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variable kingsnakes
(lampropeltis leonis)
As the name suggests, and the above photos illustrate, this is an incredibly variable species of snake. There are two principal phases: “milksnake” phase animals which have a ringed tricolored pattern similar to that seen in a Mexican or Honduran milksnake, and “leonis” which have narrow red pattern elements bordered by red and a varied base coloration. Additionally, there is a melanistic phase, controlled by a single gene that exhibits in the homozygous recessive condition. In these animals, as seen in the gallery, the underlying leonis or milksnake phase pattern is visible. Like the alterna, these are “10 gallon kingsnakes;” they do great in simplistic enclosures at room temperature, as long as they have a warm area (in the upper 80s) to utilize when digesting food. They aren’t squirmy, don’t bite, and typically start well on pink mice. Historically, this species has been interbreed with other species in the mexicana-complex, like greeri and ruthveni, to introduce albinism or novel apperances. All my animals have lineage information, and have been acquired from breeders that share my interest in working with pure examples of the species.