California and nearby states (including the Baja peninsula), all California
kingsnakes on the market are bred in captivity.
They come in a variety of colors.
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King snakes also come in a variety of names (like banana?).
LA Pic
Here's a little "banana" abut a foot long.
LA Pic
Another example. Actually called a desert king snake -- about three
feet long.
Cage: You can keep a
young kingsnake in a 10-gallon aquarium for a while.
For larger kings, we recommend larger quarters so they get the
exercise they need. Kingsnakes
prefer evening and night exercise periods, since they sleep during the
day. However, they quickly adjust to
your schedule. Give them something to
climb on. Wood and rocks also
give them rough surfaces to help them shed their skin at shedding time.
Hide Box. Always provide
any snake a hide box – preferably a small hide box. They need to
touch most of the sides to feel safe.
Temperature: Kingsnakes
do fine at room temp but prefer it in the eighties.
If yours stops eating, warm him up10 degrees.
LA
Pic
Thayer's Kingsnake.
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Ditto. About three feet long.
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Another Thayer.
Temperament: Kingsnakes
rarely bite people, but they will eat other snakes (including other
kingsnakes). Large kingsnakes
will even eat rattlesnakes – thus the name “king” snake.
These guys are also the Houdinis of the snake world.
Small kingsnakes almost always find a way to escape.
Secure their lid very tightly. Duct tape usually works as
long as they cannot touch it (and thus stick to it).
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Kingsnakes stay well within the easy-to-handle range.
Maximum Size. Adult
kingsnakes average 30 to 50 inches. Some
will grow larger.
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Pic
Another milk snake -- close relative to the kings
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All-You-Can-Eat Frozen pinkie buffet for milk snakes.
Foods: These skinny
little guys need to start life on pinkies (hairless baby mice).
Most breeders start kingsnakes on frozen pinkies.
Frozen (thawed, of course) rodents will keep your snake free of
unnecessary wounds. Frozen
foods also help keep your snake free of parasites.
Supplements: None
needed. Rodent-eating snakes
get their vitamin D3 from the rodent’s liver.
Lighting: Kingsnakes
appreciate a regular day and night schedule – without bright lights.
They also like a bulb that gives off heat at one end of their cage.
Careful. Make sure your
kingsnake cannot reach any bare bulbs.
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About a four-foot albino California kingsnake, striped version.
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Here's why the above king snake was soaking. Snake skins come off in
one piece.
Water: Kingsnakes need a
water bowl. Provide good
ventilation so their humidity stays low.
Remember that song that says, “It never rains in southern
California.” Hmm, you’re older than you look.
LA
Pic
Really limit handling them when they're ready to shed. They can't
tell what's out there.
Control Handling:
Excessive handling
of snakes causes them to feed poorly -- especially young ones.
Avoid handling your kingsnake after it eats, while it is shedding,
or after you cleaned your rats or mice.
If you smell like a rodent ... Otherwise, feel free to handle your kingsnake.
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Another attractive milk snake from Mexico.
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Two eye-catching snakes.
Last Word: Always wash
your hands thoroughly after handling any reptile. You can keep most
snakes together, but you never want to keep kingsnakes with smaller or
equal size snakes of any kind. LA.
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