Snakes ‘N’ Adders Introducing Series
Episode: 32
• Mexican Black King Snake
• (Lampropeltis getula nigritus)
First described by Zweifel & Norris in 1955
They are a subspecies of the Common King Snake or ‘getula’ complex along with:
• getula getula - Eastern Chain King Snake
• getula brooksi - Brook’s King Snake
• getula californiae - Californian King Snake
• getula floridana - Florida King Snake
• getula holbrooki - Speckled king snake
• getula meansi - Apalachicola King Snake
• getula niger - Eastern Black King Snake
• getula splendida - Desert King Snake
• They are the most Southerly occurring subspecies with a natural distribution including:
o Sonora Desert, NW Sinaloa and small pockets of Southern Arizona.
o The Arizona populations are known to intergrade with californiae and splendida naturally.
o Activity patterns may fluctuate throughout the year similar to other Mexican species being nocturnal in summer, crepuscular in Spring and Autumn and diurnal in winter.
o Stocky, well built snake although captive populations tends towards obesity. Because of ravenous appetite and a predilection for fingers keepers over feed to compensate. Many adults seen in captivity can be counted amongst the heaviest set of the group often more rotund than even the stocky Florida King Snake.
o Temperament is variable and being triggered to feed whenever you enter the tank is an issue. Poor vision and a hair trigger for movement can make for problematic snakes on occasion.
Myths surrounding patternation abound, especially with babies. BABIES ARE RARELY BORN JET BLACK. Many are born with faint traces of saddles and occasionally speckling of white to head and chin regions. Weird echo chamber stuff going on. Has been bred for decades and old schoolers know there is a pattern to the babies.
o Generally any vestigial patternation will have totally disappeared by the snakes first birthday if not much earlier.
Seen somewhat of a resurgence, this goes to show that the avarice of man with reptile morphs has not paid off when it comes to diversity. This was a species that was 10 a penny in the mid 90’s. Many sold for £20 each. Old timers are genuinely mystified by the price tags these snakes fetch now. This is what happens when every keeper doubles down on Corns and Royals all the other common stuff disappears.
Mexican Blacks are egg layers, only a gentle season required to illicit breeding. They are easy to breed and breed readily. Hence their previous abundance. Care must be taken to match and feed up adults that are to be introduced to try and avoid problems with cannibalism.
Standard incubation temperate of 28-29 celsius for 55-65 days and hatching will occur. Use a vermiculite mix of 4:1 V:W.
Hatchlings present no problems in raising.
Негізгі бет Үй жануарлары мен аңдар S'N'A Introducing Series : Episode 32 - Mexican Black King Snake (Lampropeltis getula nigritus)
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