A Trade and a Surprise!

**Minkness** · 07-21-16, 10:35 PM

Well, the guy didn't want to drive out to me this weekend and instead decided to meet me where I work as its at least half way. I have met them before actually. Same guy I got my lesser female BP from.

Well, I had originally contacted him as he had an MBK for sale/trade but when I asked he said that someone else had already set a time to pick him up and instead offered an albino cape gopher snake (female).

I have kinda been looking at them anyway (but really wanted a Bull). So figured...eh...why not?!

Well, we were all set to meet today and I packed up my most angry death worm I own (juvie male rough scale sand boa), and took him to work with me where he hid in my desk all day.

A little before 8 the guy lets me know he's on his way. By 9 he's there. And not with just the gopher....but also the MBK! Apparently the other guy fell through and since I orriginally wanted the MBK, this guy just threw him in as a bonous! Lol.

Well, needless to say, I had to play musical tanks when I got home. It was the first time I really got a chance tolook at either snake as I had to smuggle them back to my desk where they sat for about an hour before I headed home. I will say that while I really appreciate the gesture of throwing in the MBK, I think I am over capacity! I will probably need to buy a new tub this weekend lol. Also, the MBK seems like a lower quality one as there is SOOOOO much yellow on him.

I may or may not keep them. Time will tell. But I will say this...I am sooooo happy to no longer have to worry about that evil thing in a snake's body! I did warn the guy how feisty the snake was, but he didn't seem bothered.

Anyway, here are a few pics of the new guy and girl.

Are Gopher snake's heads supposed to be like that?

SWDK · 07-21-16, 10:56 PM

That gopher is very nice looking. Hope you enjoy the new additions. That is definitely a strange coloration for a MBK. Wonder if it's been crossed with something?

dave himself · 07-21-16, 10:57 PM

Congratulations on your new pick ups Mink and it's always nice to get an added bonus

**EL Ziggy** · 07-22-16, 05:47 AM

Congrats on the two new critters Mink. I really like the gopher.

Albert Clark · 07-22-16, 07:44 AM

Cool bonus! The black one looks more like a desert kingsnake.

**Andy_G** · 07-22-16, 08:01 AM

Nice, Mink! From the pics, it looks like the head is a bit oddly shaped. More pics after it settles in please?

That looks like a black kingsnake, Lampropeltis nigra, which is a different subspecies. Some MBK babies can be heavily patterned though, so give it a bit of time and growth/sheds before making that call. How big/old is it?

macandchz · 07-22-16, 08:11 AM

congrats mink! sure glad your boss didn't want anything out of your desk!

**Minkness** · 07-22-16, 08:11 AM

Not sure on age. Length is about w.5 feet maybe? I didn't do any measuring or weighing last night. Just got pics and set them up in their enclosures and went to bed only to wake up waaaay too early to pull a (possibly) 14 hr work day.

I say it's a desert king but the stomach is the usual rainbowy grey of an MBK. So I dunno. I think it's the same one I saw a giy trying to sell on Craigslist mooooonths ago and when I emailed him that I thought it was a standard black king, he chewed me out. Guess this kid (yes, kid lol) ended up with him and didn't know better and now I have him.

No real info on the gopher either vlbut she was pretty easy to handle. I can see myself falling for her with some time, but her head just looks so lumpy! I think it's just like that because she is under weight. The king however is not underweight that I can tell from looking at him.

Time will tell though. Everyone who sees the 'MBK' says they love his yellow though lol. I'm just spoiled and picky as my first MVK was purely jet black as a hatchling with just a white spot on her chin. So to see a juvie with THAT much yellow is bothersome to me. But whatever. He was kind of a gift so who am I to complain? (Other than apparently being a moody a**hole lol)

**Andy_G** · 07-22-16, 08:21 AM

Highly doubt to be a pure desert king but I would need to see a pic from the top to tell you eith 100% certainty. Ive seen some very heavily speckled/patterned pure MBK hatchlings for what it's worth.

Albert Clark · 07-22-16, 08:30 AM

Yep! Certainly could be mexican black. Juveniles some times are patterned and decreases as they age. Could also be a intergrade. Time will tell. They both look healthy. Make sure to quarantine Mink.

**Minkness** · 07-22-16, 08:40 AM

This is about as good as I have right now.

I don't suspect pure desert either. But I'm nooooo expert. I just know that the one I had before was younger/smaller and all black, and this one isn't lol

Humble308 · 07-22-16, 09:08 AM

Congrats on the gopher! Welcome to the pit club

. Hopefully your new king works out better for you. All the best

dannybgoode · 07-23-16, 02:37 PM

Good to see you're still expanding your collection at the same rate since I was last on mink.

Beautiful King though. Really lovely snake...

**Minkness** · 07-24-16, 02:46 PM

Thanks guys XD

**Tsubaki** · 07-25-16, 07:08 AM

Gorgeous Mink, but i already told you that

... You should update your sig too!