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A 37 year old Cal king as of 2012 from the Bay area. Don found this king when he was 4 or 5 years old and has had him since. Here's what Don wrote about him: "I found him when he was a baby, so he has gone from pinkies, to baby mice (live), to adult mice, to baby rats, and now back to adult mice (still eating live mice). There were times when he was in his 20's that I would have to hold the mouse by the tail to feed. But, in his 30's, he is actually stronger and faster than before and can eat on his own. Last year I put two adult mice in his cage and he wrapped around both at the same time. Amazing guy. He has never been to a vet and has never stopped eating or shedding.
I live in warmer climate (Bay Area) and the snake has always been indoors (glass/plastic containers), so I have never used a heating pad or humidifyer, only an occasional rock warmer in the winter. This may be against normal caging instructions, but I was only 4-5 years old when I found him and started caring for him. He has lived on cedar shavings, but during the last 15 years, he seems to prefer plain newspaper."
I live in warmer climate (Bay Area) and the snake has always been indoors (glass/plastic containers), so I have never used a heating pad or humidifyer, only an occasional rock warmer in the winter. This may be against normal caging instructions, but I was only 4-5 years old when I found him and started caring for him. He has lived on cedar shavings, but during the last 15 years, he seems to prefer plain newspaper."
"For most of my snake's life he has eaten at least weekly during the summer months, bi-weekly or every three weeks during cooler months, and then monthly (or sometime longer) during winter months. Our house temperature never gets below 60 degrees and living in the Bay Area, the house is usually in the mid-to-upper 70's. I never tried to intentionally brumate the snake, but during the winter when the house temperature is about 62-66 degrees, he does become less active, although I will turn on a heat rock for him when he becomes active in the winter."
Here's what Frank Retes had to say about longevity in Cal kings: "The original (founder) albino cal king lived to 35 and had lots and lots of offspring that eventually covered the world. This animal was originally from Balboa park and was at the zoo for years, before getting into private hands. I recieved this animal from my late friend Ted Davis. I bred that animal to death, well it would have killed me. hahahahahaha it was retired into the hands of Ross Adcock, also of San Diego, where he had it until it died.
Also Bill Wooden had a Cal king (az. locality) that lived to over 40 (i believe). Mr. Wooden keep this king, a pyro and I believe a Rock rattlesnake, at room temps and fed them 8 times a year, they never reached full size."
Also Bill Wooden had a Cal king (az. locality) that lived to over 40 (i believe). Mr. Wooden keep this king, a pyro and I believe a Rock rattlesnake, at room temps and fed them 8 times a year, they never reached full size."
An extremely light specimen.
A Pacific Gopher x Cal king hybrid found by Brian Hinds dad. This is a very
rare cross.
rare cross.
These three were roadcruised within 100 yards of each other in Alameda Co.
The variation from yellow to white is amazing in this locale.
The variation from yellow to white is amazing in this locale.
A happy Carla with her first Cal king. Alameda Co.
A very nice captive produced locality king from Patterson Pass Rd. Alameda Co.
CA. This individual is approximately 20" and 6 months old. Owned by Phil Peak.
CA. This individual is approximately 20" and 6 months old. Owned by Phil Peak.
The golden brown morph. This is the farthest north this morph has been recorded.
Found near the Yuba River.
Delta morph
This king has always stood out to me. It has some of the widest light colored
bands I've seen on a kingsnake from Northern California.
bands I've seen on a kingsnake from Northern California.
This individual resembles the webbed morph from San Diego.
This is probably the same as a Merker hypo.
The larger darker king here was found inside a tire in Freeport, Sacramento Co.
The one on top is a Merker hypo. When bred together, the Freeport king proved
to be het hypo.
The one on top is a Merker hypo. When bred together, the Freeport king proved
to be het hypo.
Two hypos were produced from the pair above. This, I believe, is the same
hypo gene Gerold Merker produced from El Dorado Co.
hypo gene Gerold Merker produced from El Dorado Co.
A Sutter Co. hypermelanistic morph.
Probably hypo
A nice thin banded from Sonoma Co.
A nice thin banded individual from San Joaquin Co.
And here's a neat picture showing how these snakes are photographed in the
wild. San Joaquin Co.
wild. San Joaquin Co.
An Eiseni found outside its range.
Delta banded black-belly
A Golden brown morph, which is in between a Delta morph and a normal banded.
I like the chocolate brown on this individual. From Calaveras County. Nick
informed me this snake was found on the shoreline of a lake at 10AM and
was probably looking for Garter snakes.
informed me this snake was found on the shoreline of a lake at 10AM and
was probably looking for Garter snakes.
This individual has a slight amount of speckling. From Placer Co.
Merker hypo
Here are 2 photos scanned from an old issue of Reptiles magazine of the
Granite phase. I was told this is one of Gerold Merker's founding hypos. This
is an old individual and this look is developed with age in males only. This is an
extreme example with the granite look expressed throughout the entire body.
Granite phase. I was told this is one of Gerold Merker's founding hypos. This
is an old individual and this look is developed with age in males only. This is an
extreme example with the granite look expressed throughout the entire body.
The next three photos are of a hypermelanistic king John's son Bryce found. I
don't think Hubbs named this morph in his book, but he mentioned it. It looks
very similar to a Long Beach Hypermelanistic Morph. I'm thinking this is also
a co-dominate trait like the LB hyper. Sutter County.
don't think Hubbs named this morph in his book, but he mentioned it. It looks
very similar to a Long Beach Hypermelanistic Morph. I'm thinking this is also
a co-dominate trait like the LB hyper. Sutter County.
Here is a great story Devlin recently shared on the NAFHA CA chapter
forum from that took place in Marin County. One of the coolest posts
I've seen. Here is the rest by Devlin:
forum from that took place in Marin County. One of the coolest posts
I've seen. Here is the rest by Devlin:
My 6 year old daughter, Bailey and I belong to a daddy/daughter group called
Adventure Princesses. Yesterday I led a small group of our "tribe" on a herping
jaunt. I took them to an old standby spot that I've been going to for almost twenty
years. The first board we flipped housed a gorgeous, freshly shed kingsnake.
Adventure Princesses. Yesterday I led a small group of our "tribe" on a herping
jaunt. I took them to an old standby spot that I've been going to for almost twenty
years. The first board we flipped housed a gorgeous, freshly shed kingsnake.
The girls. Olivia, Hannah, Hannah G, Georgia, Kalea, and my daughter, Bailey's
arms (takin' a pic)
arms (takin' a pic)
Georgia, admiring the king. This girls was really taken by all the snakes! We may
have a future herper here.
have a future herper here.
Georgia and Hannah G, diggin' it.
A Cal king feeding on a San Fransisco Garter Snake.
How cool would this be to ride up on a couple of males in combat mode? At
least that's what it looks like to me. This is the Burgundy Banded Morph. The
one with the thin bands has more of a burgundy tint to it and its bands are pure
white. This is near Belmont, San Mateo Co.
least that's what it looks like to me. This is the Burgundy Banded Morph. The
one with the thin bands has more of a burgundy tint to it and its bands are pure
white. This is near Belmont, San Mateo Co.
Kings like this from the Santa Cruz Mountains are normally black and white.
A definite hypo.
San Joaquin banded black-belly morph
San Joaquin banded black-belly morph
An Eiseni morph flipped in early May 2016.
A Speckled Eiseni morph.
Delta morph
Eiseni morph
Females will sometimes bleed a little through their vent when captured.
Southern Tulare Co.
Southern Tulare Co.
Found south of Carmel near Malpaso Creek.
A very special find because this was the first Cal king Zach has found. Our
firsts are always memorable.
firsts are always memorable.
This individual has a low band count. Found near Cupertino.
Los Gatos in Santa Clara County.
An in situ of a very nice looking gravid female.
From Gilroy in Santa Clara Co.
Santa Cruz Mnts.
A gravid female found in the Santa Cruz Mnts.
A couple of males in combat.
A very nice and possibly Hypomelanistic Cal king from Santa Clara Valley.
Delta morph
Photographed by Pat Briggs, this is the first Delta morph officially
documented from this county.
documented from this county.
From 9 mile Canyon
This one is from Bishop and has the widest white bands Shannon has seen
in this area.
in this area.
Another photo of the individual above. Found by Shannon Brown.
From the Gilbert Pass on hwy 168.
From Willow Canyon, Last Chance Mountains. This specimen is very nice.
DOR high band count.