Can someone give me an idea...

[Tigergenesis]

of how big (girth wise) my Mexican Black Kingsnake should get? I've never seen an adult and was just curious.

Thanks!

[KingFfaj]

not really sure, but i think a they would be not quite so big as a loo roll? but their always as long as a piece of string

[crimsonking]

Here's one of my males. As adult getula go, they are not that big. Estimate his girth (circumfrence) at the biggest part to be 4.5"-5", with a diameter of about 1.5". Don't know how much help that is... but I guess that's what you wanted?
:Markhttp://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/151nigrita4.JPG

[marisa]

Here is my male Jose:

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/Snakes/jose/1jose04-26-03.jpg">

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/Snakes/jose/6jose04-05-03.jpg">

<img src="http://8snakes.myftp.org/marisa/Snakes/jose/jose04-26-03.jpg">

These pics were all last year. I am not sure about his girth but he is just at 40 inches nowadays.

Marisa

[Tigergenesis]

Thanks guys - just what I wanted to know. So what & how often do your guys eat?

[Stockwell]

All the getulas are about the same, so Cal kings, Florida kings, Eastern Kings, Sonoran Kings,Mexican Blacks, Goini etc.....they all reach about the same size as they are all the same species. About 4 foot in length and up to an inch and a half in diameter...It varies of course with age.
They tend toward obesity in captivety and develope fat lumps if overfed.
Young can be fed weekly, every couple of weeks is fine for adults, and much less in winter, their normal dormant time.
Obesity in getulas is often the result of weekly feedings 12 months of the year, which isn't normal , as they usually hibernate at least a couple months with no food.

[marisa]

I agree with what Roy said big time! I have totally experienced fat kings in two of my snakes.

I got Jose he was already 4 years old. He was obese and had fat lumps.

Now he is feed sparingly. I give him a good sized meal every 2-3 weeks. Even that seems to much at times because he really does have a tendancy to gain weight and his fat lumps are still there. If his enclosure is too small he also seems to end up on the "too fat" side as he is *very* active. I also brumate him.

Marisa

[Tigergenesis]

Wow! thanks guys, as I had no idea obesity was an issue with these guys. Never seen a fat lump (it's hard to imagine one in a snake), and I don't want to either! I'll definetly be careful. Thanks!

[Katt]

Ok, I gotta argue a point here with my uncle.

Goini and easterns get a heck of a lot bigger than cals and mex blks and speckleds!

I agree on fat kings.

[crimsonking]

I wasn't gonna say anything, but since you did, well- I agree there. Some Floridana are big too and as I said in my post above, nigrita are not big - as getula go. The whole "overfeeding" thing has been the topic of a few threads here before. My snakes have always been on a close to weekly feeding schedule, but that's just how I feed mine and in no way a guide for anyone else. I doubt seriously I have any overweight or fat snakes, but don't think I have any starving ones either. (although getula WILL eat at just about any given time--even just after a meal! lol!)
:Mark

[Stockwell]

OK Katt! Easterns can hit 60,you're right they are big, nigritus are rarely over 40, but most of the others are in the 4 foot range including Cals and Goini.
Captive line breeding has reduced the sizes commonly seen in some of these pet trade snakes.. Just like Hondos, they are becoming dwarfs, probably because they are bred at a very early age which seems to curtail growth

[Katt]

Ok, one more point. Goini can reach five feet. My pair is five and over.