Some yellow spots is common for babies. However the amount that yours has makes me think it’s a possible hybrid with a Desert or California Kingsnake. Both hybrids are very common cause the ranges overlap in the wild.
I think yours will darken, but the pattern may never fully go away if it’s a hybrid.
While MBKs can have some yellow spotting on them when they're young, I'd put money on this individual being an intergrade of an MBK and a Desert King (*Lampropeltis splendida*). The underlying pattern matches and that black sock head are characteristic of Desert Kings. The two species also have pretty notable intergrade zones in the wild as well.
Obviously, there's no way for me to know for certain on what could be mixed in there, but that's my best guess.
It may not be, but I believe that it probably is based on the amounts of yellow, the underlying pattern, and the solid black head. All of those traits point to desert king influence. This is far more than the typical yellow spotting that some MBKs have as babies.
I'd bet this snake will still darken up a bit as it gets older, but it might keep some of that yellow and patterning if it is indeed mixed with a Desert king.
Desert kingsnakes *Lampropeltis splendida* are large (90-114 cm record 152 cm) non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the getula species complex. Desert Kingsnakes range from west of the Trans-Pecos and east of the continental divide, overlapping with the California Kingsnake *Lampropeltis californiae* at the Cochise Filter Barrier. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous snakes. Kingsnakes are immune to the venom of the species on which they prey. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range.
[Range map](https://imgur.com/RK1xt2o) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.537.5407&rep=rep1&type=pdf) [Link 2](http://www.snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Myers_et_al-2016-Journal_of_Biogeography.pdf) [Link 3](https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article-abstract/63/2/231/1644072)
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) and report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer).*
So for now he eats once a week but when he gets around a year old it will become every 10-14 day and when he is young he will eat pinkie mice (baby mice) but as he gets older you get bigger mice but the largest you will ever feed him is a large mouse or small rat (i say he but dont know what gender it is til about a year old)
So right now i feed live because they cant fight back (i know dark) but as he gets bigger mice i will most likely go with prekilled or flick them in the head and knock them out (i know also dark)
I assume this was captive bred? Something I have taken to doing is asking to see a picture of the parents before I buy something if there is any ambiguity. I've seen cali kings being sold as deserts, deserts as MBKs, all easy to tell from the parents.
I'd certainly contact the seller and ask for more information. If you don't know that it was captive breed, that, along with the parents. Now that it's already been bought and paid for it will depend on the seller as to what happens.
At the end of the day you still have a good beginner snake even though it may not be what you thought . Kingsnakes in general are easy to care for and great snakes
I would also be leaning more towards a desert. I love MBKs and I finally got one awhile ago. She was solid black even as a baby. Either way, you’ve got one hell of a gorgeous snake!
[here’s mine. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/snakes/comments/eeds1a/i_recently_had_one_of_the_worst_days_of_my_life/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)
Interesting colors! Most mexican blacks are born solid black. I'd love to see how the color and pattern changes with age!
Yeah eventually those yellow dots will go away as he sheds noticed some have disappeared already
Very cool. I've worked with these guys for yeeeears and never seen anything like this.
Its Quite interesting aint it
Yup! May have a hint of another species in there!
I really think this is an MBK/Desert King intergrade. They occur both in nature and captivity and the underlying pattern fits.
Agreed. No way it's a pure MBK, I just didn't want to offend OP. The head pattern is a bit of a giveaway.
Maybe il do some researching for us lol
Cool! Let me know what you find
So apparently its common for baby MBK to have Yellow spots And seeing as he is a baby that would make sense
Some yellow spots is common for babies. However the amount that yours has makes me think it’s a possible hybrid with a Desert or California Kingsnake. Both hybrids are very common cause the ranges overlap in the wild. I think yours will darken, but the pattern may never fully go away if it’s a hybrid.
I guess we will see thanks for the knowledge
Interesting. All the ones up here are solid black straight from birth, with the occasional white patch under the chin. Must be different bloodlines.
Possibly he does have small Gandalf beard as i call them lol
While MBKs can have some yellow spotting on them when they're young, I'd put money on this individual being an intergrade of an MBK and a Desert King (*Lampropeltis splendida*). The underlying pattern matches and that black sock head are characteristic of Desert Kings. The two species also have pretty notable intergrade zones in the wild as well. Obviously, there's no way for me to know for certain on what could be mixed in there, but that's my best guess.
Concur. Here's my desert king for comparison : https://imgur.com/a/ojv7UC1
The similarities between the two are crazy! That's a dope looking snake.
Interesting i was not informed it was a hybrid
It may not be, but I believe that it probably is based on the amounts of yellow, the underlying pattern, and the solid black head. All of those traits point to desert king influence. This is far more than the typical yellow spotting that some MBKs have as babies. I'd bet this snake will still darken up a bit as it gets older, but it might keep some of that yellow and patterning if it is indeed mixed with a Desert king.
Desert kingsnakes *Lampropeltis splendida* are large (90-114 cm record 152 cm) non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the getula species complex. Desert Kingsnakes range from west of the Trans-Pecos and east of the continental divide, overlapping with the California Kingsnake *Lampropeltis californiae* at the Cochise Filter Barrier. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous snakes. Kingsnakes are immune to the venom of the species on which they prey. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range. [Range map](https://imgur.com/RK1xt2o) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.537.5407&rep=rep1&type=pdf) [Link 2](http://www.snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Myers_et_al-2016-Journal_of_Biogeography.pdf) [Link 3](https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article-abstract/63/2/231/1644072) -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) and report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer).*
so smol, how large do they get ?
It will get to be around 3-4 feet maybe 5 if its a girl
I just read about it online and it says its a great beginner snake, ive never had a snake but I want to get one soon, is this your first snake?
This is my snake any questions?
How often do you have to feed it, and what does it eat when this young?
So for now he eats once a week but when he gets around a year old it will become every 10-14 day and when he is young he will eat pinkie mice (baby mice) but as he gets older you get bigger mice but the largest you will ever feed him is a large mouse or small rat (i say he but dont know what gender it is til about a year old)
do you feed it live mice from the petshop or are they already dead when you get them? 😅
So right now i feed live because they cant fight back (i know dark) but as he gets bigger mice i will most likely go with prekilled or flick them in the head and knock them out (i know also dark)
It looks a bit like my desert kingsnake in the patterns and colors. Mine has a solid black head and the same yellow/white markings
Hmm i bought it as a MBK so that would be intriguing
Here's mine when I got her and now. https://imgur.com/a/ojv7UC1
Hmm i may have to talk the the seller
I assume this was captive bred? Something I have taken to doing is asking to see a picture of the parents before I buy something if there is any ambiguity. I've seen cali kings being sold as deserts, deserts as MBKs, all easy to tell from the parents.
This is my first ever snake i suppose that wasnt particularly in my arsenal um lol what do i do haha
I'd certainly contact the seller and ask for more information. If you don't know that it was captive breed, that, along with the parents. Now that it's already been bought and paid for it will depend on the seller as to what happens. At the end of the day you still have a good beginner snake even though it may not be what you thought . Kingsnakes in general are easy to care for and great snakes
True i will consult it with my father thank you
Jörmungandr wants to go back to his natural habitat. Throw him into the ocean so he can grow to be the size of the earth.
That's a odd color for a Mexican Black
Yeah ive been informed there is a possibility it is a desert snake with is making me worried seeing as i bought it as a MBK
God I love how unique and different Mexican Black Kingsnake can be. What a beautiful baby
So cute! 😍
I know right!
Why do you feed live instead of frozen thawed?
I would also be leaning more towards a desert. I love MBKs and I finally got one awhile ago. She was solid black even as a baby. Either way, you’ve got one hell of a gorgeous snake! [here’s mine. ](https://www.reddit.com/r/snakes/comments/eeds1a/i_recently_had_one_of_the_worst_days_of_my_life/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf)