Yep, He's a Kingsnake Alright

[Aozora]

I picked up this little guy at Repticon Columbia a couple of weeks ago--only spent $15(!) for him. We've decided that as a kingsnake, he needs a kingly name. So meet Louis XIV, The Sun King(snake).

He's been a standard California kingsnake, flinging poo and tail rattling when we first get him out. He's actually pretty chill once he realizes we're not going to murder him. Calms right down and has fun exploring.

However, all bets are off at feeding time. He defensively struck at the mouse a few times before I picked him up to calm him down again. Finally got him calm, he quirked his head and murdered the dead mouse, eating it butt-first and tail-rattling all the way. (He's earned the nickname Rattles because he does it nonstop as long as there's food around.)

Then the fun came. Once he finished eating he reared up like this of his own accord and gave me one heck of a glare. I reached in to try to pick him up and put him back, he freaked out even more. So I dialed it back to one finger so he could smell it was me and not a murderfacing machine or another mouse, and got the picture below.

No points for guessing what happened seconds after the photo was taken.

Incidentally, does anyone know what morph he is? All I know is "pretty little <censored>".

 

[diamondlil]

What a cutie-pie!

 

[Kokopelli]

The pattern on California Kings is completely random and somewhat polygenic... not something consistent enough you can really define to a morph.

 

[juliegarner]

Nice little fella lovely markings

 

[Nanci]

What a cute story! California kings are divided into localities- that's what defines whether they are black and white, brown and yellow, etc. Then they can be banded or striped. Yours looks like an aberrant stripe. There are also some color morphs, too.

 

[Kokopelli]

Yeah but it's too random to really consider a "morph", the chance of reproducing it is identical to producing any other pattern.

 

[Nanci]

Right- that's why I mentioned the localities and the color morphs.

 

[WestCoast_Redneck]

I love him and I love his name even more! The fiesty King Louis! He is gorgeous!
I don't have a kingsnake (yet) but I really admire them. I love my docile corns.....but I love how kings are fiesty and full of vigor
I'm hoping to get a Mexican Black Kingsnake, but to be honest....I'd be happy with any king

 

[Nanci]

I'm hoping to get a Mexican Black Kingsnake, but to be honest....I'd be happy with any king

Florida Kings are really underrated. Make sure you look at those, too! I LOVE mine!!

 

[Aozora]

What a cute story! California kings are divided into localities- that's what defines whether they are black and white, brown and yellow, etc. Then they can be banded or striped. Yours looks like an aberrant stripe. There are also some color morphs, too.

Alrighty. I did my research enough to know that he's a desert locality, but I didn't know the rest of that. Thank you for the information!

Whatever he is, I like him. And I think I'm going to go with my original description of "pretty little <censored>" for him.

 

[wildlifephotographer]

Nanci- I have 3 Brooksi kings Sulfur/lavenders from Triangle Reptiles. I love mine as well and they are gorgeous but I can not for the life of me get them not to be so skittish are they always going to be so hard to handle? Without being scared of being bite? They have been handled on a regular basis 3 times a week for about 20min or so ... to get them to get use to me is that not enough handle time?

Aozora- I love the pattern on your king. It's very unique to me.

 

[Weda737]

I'd have called him Oreo He is a cutie!

 

[Kokopelli]

Sorry for being stubborn but I am insisting on the difference since Cali Kings -do- have morphs: Albino, T+ Albino(AKA Lavander), Mud, Hypo and a few others... all of which have a predicatable inheritence pattern.

How do you know that this is a Desert locality Cali king?

As for Florida Kings... their morphs are -awesome-.

 

[Aozora]

How do you know that this is a Desert locality Cali king?

He's white and black with no hint of yellow. I saw some at the show with a pattern similar to his that were brown and yellow, and those are considered more "coastal" varieties. I specifically was looking for the desert variety with the high contrast white and black because that is more appealing to me.

Sources:
Ian's Vivarium
Black Rock Reptiles Morphs Page

 

[WestCoast_Redneck]

Florida Kings are really underrated. Make sure you look at those, too! I LOVE mine!!

Thanks Nanci.....So, how do snakes become so addicting? I honestly never imagined I'd enjoy keeping snakes so much! Now I want a Buckskin Okeetee, Flordia King, Mexican Black King AND a Coxi......... Ohh my mister will not be happy

 

[Aozora]

Took him out for a bit and after the initial flailing and musking he calmed right down and did some exploring. Here's a few more pictures of Louis, including one of his kingly mustache.

 

[Karoni]

Oh, man!!! I thought he was cute BEFORE I saw the mustache. Now I have Louis-envy BIG TIME!

 

[WestCoast_Redneck]

Oh my...that mustache makes him the CUTEST King ever!!!!

 

[Aozora]

I love Louis dearly, but good lord does he misbehave. Every time we take him out, poopmuskflailpee. It's gotten to the point where one of us will stand by to take him after he's poopmuskedflailedpeed on the other one, so whoever got poopmuskedflailedpeed can go wash their hands. I think the most common phrase in regards to him is, "Please stop pooping on me..."

And he's always nuts around food. Below is what we see after he finishes each and every meal. I've started calling him "Mean Mr. Mustache".

I wouldn't trade him for anything. :crazy01:

 

[Aozora]

Q: How can you tell it's kingsnake feeding day?

A: This: