Diff between Brooks and Florida kings?

[csolis]

Was just wondering what the diff is between Florida kings and Brooks kingsnakes? They look almost identical to me.

[Katt]

Back in the day, there used to be florida kings Lampropeltis getulus floridana, and Brook's Kings, L.g.brooksi, which were the nicer more yellow and smaller "version"of florida kings, they were called south floridas too. However, just a couple years ago, taxonomists realized that "brooksi" were the true florida king and that the "floridana" were intergrades of "brooksi" and eastern kings. So now, "brooksi" are L.g.floridana, and the old "floridana" are called peninsular integrades without an assigned taxonomic name.

Brooksi is no longer in usage, although a few herpers still call them brooks, just to differentiate from the "uglier" integrades.

[bighillreptiles]

Well put Katt could not have said it better my self

[csolis]

Thanks,I was just wondering cause we have some where I work and we are still labeling some brooksi and some floridana but the brooksi looked like just a hypo version of the florida to me.

[bighillreptiles]

this is a hypo Hope this helps ,How much are thay asking for them

[csolis]

$99 for hypos

[Tim_Cranwill]

In my opinion, Brooksi are under-priced. I'm sure all the brooksi keepers out there will agree.

When you compare them to a Cal King, it's almost strange. I find the differences to be;

a) brooksi are more attractive (subjective)
b) brooksi are friendlier
c) brooksi are bigger (a pro or a con)
d) brooksi are better and more entertaining feeders
e) brooksi are rarer
f) brooksi are JUST as easy to breed and keep
g) brooksi morphs are worth more


So why are they almost the same price? It just comes down to demand. Once the demand goes up on brooksi, it will have to even out a bit price wise. It will just take people some time to realize how cool these snakes are. They are the "boids" of the lampros!

By the way, beautiful snake, Paul!

[bighillreptiles]

Thanks Tim She is in the big sleep now .Hope to have little ones in the up comming season .her is her mate a red hypo and a new female i just picked up a while ago .

and the new female at just over a year old

[Katt]

I don't own brooksi(floridas), although Vanan has, but I do own peninsular integrades, actually I own mahogany kings, a strain bred by our very own CrimsonKing and the only pair in Canada.

And I just had to reply to Tim's post b/c I don't completely agree with the underpricing part for the reasons below.

a) brooksi are more attractive (subjective)

Florida kings only have colour morphs to speak of, whilst cal kings have tons of pattern abberancies, plus two albino types, hypomelanism, and melanism, plus different locals to work with.

I do agree, axanthic and hypo floridas are killer!!

b) brooksi are friendlier

Gotta agree there. Definitely nicer snakes, not so spazzy!

c) brooksi are bigger (a pro or a con

I think this is a pro!

d) brooksi are better and more entertaining feeders

Cal kings can be deadly feeders and just as amusing to watch, although, they don't always coil like floridas do, which is really fun to see.

e) brooksi are rarer

Rare? I wouldn't say rarer, but just less common, people breed them in Canada, and there's tons in the states.

f) brooksi are JUST as easy to breed and keep

Exactly! Which is why they're value isn't much higher than a cal king. There's just no reason for there to be.

g) brooksi morphs are worth more

Another reason why normal floridas prices are lower b/c the morphs while higher priced than cal king morphs,are still reasonable. A hypo or axanthic will run around $150, snows $300. This keeps the normal price down.

Normals cals are around $50 to $70, floridas run $60 - $100.

While sixty is a bit low, $80 seems a decent price to me for just about any getulus, they're all easy to breed.

Dare you to find CB speckleds and CB black kings in Canada. These are far more uncommon than floridas, but will probably be around the same price as most other getulus b/c they're just not in demand.

I don't think with greater demand, the price will go up. Part of the appeal of colubrids, is that prices are relatively low enough for newbies to get into. Then like most Canadians, they'll move out of the colubrids and into boids where the money is to be had.

I think most people who have had floridas will definitely get floridas again, especially those gorgeous morphs like the hypos and the axanthics. I kind of like the prices being lower, as it deters people looking to make money out of the breeding, and keeps those who truly love the species.