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Information On King Snakes
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Information On King Snakes
Are you looking for information on king snakes in captivity? If so, you've come to the right place!
In captivity king snakes can and should be kept very much like the information provided at this site on
keeping corn snakes.
A thermal gradient should be provided with a basking spot of 25-28 degrees C with hatchlings being happy with a small hatchling snake box or aquarium.
It's an important point to remember that snakes are generally secretive animals and providing your king snake with masses of room may well make him or her feel quite uncomfortable.
Whilst I'm not suggesting you keep your king snake in a match box, the best information on king snakes
suggests using reasonably small containers - no more than 30cm x 20cm for a hatchling and moving up to around 90cm long by 30-45 cm wide for adults. In addition, ensure there are always
hiding places available for your pets.
I personally have found king snakes to be more active than corn snakes and my own specimens have always kept me amused dashing around the cage.
It is important to say that whilst king snakes are not arboreal (unlike some rat snakes they are very strong
and can easily crawl some considerable distance up the side of the cage so in contrast to some other information on king snakes I always
suggest a reasonably tall cage (30 - 45cm high) and a very tight-fitting lid to prevent escapes.
Indeed, many aquariums (ideal for keeping king snakes in, minus the water obviously) have a small "shelf" of glass a few centimetres below the top of the tank.
This is intended for fish keepers, so they can rest a condensation guard on it to their light fittings don't get damp, but when not used for this purpose, such as when keeping king snakes
in them, it is not unusual to look into the cage and spend quite some time worredly looking for your king snake before you realise
he's balanaced up on this shelf at the very top of the cage!
It's important to note when discussing information on king snakes that some king snakes can be cannibalistic - that is they may eat other king snakes as well
as their normal diet of mice in captivity.
I've never risked putting two king snakes together except for breeding purposes (and even then under close watch!) so have never experienced it myself
but I have read numerous stories from both captivity and the wild and so strongly suggest you do as I do
and keep your king snakes in solitary confinement otherwise you might end up with a nasty surprise one morning.
I found the following pictures of a king snake eating a garter snake almost as big as it is to reiterate the point - keep king snakes on their own. These pictures are on the
excellent KingSnake.com website.
You have been warned!
Lastly, if you're looking for plenty more information on king snakes I strongly suggest you join our community of likeminded individuals where you'll
have access to post any questions you have, receive a free newsletter, you'll get a free book on keeping reptiles and amphibians in captivity and plenty more.
To sign up just click here.
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