Lampropeltus getula getula

[Tara Garratt]

Hi all,
Is anyone out there breeding or keeping Lampropeltus getula getula? I have been reading about them and they sound very interesting?

Thanks for any info you can give.

Tara Garratt

[Vanan]

Used to. No more now. :(

What kinda info are you looking for?

[Tara Garratt]

I would like a good care tips sheet, if someone could recommend one. What is their temperment like? Are there any breeders around? They don't seem very common, and I would like to know why. They are certainly beautiful.

Tara Garratt

[Simon Sansom]

I agree, they are criminally under-represented in Canadian collections, Tara.
They are quite common in collections south of the border, and actually have a huge and devoted following. There seem to be very many geographical variations in size, colour and pattern.

I wish that I could find some, too.
Katt and Vanan are the only folks I know of who have kept them up here.

Good luck with your search.

Simon

[Vanan]

You're right Simon, very under-represented. But then again that way there's less competition for me in getting some. :D lol!

Tara, from what I've read, and heard from others, AND from my own previous pair, they seemed to be gentle giants. Hardly a hint of aggression. Feeding response typical of a king! Babies can be fiesty as most kings. But they do tame down. I've heard of people finding wild chains who acted as if they were previous pets. very gentle and deliberate in their ways. Although there are some who can be temperamental, as some may attest to here.

Dunno of any good caresheets but there's not much difference in husbandry from a calking, cept for cage size. I kept mine in temporary small quarters (was gonna build a cage for them) in rubbermaid tubs. The big ones! They do well in a cage which allows their bodies to stretch out. So longer rather than taller. Being so heavily built they're not much of climbers. Although I'm sure smaller specimens would probably make use of a branch if provided with one.

A note about heating. Just like in any larger snake, the amount of heat has to be higher than for, say a baby snake. Bigger snakes need more heat as they need to conduct the heat through to their core a longer distance than a thinner snake. Not by much but say instead of a 60watt bulb for a 3ft calking, maybe a 100watt for a 6ft eastern. Get it? In fact something less than a 100watt would suffice.

Good luck!

[Tara Garratt]

Thanks for the info. Vanan!

That is pretty much what I read too. Are you close to finding someone with them? I hope you don't mind me asking, but why did you part with your initial ones?

Now that I have decided to expand into kings, there are just so many to choose from (well to wish for anyway). I started by reading, then by looking at pictures. These snakes are BEAUTIFUL!!! Well, I guess beauty is all in the eye of the beholder. I think I have narrowed it down to wanting these guys or San Louis Patosi, but I really like grey banded too. I need more space (more money too). Decisions...decisions....

I wish we lived closer to Alberta or Manitoba, or Ontario. It seems that there is greater variety outside of Saskatchewan. We seldom travel (due to jobs, children and critters) and I hate shipping. Oh well, I'll have to change my ways if I want to pick criters up.

Again, thanks for your response and good luck in your search too!

Tara Garratt

[Ryan]

It's too bad Sask. laws are such a pain as well, it makes it harder to bring animals in from out of province with the paperwork that you need. My only link to reptiles since being here is actually Katt and Vanan and Ryan and Sheila from SCALES, otherwise it's out of province.

[Scales Zoo]

Permits are easy, they are free, just give them 2 weeks to be on the safe side.

That isn't just a Saskatchewan law, most provinces regulate wildlife coming in and out of their province, and then there is Wapprita...

People are supposed to get permits for interprovincial transfer of reptiles, many don't, we as a zoo have too.

But wasn't this thread about poopy kingsnakes. Oh yeah.

Ryan

[Vanan]

but why did you part with your initial ones?

Tara, I had to sell a huge part of my collection to rack up some cash for our move from BC to SK. I do know who has them and might give em a shout in Spring to see if they've bred. :)

But wasn't this thread about poopy kingsnakes.

:p

[reverendsterlin]

surprised you mentioned using bulbs as heat source Vanan. Almost all terrestrial snakes usually use underneath heat in the wild, warm rocks, rotting vegetation. It is much easier for the animal to transfer heat to the core through the thin belly muscle and skin than through the thich back muscle and cartilage structure.

[Vanan]

surprised you mentioned using bulbs as heat source Vanan. Almost all terrestrial snakes usually use underneath heat in the wild, warm rocks, rotting vegetation. It is much easier for the animal to transfer heat to the core through the thin belly muscle and skin than through the thich back muscle and cartilage structure.

Well, mostly cos I didn't know if Tara had access to, or knew about heat pads, and most people just pick up heat lamps. Besides it's easier to describe the intensity of heat that way. :D

Although I have to add that "heat from above" (the right word escapes me now) isn't all that bad. Yes there are quite a few snakes who rely on belly heat but the snakes I've noticed up north tend to pic out areas exposed to sun, regardless if they're on water, soil or rock. Besides, most of the "belly-heat" snakes tend to be nocturnal, which allows them to come out at night and bask on warm roads, rocks etc. And what about your arboreal species. Also, I think all snakes in one way or another, are able to select which way they wanna bask. They're oppurtunists and thus do whatever works. Although it does make sense to get belly heat while disgesting. But then again, they don't always have a full belly and they still need to be fairly warm to function. In fact, I've found snakes who don't even expose their bodies but lie with only their heads exposed in a patch of sun. Maybe it's their way of jumpstarting their day. Wake the head up first then the body.

To be one the safe side, I'm trying to have available, both heat lamp, and heat pad for my larger terrestral colubrids.

Good discussion though. Anymore suggestions, or theories?