New Snake, but what type is it?

[jwsporty]

Well I got this little girl a couple of weeks. The background I have on her is she was discovered by this guys friend in an apartment that he just moved into. The only thing in the apartment was this poor little girl housed in a gold fish bowl. It was then given to the guy I got it from who had taken it to the vet for a check up. The Doc said it was a year old at that time. Well that was two years. Therefore this snake is around 3 years old. Now the guy I got it from, says it is a Prairie King, but he wasn't sure either, yet my gut feeling says it is a Cali. The colouring and head pattern are very similiar to much of my group. But what is throwing me for a loop is the fact that she is only 3 feet long. She is eating very well and apparently has never missed a meal of 1-2 adult mice per week. For a 3 year old female Cali, I would expect it to be a little larger. I have been unable to positively ID this one. Can anyone help? Even if it is a mutt, she is a sweet one, with a great temperment. :) Here's the pics.

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1149pepper-01.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1149pepper-02.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1149pepper-03.jpg

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/1149pepper-04.jpg

Any Ideas? Thanks for looking.

Jim

[Weather1]

I can not help to identify her. I am not very familiar with kings, however she is sweet and has some nice markings/pattern/color.

[Scotty Allen]

It's a California Kingsnake.

[Siretsap]

Desert phase with quite a nice line on her back too, almost complete.

[jwsporty]

Thanks Scotty,

That was my thought too... Just a really small one

Cheers
Jim

[Amirra]

Wow...she makes me want to have a California Kingsnake too... looks really sweet and tranquil. Nice find. :)

[munchy]

Originally posted by Siretsap
Desert phase with quite a nice line on her back too, almost complete. dont know about desert phase. wouldnt it be more like striped/abberant coastal cal king?

[vanderkm]

Lovely cal king - even if she is small she has beautiful milk chocolate and yellow - very nice. We have a 3 year old male that is just 3 feet and quite stocky - guess not all of them get to be super long. Really lovely chocolate color on her!

mary v.

[marisa]

Thats defeinitly not a desert phase. Desert Phase cal kings are the stark black and white bandeds. That looks nothing like one. But is most definitly a cal king IMHO.

Marisa

[NewLineReptile]

I don't no But nice snake

Brandon

[Ace]

Definitely a Calking. I'd agree with Munchy and say striped aberrant. My male Calking is only 3 ft long at 3 yrs old too. He escaped when he was little, we found him our basement 5 months later the same size he was when he got out. Maybe he just lost some important growing time like my little guy ;).

[ReptileHQ]

looks like a "Newport" California king snake to me

Chris

[C.m.pyrrhus]

Definitaly a California King. Really nice as well, nice chocolate color and striping. <a href="http://myweb.cableone.net/azmilk/title.htm">Kerby Ross @ Lonesome Valley Reptiles</a> has some really nice Kings. I bought some rats from him one day, and took a small "tour" of his snakes. Just beautiful. His Mendotas are beautiful as well. Your King looks like the <a href="http://myweb.cableone.net/azmilk/calnpking.htm">newports</a> he works with.

[jwsporty]

Thanks folks for setting that straight. I am actually happier that it is a Cali as it fits in better with my plans.

Jim

[SerpentLust]

He's a beauty :D I want one

Jenn

[Classic]

Could it have a little prairie in it?

[chuck911jeep]

For me it's a Long Beach/Newport cal.king. The Newport/Long Beach is Named for the region of California where they are most often found.

[Vanan]

Sweet snake Jim! Lucky a**! Doesn't look much of a Newport king to me. Newports have a higher side of yellow and tend to be black and yellow not as nice and chocolatey as that one. I agree with munchy that it's a nice striped coastal phase calking.

[LadyHawke]

its definately a King, i have a male that looks very similar to yours

[Vanan]

Now THAT looks newport-ish sans the chocolate coloration. Nice snake LadyHawke!