone that has owned BOTH cornsnakes and gray-banded kingsnakes, how do they compare? Temperment, care, size... how do they compare to a cornsnake?

[Crusader71]

Care is the same and they are alike in temperament and etc. Both of them were so docile and I wish I had kept my pair of GB.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

I have owned both. They both have their ups and downs. The only down side to cornsnakes is that they are so darned common. They also will get a bit bigger than your GBK but that could also be desirable. I have seen some rather large GBK's but then I have seen WAY LARGER cornsnakes. If you are breeding, there's a world of difference though. Cornsnakes will generally easily start on rodents. GBK's often only want lizards and only lizards as their first meal... it's their natural prey item. Needless to say, starting grayband hatchlings can be a trying and time consuming ordeal. I have owned multiple animals of both species and all my graybands were already rodent feeders when I got them. Both species have GREAT appetites and are generally very tame. What I liked about my graybands though is that they would always sit out in the open and just watch me, while my corns hide. I can't really say I could choose one over the other. Corns are great for their variety, their simplicity, and their simple reliability and hardiness. GBK's are great because they are a bit more obscure, have really cool contrasting patterns and, if you breed them and successfully get the babies feeding on rodents, there is a much higher market for the babies and they have a higher value overall in the trade. Not saying anything bad about corns, but face it, I see vendors selling baby MORPH corns of all sorts for like $10 and $15, and even at those prices they sit there all day.

[nivek5225]

Thanks for the responses I think i'm gonna have to get a GBK now... or two!

[aalomon]

I love my GBKs, but make SURE you get established eaters on mice. I had to fight with my pair for over 8 months before both were feeding on their own. Not fun with tiny babies.

[BILLB OKC]

what are the cage temperatures required for keeping gray bands?