species and sub species comparisons?

[rwg]

Hey all,

I'm kind of interested in king and milk snakes. I was wondering if you could compare temperment and husbandry requirements for some of the common species and sub species. I'm kind of attracted to the mexican black kings, but find the scarlet kings, and honduran milks nice as well. There's always florida kings as well...hmmm they're all so nice.

rg

I'm not sure we understand your question. There are environmental overlaps of ranges and in many cases most care is similar with some variation in humidity and max/min temperature.

[rwg]

Sorry, just wanted to start a discussion about which milk/king snakes are easier to keep and handle than others. Should have been more clear.

To clarify: Are there lampropeltis that dont tame well? Are there some that tame particularily well. Are some picky eaters, while others fairly easy going? Are there some that require tighter temp and humidity control than others? If I get one, what kind should I get? How do mexican blacks rate?

[Ace]

Kinda hard to generalize a specie or SSP. I had a Mex. Black that would strike out as soon as you walked in the room. You couldn't hold him without getting bit. But, now I have one that is a baby to hold. Depends on the individual snake. Both were and are good eaters though .

[Katt]

I find mex black to be the best!

[Vanan]

With the species you've mentioned, I would recommend the Florida kings (I'm sure I have everyone's vote here on that one) and the mex blks. The larger getulus (floridana, appalachicoleae, getulus) and they're intergrades are very good pet snakes. Hardly a problem with feeding. Grow to a decent size (easier for handling but requiring more living space). and have great temperaments usually.

The smaller getulus (californiae, niger, holbrooki), exception of nigritus, tend to be more fiesty. Quick to musk and tail rattle. Mex blks, in my experience, have been pretty variable in size and temperament. I have heard of one captive specimen being hell on wheels but some I've worked with have been very very tame. Some have been major pigs and just wanna eat your hand all the time, but no aggression though.

As for the milks, I'm not able to help you as I don't have first hand experience with most of them. Maybe Jeff F may be more helpful.

[Stockwell]

Huhmmm I've worked with most of them...
I can't really express any huge difference between the getula group.... cal kings, mexican blacks, specs, floridas/brooks, chains
They are all pretty much the same in my experience.
Triangulum(the milksnakes) on the other hand vary quite a bit in husbandry and temperment.
Some, like one you mention....the scarlet king... Lt elapsoides, is small and not known to be the best captive feeders...Hatchlings are quite problematic due to small size...
Mexican milks... Lt. annulata are great feeders, and good breeders, good temperment too...
Pueblan milks, look great, feed eat and breed well, but are totally spastic and rarely sit still. But still they popular because they look fantastic and no other triangulum resembles them.

Hondurans are great magestic triangulum with some of the finest color, and of course their are attractive mutations available, like albinos and hypos. but babies are pretty snappy and bite without hesitation, but they eat and breed well in captivity and get to be a decent size which could be good or bad depending on your space and likes.

Black milks Lt gaigeae, are now coming down in price and if you like both triclors and black snakes, with good calm temperment, you get all those qualities in one package...
They start out like tricolored Hondurans and turn jet black like Indigos in a couple years. They get big too, over 6 foot
But they should be kept cooler than the others.

[rwg]

Thanks folks...this is just the sort of info I was looking for.

rg