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Would Love some info on Kingsnakes

StormRose

StormRose

Looking for Marbles
My family and I went to an weekend market yesterday, and a pet store from up north had a booth where they were selling some snakes.

I totally fell in love with an adult male speckled king, but after talking to the employees, I realized that they were completely clueless (they said he was from Africa). So I passed on the purchase.

I definitely want to get a king now though. I'm currently looking at a Mexican Black or a Tarahumara Mountain King, but after looking at pictures for hours last night, I'm not sure if I could pick a favorite. :)

Now I've heard that kings can be pretty food aggressive, and I do have a 6yo daughter who's kind of hyper and loves the snakes. She was already bit by the most docile corn in the world because she was having listening problems during feeding time. So I'm kind of concerned that a king might not be the best idea at this time.

So, for those of you who have kids and kings, have you had any problems? How bad is their bite, is it any worse than a corn? I'd love to get one, but If you guys think it's a bad idea I'll wait until she matures before considering it.

I'd also love any info you can give me on the different types of kings and their overall personalities. Which is your favorite and why?

Thanks so much!!!
 
Here's an example of a bite from a 950 gram Florida king: http://tinyurl.com/ddoyc7 He's up to 1200g now, and got me again recently because I was fluffing the aspen in his cage to spread it out. Totally my fault. I don't think he even left a mark that time. I like Florida kings the best, I have three. They are gentle, relatively slow-moving snakes. They eat great. For feeding time, I just put the Florida kings in their feeding bins before handling any mice. They are never a problem going back to their vivs.

My favorite snake of all of mine is a Cali king. She's just real sweet, and would never bite, but she will occasionally musk. I have heard of Calis that are not so nice, though, so there you have to go by the individual snake, not the species.

My Nelson's milk used to nearly always musk in her first year, but never bite. Now she might musk one time out of ten. I can't imagine her _ever_ biting- she just isn't defensive at all- she'd much rather musk and run. Too flighty for a kid.
 
The bite is no worse than a corn...and if your daugher is getting in the way at feeding time, I recommend she not be in the room at that time, but like I said the kings are no worse than corns. My bumblebee is a CaliKing and he is a sweetie pie. However it really is the indivdual snake because Hyp has a CaliKing too and she is a snarky wanker who often has been known to bite and musk. Although to be fair she does seem to be mellowing with age.
 
There are many different species of kings, and the tarahumara mountain kings you mentioned are a great species. They are very docile and should not be an issue, as far as biting is concerned. I also recommend looking at the grey-banded kingsnake (L. alterna), here is a thread that has some pics of some of my alterna.
 
Thanks for the replies!

To be fair to my daughter, she has gotten better since the corn taught her a lesson, but it's always in the back of my mind when I acquire a new animal. I also take precautions now to try and keep her out of harms way, but I know I'm not above making mistakes and I'd hate to make a big one that would permanently scar her.

Knowing that the bite is about the same as a corn is good though. Do you think that if I purchased an adult I'd be able to get good idea of its disposition, and a better chance at getting a docile one?
 
Also consider a blotched king, a goini...I just got an adult female and she is THE most mellow sweet girl EVER! She isn't even headshy.
 
StormRose said:
Knowing that the bite is about the same as a corn is good though. Do you think that if I purchased an adult I'd be able to get good idea of its disposition, and a better chance at getting a docile one?
Click to expand...

LOL actually its not. A corn will bite and then let go.. a King will CHEW!!! That is an experience.

But yes, if your Daughter is a bit hyper, its best to keep her away from feeding time. Her Energy may make the snakes a bit nervous.

As for kings, I have a Florida King and a Cal King who are both aggressive Feeders. They need about 20 minutes out of cage time before they mellow out.

Now I have 2.4 of the Mexican Black Kings and they are the best. I enjoy working with my Black Snakes.
Here is one pair of mine.
http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78896
 
I second the suggestion for a gray band kingsnake.
While I have heard of people having calm florida kings and cali kings, I have seen way too many that were not friendly and very bitey, whereas I have never seen that issue with the graybands. The only time I have ever been bit by one was just recently - she was coming out of brumation and was VERY hungry and I decided to try to take pics of her. Her bite was the same as an adult corn. But in general, even the hatchlings I have raised have never bit, tail rattled, musked or anything. In my humble opinion - they seem to be the calmest of the calm when it comes to a king snake species.

My only caution would be if you do buy a baby to make sure it is eating rodents. Most grayband hatchlings are difficult feeders to start and can be hard to switch over to mice.
 
I've owned 2 types of king snakes, an Eastern King and a Prairie King. The Eastern King was wild caught and was a sweet heart and was great kids. The Prairie King has never bit me but has bit a kid who was helping me at a show and he almost took my foot off the other day when he missed his mouse, but that may be because he has a 45 degree kink in his neck. My Prairie king is a bit crazy but he was not handle much before I got him.
 
whippet said:
However it really is the indivdual snake because Hyp has a CaliKing too and she is a snarky wanker who often has been known to bite and musk. Although to be fair she does seem to be mellowing with age.
Click to expand...

Be honest, girl... it's you she likes. ;) This snake will bite me just for fun, calmy and slowly, like she's sampling me... but not Tara. And yeah, the bite is just like a corn bite. Not bad at all, and most of the time leaves no mark. The musking is gross, I'll admit... especially when they sling it in your face.
 
Tasting and chewing... I think I'm getting an idea of what to expect. LOL

I don't mind musking too much. I had a hog who used to musk every time I opened her viv. She was a witch in a cute little pink body. I think I lost my gag reflex after a couple months of it though.

I still have a ton of research to do, but I'm starting to get excited about the possibility of a new baby now.

Thanks!
 
I agree in part with everyone. I’ve raised all kinds of kings. The mountain kings and gray bands can be hard to start on rodents. Once they are eating rodents they do pretty well. I think the mountain kings are the most likely to musk you.

Cal Kings are usually pretty good. I have one that doesn’t like my wife but has never bitten me. I think Mexican Black Kings are probably the easiest of all of them to raise. Mine have never struck at anyone that I am aware of and they eat like clockwork.

Just my opinion.
 
I'm leaning toward a Mexican Black right now. My husband likes the way they look, so it will be easier to convince him that I NEED one. :D

I also want one that's at least 6 months old. That way it will be firmly established on rodents and hopefully won't have any feeding issues. Maybe, if I'm lucky, it will even be through the spastic juvenile phase as well.
 
I think that is a good choice. You know that gets to be a relatively big snake, right? I doubt you'd have feeding problems!
 
How big is big? I understood that I'd be able to house one in a 20 gallon, will that be too small?

A larger snake doesn't bother me, the kids never handle them without adult supervision (all vivs are locked unless the snakes are out), and that would be my main concern with a larger breed.

I do want to make sure to give it a proper house though.
 
Finding a subadult MBK will be a challenge. And they will need a 40 gallon breeder. They get large at 6ish feet. They are the biggest king.
 
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