Colubrid Choices

[EctoJo]

Been kicking around looking for a new snake. Was interested in some sort of colubrid with origins in the southwest states area. Any suggestions on something with great temperament and possibly some bright morphs. Looking to maybe add something to my southwest theme since I recently got a chuckwalla lizard.

[Tiny Boidae]

The bairds rat snakes are an excellent choice! They have origins in parts of Texas and Mexico and have beautiful coloration regardless of locality. They also have great temperament. When I first got my male, he'd tail buzz and musk routinely but now I can go into the cage and pick him up without him so much as trying to run away.

This is my two year old male. He's still developing his adult colors, but it gives you an idea about how they're supposed to look.

http://i.imgur.com/Qki38j4.jpg

[SerpentineDream]

Western hognose? Albinos are bright orange / red. They can be hissy and huffy when stirred up but it's all a sham. They flatten their necks like cobras and make mock strikes with their mouths closed. If all else fails they sometimes roll over and play dead (but flip back over if turned upright). They are cute and funny little guys. I find males to be more laid back than females though that's not a hard and fast rule.

Mexican milk snakes are also found in the southwest. Good specimens have bright, clean red, black and yellow or much more rarely orange bands. They are one of the mellower milk snakes. Babies are still flighty but they grow out of it.

Light phase gray-banded king snakes are vividly colored. Black and white California kings are striking. Kings are popular pets. Their temperaments can be variable but generally they also become quite tame with gentle handling.

[EL Ziggy]

I love bull snakes. They're a larger colubrid that's native to the Southwest. They're really easy to care for and have some very nice morphs. Like a lot of snakes they can be a little fiesty when they're young but most settle down quickly.

[Scubadiver59]

Mexican Black King! I want one!!

[toddnbecka]

Thayeri king snakes have some bright colors. My pair are quite easy to get along with regarding disposition and handling, pretty typical of most similar size king or rat snakes IME.

[TRD]

Lots of Kingsnakes in that area with lots of interesting morphs if that pleases you. I very much enjoy the getula sp. They do not seem to be very afraid of humans, or care at all. Curious animals. Same goes for the mexicana, especially thayeri. Alterna has some flat out gorgeous morphs as well, I'm still looking for one here though, they aren't very easy to come by (with that I mean locality specific morphs).

Lampropeltis getula californiae (lots of morphs)
L. g. nigrita (mexican black kingsnake, beautiful animal)
L. g. splendida
L. g. getula
L. g. nigra

L. alterna

L. mexicana mexicana
L. m. thayeri

And a whole bunch of milksnakes too

Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae
L. t. nelsoni
L. t. campbelli
L. t. hondurensis
etc..

If you can, try and avoid red eyed morphs (f.e.- most albino, snow, blizzard, ...). While very beautiful, they seem to be extremely sensitive to light and will hide much more than others.

[EctoJo]

Thanks everyone for the information and food for thought. Will research some of the. Definitely Mr. Ziggy's bull he posted earlier in a different thread was gorgeous and definitely caught my attention.