All hail the new king!

[Rattlehead]

Soooooo, the king snake fairy visited my house and delivered a beautiful new snake. I'm not sure about the phase, but at Petco it was shown as an aberrant California desert phase king snake. Fell in love at first sight :yes:

[marvelfreak]

Once it settles in i love to see some more pictures. Congrats!

[drumcrush]

Awesome! Sweet snake, I'm looking forward to more pics:)

[ManSlaughter33]

Can't wait to see more pictures!!

[Evanthomas]

congrats on the new snake! can't wait to see some close ups ;)

[Rattlehead]

I'll keep you posted, buddies!

[sharthun]

Congrats! Yeah need more!!!:)

[Rattlehead]

B.B. stopped 'yawning' and he is super active, healty, sweet and curious snake. He still sleeps in the open sometimes, dives into the water bowl from the frame of the enclosure (no kidding) and has a voracious appetite, he is happy I hope.

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG-20150406-WA0006_zpsql41whxg.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG_20150306_083137743_zpsuge7lo3x.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG_20150328_175457944_zpsvuuoqa5v.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG_20150228_075854987_zpsnto1gyk6.jpg

[Obsidian_Dragon]

What a neat little guy!

Doesn't look like any aberrant Cali king I've seen, though. /squints

Cali kings've got white on them, don't they? Google seems to think so.

[Minkness]

Is it just me or does it look like an MBK?

[trailblazer295]

I was thinking the same thing but I read recently while researching kings that there is a gene that makes makes them all black. The specific name escapes me but like a reverse albino gene that makes them darken as they age.

[reptiledude987]

Is it just me or does it look like an MBK?
I was thinking the same.

[Rattlehead]

He has a couple of thin white/grey lines and dots in the sides, I have a pic where they can be seen, I'll upload it in a little. I have seen pics in Google of snakes with that pattern, often labeled as 'nítida' kingsnake, so maybe it has a little of it

[Minkness]

I was thinking the same thing but I read recently while researching kings that there is a gene that makes makes them all black. The specific name escapes me but like a reverse albino gene that makes them darken as they age.


Melinistic?

[trailblazer295]

Melinistic?

Yes, thank you. I was out and not near my laptop to look up the name.

I'm not expert in the least but technically could be an option depending on age etc. Either way a very nice looking snake. I want an MBK but can't right now an all black king in a smaller size would be awesome.

[Rattlehead]

This is the pattern guys. He has little white marks in the neck

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG-20150406-WA0002_zpsjnapie5d.jpg

http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/ag66/aaron_acosta2/IMG-20150406-WA0001_zpsjxckwjcw.jpg

[RAD House]

Wow what a neat looking snake. In those pictures you can definitely see it is not a mbk. I usually find mbks and California kings pretty bland but I really like the almost latent pattern on this one.

[EL Ziggy]

Wow what a neat looking snake. In those pictures you can definitely see it is not a mbk. I usually find mbks and California kings pretty bland but I really like the almost latent pattern on this one.

MBK's and Cal Kings are pretty bland? I don't think so but to each his own. :)
Very nice king you have there Rattle.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

/squints

The white spots show up on young MBKs. Doesn't look like this one has the white chin chevron they often have as babies, though. Huh! I've just never actually seen a melanistic king somehow.

[RAD House]

Don't get me wrong there is no better color than the darkest black, but something about those two snakes does nothing for me. Some of the aberrant Cali kings do peek my interest a bit. It is probably that once you have seen one you have seen them all. On a side note I think that indigo snakes are incredibly interesting. Like you said to each their own, but it is probably just that I am weird. I know the future wife would agree.

[Rattlehead]

In fact I got this snake buddy when I saw all your MBK's and wanted a black snake for myself :p There is not much diversity in the reptile market in here (at least not the legal one) and this King resulted in an awesome choice.

Thanks for your comments guys!

[Albert Clark]

Fantastic looking king! The little guy may be a lampropeltis nigrita which would have him being a black desert kingsnake. He could also be a chain kingsnake and the white speckling will turn yellow as he gets older. :blink: