Wild-Caught ID!?

[wasuslitherin]

Someone I know found this guy in a subdivision and gave him to me. He is soo docile! A real sweetie!
I am from St. louis Missouri. Could someone tell me what he is? His belly is yellow-ish with blotchs, kinda like checkers. He has pink along his neck on the upper-half of his body. He has a neat head pattern.

Do you think he is a native? or a escaped/released pet?
His head-

belly-

head again-

body shot-
http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww130/mychimicky/March2011005
.jpg

 

[Outcast]

Looks like it could be a faded Eastern Milk snake or Prairie King snake to me. Though it may be something else...

 

[tspuckler]

Prairie Kingsnake - they're native to your area.

 

[rich333]

Eastern Milksnake was my first thought....But Prairie Kingsnake Sounds even better! Actually i'm 50/50 on this one....Just trying to be diplomatic.

 

[Rolf]

I'd agree that it's a prairie kingsnake

 

[dendro19]

Definitely a prairie kingsnake. One of my favorite snakes in that area

 

[rsarj70]

looks like a prairie king. I live in st louis area as ell and have caught them before. Where at in st lou did you find this guy? looks big!! I have been herping a few times this spring with my boys and would love to find a population of kings or bullsnakes

 

[Mark Dwight]

Yes, a Prairie king.
Missouri is my favorite state to herp. The land of Prairie kings, speckled kings, Emory rats, black rats and red milk snakes. I'm going up there in a few weeks to herp....Compared to where I now live Missouri is a herpers heaven.

 

[wasuslitherin]

Are they easy to keep? Could I keep him? Or let him go? If he will take f/t should I keep him?

 

[rsarj70]

They make good pets at least in my experience when they are younger, but I don't know about a larger adult like that. I have seen them in st louis area along with speckled kings, but I have not caught one in years. It says Warrenton, Mo. Did you catch in Warren County or somewhere else?

 

[wasuslitherin]

Warren County is where I caught it. I said St. louis becuase alot of pl will reconize Stl more then they will warrenton.

 

[lefty_mussolini]

Prairie Kings are on of my favorite snakes to keep. They tend to be VERY docile (especially for Kings.) That one looks HUGE!!! Congrats.

 

[wasuslitherin]

Any tips on how to get him to eat? Aand I should feed him mice/rats, right?

 

[lefty_mussolini]

Any tips on how to get him to eat? Aand I should feed him mice/rats, right?

I would feed him mice. Shouldn't need any tricking but he might not be willing to take f/t. I'd feed live for the first few meals while he gets acclimated. And if he refuses food, don't try again for about 5 days. Introducing food too often can stress him.

 

[Nanci]

I think I'd just see if he takes a FT mouse. You could make it nice and hot, or even blow dry it. A big snake like that, though, likes to eat. I bet he just eats. EXCEPT he could be out wandering around looking for a mate, in which case he might not feel like eating anything.