Favorite Kingsnake Species?

What is your favorite kingsnake species? And why?

Cal King
They are the only ones I have worked with. My oldest was my first purchase back in the early 90s. :)

I only know of cal kings lol. What are some other species...?

Scarlet
Mountain
Baird
Florida
Mexican (I think)
Grey Banded (I think)

We have a local one here but I have never seen one.

Mexican black kingsnakes and grey banded kingsnakes are sweet.

It's so hard to pick, but I definitely love the mexicana complex kings the best. I think that aesthetically, the thayeri come out marginally in first for me. Mex mex are a very close second. I'd say that both are definitely underrated and beautiful animals!

Thayeri/Nuevo Leon/Variable kings are quite awesome in my book because, while they have virtually no 'morphs', they're amazingly polymorphic. If you google pictures of thayeri clutches you'll see the crazy variability in a single clutch. It's quite awesome :) They come in colors ranging from greys and tans to bright orange and yellow, with banding from narrow pinstripe to the 'milk snake' phase. My guy Mel is a yellow pinstripe leonis phase. I'm hoping his head and tail keep turning more orange (it's hard to see in this pic but his tail is more orange than his body)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-q...318_181958.jpg

Mex mex are beautiful as well and have some cool color/pattern phases...check out the ultra granite, I want one of those!

Wow the snake in that pic looks awesome!

x2 thats an awesome looking KS!!!

I fell in love with the scarlet kings years and years ago, but passed on making a purchase because of their small size(tiny!) ...its very hard to find prey small enough that is readily available. Ive had Mexican black kings and a couple cali 50/50s that were kewl. A buddy of mine LOOOOOVES Chihuahua Mtn kings, grey banded, and brooksi...he breeds all three, but recently sold his last pair of the grey banded.

Beautiful king! :D
I love all types, it's so hard to pick a favorite....
I loved my MBK, great snake.. great looking too. I really like the look of Desert Kings and Apalachicola Kings...... and my local Eastern King is slash attractive. I probably want to get another MBK, but I'm torn between an MBK and a Desert King. I love all Kings, as a species, and each and every unique personality Kings have.

I love chain kings, mainly because I can catch them in my back yard. Scarlets are awesome too, just too small. Lavender albino cal kings are pretty cool. Other species I have no personal experience with but they all look awesome.

I wish I could catch king snakes in my yard, I've been told we have pine snakes in Minnesota but I've never seen one

Cali Kings :gj:

I love the stark contrast of white vs black but also appreciate the other color morphs, the feisty ones are fun and some can be just as calm as a ball, they're great feeders and hardy, and come on: the occasional musk is a "nice" surprise from the norm! :P

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ober620127.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ober620121.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...ober620125.jpg

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i3...uary620134.jpg

MBK (Mexican black kingsnake) IMO are my favorite look wise and personality wise. I bred them at one point and they were a lot less flighty and did not bite as much. Cal kings loved to chew on my fingers out of no where!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Lampropeltis mexicana greeri (durango Mtn. Kingsnake) I got with my daughter this winter is really a nice little snake. Great colors, never aggressive or even defensive, and he eats F/T like there is no tomorrow and he requires nothing tricky in regards to housing or husbandry.

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps8046bd6e.jpg

http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/i...ps19d1a36a.jpg

Wow! Great looking Cali's and the markings on the Durango Mtn king are stunning!
I've heard that Cali's can be nippy rather randomly.... I don't know enough about the Mountain Kings, I have heard that they are usually rather colorful though.
I have been seeing a trend rising with Lemon and Banana Kings becoming more popular..... I wasn't positive, but I am led to believe they are Cali kings with color morphs?
The last Lemon King I saw was rather cute ^_^

Mine don't sit we'll for photos :p

A few of my Cal Kings
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/11/edesa3az.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/11/u8e5y3um.jpg
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/11/rypy3e8u.jpg

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
What are the morphs? Top one looks like a Lavender Albino..... but what are the others?
That yellow one is absolutely stunning! :D

For a snake to look at, show off, and play with, the California King just rocks, though mine does have "attitude" and is a bit territorial in his tank. Once out he's fine to handle though he's usually more interested in exploring than sticking with you.
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_8713.jpg

OTOH my Mexican Black King is one of the best-tempered and easiest to care for snakes I have, and prefers to throw a wrap of her tail around your hand or arm and just hang out. Even in full gray she can be handled. She along with my BP's are the go-to snake if someone wants to touch one but is a bit leery about it.http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0380.jpg

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Originally Posted by valhalha30

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!
What are the morphs? Top one looks like a Lavender Albino..... but what are the others?
That yellow one is absolutely stunning! :D

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Thanks!!
The first I picked up off a girl thy didn't want her. I'm not sure if its Lavender Albino or a Normal Albino.

2nd is a High White but the white balance on my phone isn't the best :p

3rd is Chocolate het Albino.

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Originally Posted by bcr229

For a snake to look at, show off, and play with, the California King just rocks, though mine does have "attitude" and is a bit territorial in his tank. Once out he's fine to handle though he's usually more interested in exploring than sticking with you.
http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_8713.jpg

OTOH my Mexican Black King is one of the best-tempered and easiest to care for snakes I have, and prefers to throw a wrap of her tail around your hand or arm and just hang out. Even in full gray she can be handled. She along with my BP's are the go-to snake if someone wants to touch one but is a bit leery about it.http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/r...s/IMG_0380.jpg

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Awesome Cali!
Mopar, my MBK, was a puppy dog when held. He loved being stroked even hahahaha.... just the most chill reptile besides a BP you can ever own. He left me too soon due to a twisted colon....... so I'm more than likely going to get another MBK to replace him. He was never aggressive, unless he was eating, a few times my finger was chewed on lol. When he shed, he was still calm and cool...... talking about MBK's make me miss him, so I really am thinking about getting another. Maybe one a little older, so I know it won't have a twisted colon issue.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Thanks!!
The first I picked up off a girl thy didn't want her. I'm not sure if its Lavender Albino or a Normal Albino.

2nd is a High White but the white balance on my phone isn't the best :p

3rd is Chocolate het Albino.

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Awe, I almost picked up a pinstripe phase Cali for free that the owner feared due to it's "nippy and aggressive" nature...... :rofl:
Guess they didn't know that's what is in store with a kingsnake lol..... I would've adopted it, but by the time I saw the ad and responded, it was rehomed already... oh well....
I have seen High White's and Chocolates..... both were not as pretty as your's... and I'm not blowing smoke either xD
By the pic you shared of the Albino... I'd say it's a Lavender.... but I'm not an expert when it comes to Albino's...

Thanks again. :)
My High White is a terror.
While my oldest male (early 90s model) has never bit me.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/11/anedy3u9.jpg

And my last one.
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/04/11/5adu4y4u.jpg
The people that gave her to us was trying to say she was a Hypo. I'm not sure if she is just older and browning out or is a Coastal Phase. Once again the color is off in the photo.

Kings are messy but they are always out checking to see what's going on.

Lets see some more pics!

Awe! so cute C:

Officially thinking I need a kingsnake.

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Originally Posted by STjepkes

Officially thinking I need a kingsnake.

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Everyone needs a King!
:D :snake:

I'm definitely hooked on kings now :) My BPs are a long way off from being breedable size but I've thought of picking up an adult female Thayeri at some point to breed with my male a bit down the line. I love the polymorphism they have going on. Sadly I think that a lot of the kings are kind of underrated and not in huge demand...

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Originally Posted by Xaila

I'm definitely hooked on kings now :) My BPs are a long way off from being breedable size but I've thought of picking up an adult female Thayeri at some point to breed with my male a bit down the line. I love the polymorphism they have going on. Sadly I think that a lot of the kings are kind of underrated and not in huge demand...

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I agree, they are underrated...
I'm seriously definitely absolutely picking up another king this sunday (reptile show). What species of king, that I don't know.

http://tinypic.com/r/jfhi4k/5

Well here is my residential escape artist a.k.a blotched kingsnake and my very first snake of almost a year! :D

Nice looking snakes overall in this thread. This thread rocks. :gj: :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Thanks!!
The first I picked up off a girl thy didn't want her. I'm not sure if its Lavender Albino or a Normal Albino.

2nd is a High White but the white balance on my phone isn't the best :p

3rd is Chocolate het Albino.

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1. I wanna say is a plain Albino. I believe the lavenders show up darker.
2. Is the snake white in person? I'd say if the snake is more yellowish in person, it's a banana. Unless your white balance is that off?
5. The pic you have higher up I believe is a coastal. I think the browning you are seeing is a product of age. My plain cali is 12+ years and has started to brown more is his black areas. His whites are still white though.



My personal favs(not in and particular order):

-Cali King
-Grey Bands
-Az Mtn King

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pyrate81

Nice looking snakes overall in this thread. This thread rocks. :gj: :D






1. I wanna say is a plain Albino. I believe the lavenders show up darker.
2. Is the snake white in person? I'd say if the snake is more yellowish in person, it's a banana. Unless your white balance is that off?
5. The pic you have higher up I believe is a coastal. I think the browning you are seeing is a product of age. My plain cali is 12+ years and has started to brown more is his black areas. His whites are still white though.



My personal favs(not in and particular order):

-Cali King
-Grey Bands
-Az Mtn King

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Thanks!
Yeah the white balance is way off in those pics. It was cell phone photos.

Don't the lavenders have red eyes? Hers are very light pink.

That's a good question about the eyes. Can't say I remember noticing a difference or making the correlation between the 2 eyes looking different. So, I don't know.

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Originally Posted by carlson

I wish I could catch king snakes in my yard, I've been told we have pine snakes in Minnesota but I've never seen one

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Actually we have bull snakes which are closely related to pine snakes. Here is a site I like when looking for herps in MN. http://www.herpnet.net

So I really haven't handled my Albino girl for a while.
She is starting to get some size on her now and just shed the other day.

Room lighting
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/ba5ypa4e.jpg

Cloudy natural light
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/a3a4agas.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/06/22/aby4ydyp.jpg

Light pinkish tint and she is getting yellow. Her eyes are a very light pink.

I hope she matches my Chocolate het Albino.

What do you think?

She looks like a regular albino instead of a lavender albino to me. I've got one very much like that that was sold to me as an albino, not a lavender.

Cool thanks!

Kings are so awesome :D

Dude, she looks awesome. :gushing a little: :)

Thanks :D
I'm very happy that I picked her up. I wish all snakes had their feeding response.

haha! yeah. Mine would probably try eating a medium rat if I let him. He's a garbage disposal and will eat anytime, any size, day/night, shed/not shed. Last couple times I fed him, he ate 2 mice, shed, ate the 3rd mouse. Wish he was big enough to eat medium rats, then I wouldn't have to hold onto them when my ball feed strikes and the rat snake isn't hungry.

And they take them down so quick :p

I love my cali kings - I have two albino's and getting a reverse inkdrop albino female from Wes (wilomn) at the end of the summer once it cools off. She's pictured in his cali king thread down there

l
l
l
l
V

Skulls, that's a normal albino. They're cool.

The Thayeri and Mexicana above may not be pure. If you want either of those species and you want a pureblooded animal be sure to get one from a breeder that is really anal about locality snakes. There has been a LOT of mixing in those species in the last 20 years.

I have a striped cali king.. All black with a white stripe. Thats my favorite cali king look.

I've picked up a few brooksi lately that I'm really enjoying. I'll get some pictures when I get back home again. (Out fishin this weekend) I've got some nice normal brooks and a pair of hypos that are really cool. They seem to be a little more laid back then my other kings

Fishin trip must be over by now.

My vote goes to the Black Mexican Kingsnake. My girl is Awesomehttp://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0995e0e7.jpghttp://i1308.photobucket.com/albums/...psb36d4112.jpg!!!!

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Fishin trip must be over by now.

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Nope, not yet. Maybe tomorrow if The weather starts turning bad :)

Nothing quite like fresh fish right out of the lake. Mmmm Mmmm good

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/07/09/y4egeje4.jpg

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Originally Posted by MarkS

Nope, not yet. Maybe tomorrow if The weather starts turning bad :)

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Haha well we will wait then. Enjoy!!

And that's a cool looking snake!

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Skulls, that's a normal albino. They're cool.

The Thayeri and Mexicana above may not be pure. If you want either of those species and you want a pureblooded animal be sure to get one from a breeder that is really anal about locality snakes. There has been a LOT of mixing in those species in the last 20 years.

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My Thayeri (posted early in the thread) is definitely pretty darn pure. He's from Vivid/Vermilya lines. But that's a good point and it's not just limited to L. mexicana.