Brightly banded king snakes and milk snakes are very popular in the pet trade. They range from black or brown and white banded to brilliantly red and orange, and some have been bred with aberrant or unusual patterns (striped or patternless). Most species are calm and docile in temperment and readily eat prekilled rodents in captivity.

In some cases king snakes may have evolved their bright and beautiful patterns to mimic other local snakes which are dangerously venomous, such as coral snakes. In other cases, king snakes from one area may resemble venomous snakes from another locality because they have evolved similar patterns in response to other factors in their environment. Several species of king snakes can also be found in Florida in the wild.

Whatever the cause of these look-alikes, keep in mind that if you do not know the identification of a pet snake you find in a Florida home, do not assume that it is harmless. The chances are very good that it is, since the harmless snakes are much more commonly kept than the look-alike venomous species. But if you're not sure, do not handle the animal. Click here to learn about banded kraits, which can occasionally be found in Florida snake collections.

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