Breeding question

[bcr226]

My daughter has two king snakes. A female Mexican Black king and a male high white california king snake. When they mature, she wants to breed them.

What are we potentially looking at when it comes to color combos, possible morphs given the father is a morph, and anything else I need to be aware of or prepare for? I've never bred snakes before and I want to make sure there won't be a problem with the result of the mating.

Here are the potential mates...

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/efillc/Snakes/IMG_0514.jpg

http://i477.photobucket.com/albums/rr136/efillc/Charlene/IMG_8470.jpg

[Aaron_S]

Quite easily you'll end up with an eaten snake. Be super careful.

I don't know about king mutations very much so I'm unsure if the high white is a selective bred trait or an actual recessive, co-dom or dom morph.

Either way, both animals are cool looking in their own right. I'd personally find a mate of the same species for each instead of going the hybrid way.

[bcr226]

Yeah, that's why I'm asking questions now so I can be better prepared for when the time comes. We've got at least 2-3 years so I'm not in a rush.

My daughter, who is 7 now wants to breed them. She's looking at gaining more pets more than anything. LOL.

[Aaron_S]

Just be aware she'd have better success getting a make of similar species. Not saying hybridizing doesn't or hasn't happened but a lot of the time it doesn't take.

[Terranaut]

Just be aware she'd have better success getting a make of similar species. Not saying hybridizing doesn't or hasn't happened but a lot of the time it doesn't take.

I agree. And I also agree with the eaten part. If you king us as food crazy as mine and given the fact that other snakes are on the menu for them naturaly accidents could happen. People breed them all the time so I imagine it's easily avoided. Just be sure to read what people did when they did have a snake eaten and then...don't do that ;) Have fun. Family breeding projects are great. I'll never forget the first time we saw a little head peaking out of an egg and the way the kids lost their minds. Priceless.

[Aaron_S]

I agree. And I also agree with the eaten part. If you king us as food crazy as mine and given the fact that other snakes are on the menu for them naturaly accidents could happen. People breed them all the time so I imagine it's easily avoided. Just be sure to read what people did when they did have a snake eaten and then...don't do that ;) Have fun. Family breeding projects are great. I'll never forget the first time we saw a little head peaking out of an egg and the way the kids lost their minds. Priceless.

I wish my kid was enthusiastic as others.

She enjoys looking at them. Taking peeks but nothing seems to blow her mind. She kind of says "I like it" and that's that. Very low-key kid lol.

[Terranaut]

I wish my kid was enthusiastic as others.

She enjoys looking at them. Taking peeks but nothing seems to blow her mind. She kind of says "I like it" and that's that. Very low-key kid lol.

My youngest ws like"DAD DAD YIU GOT TO SEE THIS!! HOLY CRAP LOOK AT THAT. LIAM (older brother) YOU GOTTA SEE THIS!!! My wife and oldest ran down after me. We saw this.
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1247.jpg
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j9/terranaut0/photo-1653.jpg
First clutch for us. What a momment. Probably not the same when its 100 clutches but this one we will always remember.

[Aaron_S]

I'll tell you now, it NEVER gets old. It's really cool seeing baby snakes in eggs.

I haven't had the pleasure of my daughter being around when they actually hatch so that's been unfortunate. She does remember though when I tell her we have eggs hatching soon. She likes to remind me to check on them.

[crimsonking]

They can and likely will breed. It's not hybridizing (they are both Lampropeltis getula ssp.) It has been done many times.
That said, in the 1st generation you will likely get a mixture of traits shown in individuals and throughout the clutch. Cals are notoriuos for a variety in the same clutch.The ones I've seen looked pretty much normal Cal. king, if a bit darker. Breeding those offspring to a parent or each other will bring out any morphs that may be in the genes.
There are plenty of people who will tell you not to cross ssp. (since it's difficult to keep track of them once they leave your care and can be unintentionally misrepresented as to their backround) but in the end it is up to you.
Myself, I would keep the lines clean and breed the mbk to another mbk and the Cal to a Cal..:)

:Mark