Kingsnake.com Blog - Herp Photo of the Day

Sneak Peek

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:38:00 -0600

Help us improve our look and make our site feel like your home!
Submit images for our new homepage.

Checkout the sneak peek at part of Kingsnake's new homepage.

WHAT?! A Dark and Light mode?!

The 3 images for Classifieds, Forums and Blog are… generic placeholders.
We're waiting on approval of a legendary photo for Forums, however need images for Classifieds and Blog.

What've you got?!
Upload your images to the photo gallery, or drop them on our Facebook post.
Say BLOG or CLASSIFIEDS for where you think your image fits best.

We'll pick a winner and put your beautiful photograph on our homepage.

Amphibian gut bacteria showing promise in cancer research

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 02:44:00 -0600

A Japanese tree frog ( Dryophytes japonicus ). They are arboreal frogs, active from spring to autumn, and hibernate underground in winter. © Yorozu Kitamura | Dreamstime.com

There are so many ways that reptiles and amphibians give back to humanity and here is another amazing one. Are you on a GLP1? Thank a gila. Cancer research and blood pressure meds are using venom, however, this is a new approach!
Gut bacteria of several amphibians is being studied for potential benefits related to cancer research; the Japanese tree frog, Dryophytes japonicus, appears to have a beneficial bacterium, Ewingella americana, hanging out in their intestines!

In a mouse colorectal cancer model, a single intravenous administration of E. americana achieved complete tumor elimination with a 100% complete response (CR) rate. This dramatically surpasses the therapeutic efficacy of current standard treatments, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-L1 antibody) and liposomal doxorubicin (chemotherapy agent).
...
This research demonstrates that unexplored biodiversity represents a treasure trove for novel medical technology development and holds promise for providing new therapeutic options for patients with refractory cancers.

The article breaks down exactly how E. americana works to breakdown the cancer and fight it. Let's hope trials continue and this opens an amazing avenue of treatment and a positive outcome for many with this cancer. To read more about the study and access it, click here.

Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 01:45:00 -0600

Gorgeous Geckos a plenty.

What's your favorite gecko?

Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 02:35:00 -0600

B. E. A. u. tiful

Stretch the white phase albino tiger retic posted to kingsnake by crocodil.

Meet The Baroness - The world's longest snake

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 02:40:00 -0600

Ibu Baron aka "The Baroness" and the crew

In late 2025, in Sulawesi, there were reports of a giant snake roaming. It was reported to be the biggest ever seen! Licensed snake handler Diaz Nugraha and natural history photographer Radu Frentiu headed out on an expedition to confirm the rumors of the snake! There they found Ibu Baron or "The Baroness".

According to Guinness World Records, the snake measured 7.22 meters using a surveyor’s tape. She was also weighed inside a canvas sack on scales normally used for rice, coming in at 96.5 kilograms, or about 213 pounds. She hadn’t recently eaten, which is worth noting, since a large meal can dramatically inflate a python’s weight.

Ibu Baron is now living in captivity with Conservationist Budi Purwanto. To read the full story, click here. We have video of her measuring for the official Guinness World Record after the bump so check that out too! Continue reading "Meet The Baroness - The world's longest snake"

Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 02:35:00 -0600

Erm, I'm supposed to be here.

Tiger Legged Monkey Frog posted to Kingsnake by Herpetologia

Updates?

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 02:47:00 -0600

Updates?
We've been a little quieter about updates as we work feverishly in the background.

Thank you all for your patience and being on this journey with us.
We have some cool updates coming soon, this picture might even be a teaser.

Stay tuned, we may need your help via a photo contest shortly.

Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:47:00 -0600

Check it out - Kingsnake's new logo in the wild.

Thank you Hissed_Snakes for spreading the word, Kingsnake is back, and Kingsnake is for everyone.

Reintroduction attempts give San Francisco Garter a second chance

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 22:02:00 -0600

Jamie McNellis, a Conservation Specialist at the San Francisco Zoo, holds four-month-old garter snakes kept in enclosures at the San Francisco Zoo in San Francisco, Calif., on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

The San Francisco Garter Snake is amazingly beautiful and also very endangered, but now with the help of the conservation program at the San Francisco Zoo, they may get a chance at re-establishing their population! The largest current population of the snake lives on the property of the San Francisco airport and is quite protected but there is another area in Pacifica that conservationist from the Zoo have been preparing to help headstart a population of 115 babies for a spring release with more planned for the future!

Those destined for Pacifica will be released into a habitat that has been upgraded for their arrival. The project included creating a new pond for snakes and red-legged frogs to thrive, and removing invasive Monterey Cypress and Monterey Pine trees.
“If we didn’t do any type of tree removal, those scrub and grassland areas would be converted into forested habitats,” said Fong. “For sun-loving reptiles like snakes, converting open grasslands and scrub to forested habitats is not great.”
In December, a vegetation crew from NPS scattered seeds to help populate the upgraded habitat with native plant species.
One remaining concern is the continuing threat posed by people and their pets. The striking colors that make the San Francisco garter snake a California icon have also made it a target for illegal poaching for the pet trade, said McNellis. SFO can secure its habitat with a security fence, but other habitats cannot provide protection.

The work that went into this project is amazing and hopefully provides for a successful recovery for these gorgeous snakes! To read the full article, please visit The Mercury News here. This project was extensive and impressive! Kudos to the San Francisco Zoo for their work!

Tracking the animals in the Florida Everglades - Meet the Croc Docs

(Cindy Steinle) — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:42:00 -0600

Bryna Daykin, crew leader, is on an airboat during an American crocodile capture survey. (Photo by UF/IFAS Croc Docs)

Today is International Women in Science Day and what better way to celebrate than to highlight some of the "Croc Docs" who track and research the alligators and even burmese pythons in the Everglades. The "Croc Docs" is a program through University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) carry out overnight conservation research projects that checks data on alligator populations as well as tracking invasive species.

For Pupo, a South Florida native, a career in science once felt unrealistic. Like many women in her family, she briefly considered medicine before rediscovering biology during her undergraduate years, inspired by female wildlife professors and peers who shared her passion.

“I can’t imagine a more fulfilling way to spend my time than helping to conserve the environment and the fauna that taught me so much growing up,” she said in the news release.

To read the full article about the work these women herpetologists are doing, click here.

The mechanics behind the viper strike

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 02:44:00 -0600

By the time a human brain registers danger, a viper’s strike is already over. Here’s how these snakes can move faster than mammalian nervous systems can respond.
getty

For years people have been fascinated with the speed of a snake's strike, especially that of a venomous snake. The question of which is fastest is always the biggest, it's the viper btw. But what really are the mechanics behind the how and is there a way that we can avoid it?

In practical terms, this gap between perception and movement creates a hard physiological limit. No amount of training, vigilance or experience can meaningfully overcome it once a strike has begun.

From a biological standpoint, this places vipers in a unique category. Their strikes are fast enough to outpace even the fastest mammalian sensorimotor loops, which means that evading the strike will depend fully on anticipating it, rather than reacting to it. This is why prey species that survive vipers often rely on distance, vigilance or erratic movement; speed alone is not enough.

Want to geek out and learn about how snakes move? Click here to learn more.

Snakes on a Train?

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 02:48:00 -0600

1 / 1Do Western Ghats King Cobras, Ophiophagus kaalinga, take the train? (a) View of Chandor Station, Goa, India, from below the platform, showing the vegetation and the concrete pillars, where the snake was found. This location is atypical and unsuitable for king cobras. (b) Laborer accommodations lie just a dirt path away from the concrete pillars where the king cobra was recorded. (c) The snake emerged from beneath a pile of railway tracks stored at the site for ongoing railway maintenance and repair. (d) An Indian Cobra (Naja naja) on a windowsill in the moving Lokshakti Express train near Valsad, Gujarat State, India. Photos by Dikansh S. Parmar (a, b), Sourabh Yadav (c), and Sameer Lakhani (d). Credit: Biotropica (2026). DOI: 10.1111/btp.70157

We all have laughed at the movie "Snakes on a Plane" but now the reality of snakes on a train is all too true for the cobras in India! Many travelers started reporting, with photos, the Western Ghats King Cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga) riding on the train. These vulnerable snakes started popping up in odd locations in the country, in ranges that are not hospitable to their needs.

In 2017, study author Dikansh Parmar was volunteering with a local animal rescue group that received a call about a snake onboard a train. The incident is now included as part of this study. Another train rescue occurred in 2019, which ended up in a newspaper report in Uttarakhand. An incident occurred in 2023, in which a snake catcher from Gujarat State snapped a picture of an Indian Cobra sitting in a train window.

The study team writes, "With the increased global availability of low-cost smartphones and social media in recent years, the number of reports of snakes on and around trains in India has increased, with three incidents recorded in a 30-day period, and many more emerging on social media."

To read more about the study, click here!

Promoting Reptiles is Our Jam Man

(Cindy Steinle) — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 02:45:00 -0600

There is a Testament song that I adore called "Practice What You Preach" and I do. Going back in our blogs as far as 2011 (check it out here and take the pepsi challenge), you can see me talking about the importance of public outreach and having positive public outreach. With rescue, I have been doing that for 32 years because honestly, that is how you find animals homes. This weekend however marks the 21st year of Pet Expo MKE, a huge pet event with a focus on rescue where no animals are sold or adopted out. It is dry goods only. I have run the reptile exhibit for 20 of the 21 years and we bring it bay bay! Our event usually averages around 10,000 people through the door in one day.

Reptiles always get people excited so I always end up on the news. You can check out the news piece here, I have two shots, the first one pops up right away and is a general one. Please forgive my poor ball python who started shedding yesterday and well, it's very hard to get the humidity up right now and he does not like humid hides. However, I got a reporter to snuggle that ball python. Typically, we just share the press tease of the event because I do a TON of press for it and usually do something goofy like this and just leave it at that, but I thought I would share a little about what exactly we do. Continue reading "Promoting Reptiles is Our Jam Man"

Origins of Chytrid discovered

(Cindy Steinle) — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 02:45:00 -0600

A devastating fungal pathogen has reshaped amphibian populations worldwide, but its true origins have long remained uncertain. By combining historical museum specimens, genetic evidence, and global trade records, researchers traced one major strain of the fungus back to Brazil, well before international frog farming began. Credit: Stock

The devastation of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, otherwise known as chytrid fungus, to frog populations worldwide has been absolutely devastating, even wiping out entire species. How did it exactly start? Researchers think they finally have the clue.

Researchers believe the worldwide movement of Bd is closely tied to the commercial trade in bullfrogs (Aquarana catesbeiana), a species native to North America that is raised for food in many countries. Bullfrogs were first brought to Brazil in 1935, followed by another introduction several decades later during the 1970s.

One particular variant, known as Bd-Brazil, was first identified in the country in 2012 and named accordingly. Its origins were later questioned after a 2018 study published in the journal Science proposed that the strain may have emerged on the Korean Peninsula. As a result, the genotype was subsequently referred to as Bd-Asia-2/Bd-Brazil.

To learn more and how they are working to stop more spread, read the full article here.

Wisdom Wednesday - The Forums - The water is warm... Come on in!

(Cindy Steinle) — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 02:42:00 -0600

Actual photo of author working on forums, circa 2010 in either Tinley Park or Daytona

I don't know about you but the world has been extra heavy lately. I find myself coming home and just locking down with my boyfriend, the animals and my music. Let's be honest, that is not healthy. I am having entire conversations with the bathroom frog y'all! Everywhere you turn it is gloom, doom and people want to fight.

So you know what, I am going to be surfing our forums. We are still working on a lot of things behind the scenes and the forum update is still down the road a bit, but I am looking for people who just want to talk about their animals and leave the other stuff behind.

Do you have some awesome pairings coming up this season? What are you keeping? Heck, how did you survive this cold? And while I don't want to deal with the fighting, I am game for a good debate so tell me what do you think of kingsnake hybrids?

Yeah, it is a bit outdated, but that is a nostalgic charm. Let's give ourselves the escape to a simpler place where the biggest fight we had was over localities and hybrids. I hit the test forum to play a little and grabbed a few screen shots of our tips and toys section and the body of a message I posted. You will find that after the bump.

PHFaust is in Da House. Let's play my kiddies. I'll see you on the forums. Continue reading "Wisdom Wednesday - The Forums - The water is warm... Come on in!"

Kingsnake.com Past, Present and Future

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 02:13:00 -0600

Clint and Zac of Colubrid and Colubroid Radio will chat with Jon to discuss Kingsnake's past, present and future.

4:30pm Pacific Time

Check it out!

IHS Celebrates 50 years

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:24:00 -0600

The International Herpetology Society celebrates 50 years this year.

This is a HUGE milestone for a foundational pilar of the hobby.
Half a century. 5 decades.

If you're not familiar, check out the IHS and their contributions to our hobby and community.

https://www.iherpsymp.org

End of January 2026

(kingsnake.com) — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 15:59:00 -0600

End of January 2026:
What a month, this one flew by with exciting moments here at kingsnake.
We made it to our first expos on the west coast, RSS and PACNWRS.
We are humbled and so thankful for your support, posting and sharing about us, inviting us to your podcasts, posting to kingsnake classifieds, and purchasing our new merch, THANK YOU!
We were able to release a mobile friendly version of our classifieds and got to dig deeper into what our community needs and wants.
We are so pleased to have had a chance to meet with some of you in person, share stories and chat about kingsnake’s past and future.
You all are so creative and inspiring and we would not be here without your support.

Thank you for an amazing January!

What was YOUR favorite reptile, amphibian or invert moment from January?
(Maybe dream animals locking, or finally old enough to pair this year??? Was it something incredible you found at an expo? New friend? Something you learned??)

Fun Fact Friday - Green Tree Monitor

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 02:45:00 -0600

Fun Fact Friday
Green Tree Monitor

Comment below, what is your favorite fun fact about green tree monitors?

While you consider your comment, enjoy this fantastically framed photo of a Green Tree monitor.

Photo taken by kingsnake user slither savvy

The Evolution of the Osteoderm discovered

(Cindy Steinle) — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 02:45:00 -0600

While skin bone plates are well studied in crocodylians (shown here in a gharial, in purple), their presence in lizards and snakes has long remained poorly understood. CT data provided by Jaimi Gray (2022, UF 33421) via MorphoSource.

With the horrible weather, it seems a great time to get into this study that looks at the how and why of osteoderms or the bony skin plate that many reptiles have and this awesome study gets deep into it!

The original belief was that animals with the bony plated scales all had a similar ancestor, but now with modern technology that has been disproven. So what was the origin?

We found that most lizards first evolved osteoderms during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, more than 100 million years ago. At that time, some of the most iconic dinosaurs roamed the Earth, including the towering Brachiosaurus, the fierce Allosaurus, and the plate-backed Stegosaurus.

The climate and ecosystems were changing rapidly, creating new challenges and opportunities. Armour may have helped lizards survive predators, cope with harsh environments, or move into new habitats.

There was one species that decided to shift gear, lose plates, only to regrow them later. To learn what that was, you gotta read the article! For that, click here!

PACNWRS Expo Jan 2026

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 00:39:00 -0600

What a weekend! Thank you to all who took the time to stop by the kingsnake booth at PACNWRS Puyallup and especially for your excitement that we're here for you!

We appreciate each of you, love hearing your stories of past adventures on the site and your ideas of where to grow from here. Thank you all!

Even managed to take a few pictures this time

Here is one of Yasser, Nick Mutton and Jon Poff
Check the photo gallery for a couple more.

Diamondback discovered in new Texas county for first time

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 02:45:00 -0600

Greg Pandelis, collections manager at the ARDRC and coauthor of the latest scientific publication on the distribution of Texas reptiles. Photo from Fox4

Rumor has it rattlesnakes are everywhere in Texas, but the reality is quite different. Recently a Western Diamondback was discovered in a garage in Denton County, Texas which is out of their normal range. They typically are found more in the drier, desert areas of Texas rather than the more forested, which is where Denton County is located. The animal is now at University of Texas at Arlington’s Amphibian and Reptile Diversity Research Center (ARDRC).

Pandelis believes the snake came from a small undetected population within Denton County rather than migrating from neighboring areas.

"This is especially odd because of how common that snake generally is," Pandelis said. "It’s not something that usually eludes detection. So this specimen is very important and interesting because it will reform our understanding of not just where the species occurs in Texas, but maybe even what its habitat requirements are and what its limits are, as far as where it can occur and where it can’t. Having this individual snake preserved as a research specimen is so important because it will fill a gap in our understanding of this species and will be used in studies being done on Diamondback biology," said Pandlis.

To read the full article and learn how important citizen scientists can be, click here!

Expo Setup

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 04:48:00 -0600

PACNWRS Expo this weekend in Puyallup Washington.
Come by say hi and checkout the new merch!

Looking forward to visiting with you all in the PNW!

Did you have kingsnake at two expos in Jan2026 on your bingo card?

Reptiles greater than Golden Globes

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 02:34:00 -0600

Photo Credit: : Frank C. Müller/wikimedia commons, Bryan Berlin/Wikimedia Commons

When Rose Byrne received her Golden Globe she made sure to tell everywhere why her husband was not at her side.

"I want to thank my husband Bobby Cannavale who couldn't be here," Byrne said. "We're getting a bearded dragon and he went to a reptile expo in New Jersey. Thank you, thank you baby."

While she seems apprehensive about feeding crickets, Rose, we got you, they also eat vegetation and more of that than bugs down the road. And they eat more bug than crickets! We would love to help teach you more.

Also WHO SOLD THE BEARDIE! Are you on here! Tell us! HA! The last time a reptile show made this much of a stir was when Leonardo DiCarpiro bought a Sulcata from NARBC.

To read the article we grabbed the info from, click here.

Meander Monday

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 11:29:00 -0600

Happy Meander Monday,
Mosey on over to our new Mobile friendly classifieds and Make yourself happy seeing some cool animals and our Make over.

Here's a screenshot of Goatsby's gila monster ad in kingsnake's new mobile friendly view.

Click MOBILE up top to see our new mobile friendly classifieds.

Update: Release mobile friendly!!

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 16 Jan 2026 02:36:00 -0600

Release the
MOBILE FRIENDLY KINGSNAKE SITE!!

You asked, and you shall now receive.

Up by our logo, click on mobile
And be transported to the first iteration of a new mobile friendly kingsnake!!!

ONLY the classifieds are currently updated.
BUT HEY!
You can upload a photo from your phone and we'll resize for you.
YUP our development team is amazing!!

Go scroll, post and enjoy kingsnake's classifieds!

Photo is a water moccasin that was being released by BowieKinfe357, posted to kingsnake photo gallery.

Reptile Super Show Pomona California

(Jon Poff) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:20:00 -0600

Thank you for the incredible Welcome Back at Reptile Super Show in California this last weekend!

It was delightful to meet sooo many of you. Thank you all for your support.
I loved chatting with you and loved when you came back around to show me what you picked up. Thoroughly enjoyed hearing your ideas to make kingsnake better, I'm listening.
Your fun stories of growing up on kingsnake and your thanks and excitement that kingsnake remains, and is being updated made the weekend a complete success.

We are back for real!
Stay tuned, updates will be rolling out 'super' soon

Jon

Kingsnake.com at Pomona Reptile Super Show

(kingsnake.com) — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 02:26:00 -0600

Kingsnake is at the Reptile Super Show January 10th and 11th

Come see us!

Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 02:15:00 -0600

This Tantalizing green Tree python Thoughtfully Theorizing Terrific Thoughts Toward you This Thursday

Originally posted to kingsnake by counter09

Herp Photo of the Day : Wrestling Wednesday

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 02:21:00 -0600

Wrestling Water Monitors Welcoming you to Wednesday

Kingsnake's new logo

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 02:35:00 -0600

How many of you eagle eyes spotted the sneak peek at our new logo?

Well here it is for you front and center!
Additionally here is our new logo with our current grey banded kingsnake inspired mascot.

All of this was drawn by an artist who's been a reptile enthusiast for +30years. No AI, drawn by an artist.

Come see us at Pomona Reptile Super Show this weekend and say hello!

Monday Mentions

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 03:06:00 -0600

Monday Mentions

THANK YOU to all the people who've been sharing about Kingsnake!

Today we change our policy. To date kingsnake has not shared those who share us. After careful consideration, we have decided to re-share or thank everyone we can who shares about us.

Kingsnake is for everyone. We appreciate everyone who's spreading the word KS is updating to be what you need and to be your central hub with Classifieds, forums, events / expos, real people to chat and discuss with and more.

We'll start re-sharing what you all are sharing about us.

Shout out to a bunch we have seen:
Jeremy Turgeon - Thank you for the amazing videos and shout outs
Yasser Moustafa - Thank you for all the support and shout outs
Nick Burgener - Thank you for the comments and shout outs
Steve Angeli - Thanks for introductions to people who want to talk to us
Jeff Greene - Thank you for spreading the word
Mike Schultz - Maybe we are building rockets, great video.
Tyler Nolan - Thank you for posting about us and wanting to be involved
Aaron Pauling - Thank you for sharing so many of our posts
Gary Orner Jr - Thank you for the shares and spreading the word
Adam Grayson - Thank you for telling the Heloderma group to support us
Thank you Rodney Boalich and Spencer Vance for having us on your podcast.
Thank you Jeff Galewood and David Levinson, for having us on your podcast.
Thank you PACNWRS for the collaboration to support up and comers.

Thank you to so many others who have come to us to help, and/or have cool things in the works with us that we can't mention yet.

Who else have you seen sharing us?
The internet is vast, we want to see the greatness you all post and say thanks.

Supporting Up and Coming Breeders in the PNW

(kingsnake.com) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 11:05:00 -0600

Kingsnake is very excited to have been asked by PACNWRS to partner in supporting up and coming youth and young adults in the community.

Vending expos is complex. Especially your first one.
PACNWRS and Kingsnake are running a contest to help an up and coming youth or young adult to vend their first expo.

The winner will receive a booth at PACNWRS Expo, help from PACNWRS and Kingsnake to design their logo, $250 for materials (banner, etc) and have their booth placed next to Kingsnake so they'll have support all weekend.

Apply now.
Share the link with up and comers in the Pacific NorthWest.
Spread the word.

Supporting Up and Comers - PACNWRS & Kingsnake

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 03 Dec 2025 12:12:00 -0600

Kingsnake is very excited to have been asked by PACNWRS to partner in supporting up and coming youth and young adults in the community.

Vending expos is complex. Especially your first one.
PACNWRS and Kingsnake are running a contest to help an up and coming youth or young adult to vend their first expo.

The winner will receive a booth at PACNWRS Expo, help from PACNWRS and Kingsnake to design their logo, $250 for materials (banner, etc) and have their booth placed next to Kingsnake so they'll have support all weekend.

Apply now
Share the link with up and comers in the Pacific NorthWest.
Spread the word.

Herp Photo of the Day - Venomous Friday

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 02 Jan 2026 02:58:00 -0600

1, 2, 26 ….
Lost count, the pacific giant centipede has way more legs than your typical king snake.

Scolopendra subspinipes - the Vietnamese or Pacific Giant Centipede

Happy Venomous Friday

Bye 2025

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:58:00 -0600

With 2025 in the rearview mirror.

We're very thankful for everyone who's reached out and supported the transition of kingsnake.com

We're excited and looking forward to our growth and evolution in 2026

Be on the lookout for sneak peeks and new things rolling out soon.

2025 Year End

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:58:00 -0600

2025 coming to an end, so lets go waaaay back

Here is the first picture posted to kingsnakes' photo gallery. Mexican Milk Snake.

Then, first post from a user, PerlNerd posted this Pin-Striped Spotted Python.

Have to post the hog island boa from khanley, the 3rd user to post to kingsnake's photo gallery.

Thank you all for ending another year with us.

Tongue out Tuesday

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:43:00 -0600

Tongue out Tuesday with a baby 3 band armadillo

Posted to our photo gallery by azotochtli in July 2005

Motivational Monday

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:43:00 -0600

What is your favorite substrate? Why?

Deep cleaning often makes you think "What are others using? Is there something better?" or "Out of all the substrates, this one is still my favorite"

Share what you were you thinking about your substrates last deep clean, or spot clean.
"That was literally just replaced and you went already?!"

Purple Albino Reticulated Python

Excited for 2026?

(kingsnake.com) — Sun, 28 Dec 2025 02:50:00 -0600

What expos are you most excited to attend in 2026?

We here at kingsnake are gearing up for Reptile Super Show and PACNWRS in January and looking forward to seeing your smiling faces in person.

Rumor has it, we might have stickers and other goodies available at our booth.

Checkout this Reptile Super Show photo from 2010!

Best gift you GAVE of 2025?

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 12:19:00 -0600

As we reflect on the end of 2025, what is the best gift you GAVE this year?

These Uroplatus henkeli gave the gift of hatching to gekkotaculture.
Congratulations!

Henkel's Leaf Tail Gecko uploaded by gekkotaculture

Dart Frogs Herp Photo of the Day

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:12:00 -0600

Most of us are familiar with 'poison' dart frogs, sometimes called arrow frogs.

Are you aware that after a few generations in captivity, dart frogs are generally no longer considered poisonous?
It appears to be something they eat in the wild.

What do you think they consume in the wild that creates their toxicity?

Thoughtful Tegu Tuesday

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:32:00 -0600

Thoughtful Tegu Tuesday

Shiva the Tegu, hanging out being awesome.
Originally posted to kingsnake December 2006 by musicloverhoney.

Did you know that Argentine Black and White Tegus are somewhat endothermic? They have periods where they can generate their own body heat like a warm blooded animal.

Make us Smarter Monday

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:21:00 -0600

Make Us Smarter Monday

Scientists infused prey items with isotopes they could track to find out where the energy used during digestion of a meal comes from.

The data showed that the initial energy used to digest a meal is provided from the snake’s energy stores for a period of several hours. At a certain point during digestion, fuel switching occurs and the rest of the process is completed using energy consumed from the meal itself.

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Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Rattlesnake Friday!

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 17:04:00 -0600

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! How stunning is the red on this Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus mitchellii pyrrhus), uploaded by kingsnake.com user lichanura ! This Speck was found in Arizona. Be sure to tell them you liked it here! As always on Friday, we celebrate all of our venomous reptiles for their contribution to the world.

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Herp Photo of the Day: Milk Snake

(kingsnake.com) — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 10:55:00 -0600

This awesome collage in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bslugger551 shows some the amazing variety in Sinaloan milk snakes! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Herp Photo of the Day: Tokay Gecko

(kingsnake.com) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:08:00 -0600

This lil Tokay in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user bloodpythons_MAwould be way more fun to find in a tree than a squirrel!

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Herp Photo of the Day: Chameleon

(kingsnake.com) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 10:52:00 -0600

This chameleon in our herp photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user 1sun is getting ready to grab a snack I think!

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Herp Photo of the Day: Bearded Dragon

(kingsnake.com) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 11:40:00 -0600

These lil beardies are ready to have fun sledding in our Herp Photo of the day, uploaded by kingsnake.com user ginag! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

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Herp Photo of the Day: Happy Rattlesnake Friday!

(kingsnake.com) — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 11:30:00 -0600

Happy Rattlesnake Friday! Loving this close up of a Massasauga Rattlesnake is in our herp photo of the day uploaded by kingsnake.com user venombill is no exception! Be sure to tell them you liked it here!

We celebrate #RattlesnakeFriday to celebrate the wonderful venomous species that contribute to making our world greater and also use it as a way to support conservation efforts to protect these species worldwide!

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