If you use this type of substrate you will have to place your snake in a secure area to feed it you do not want it to ingest any of the shavings.Īt least once a month, all shavings should be removed and disposed of, and the entire enclosure cleaned and disinfected before new shavings are placed inside. Be sure to remove soiled substrate as soon as possible urine-soaked material will become a breeding ground for bacteria, which could harm your King Snake. If you use aspen shavings the urine and feces can be scooped out with a cat litter scoop, and replaced with fresh aspen as needed. The shavings cannot be cleaned and so have to be removed and replaced with fresh shavings when dirty. With King Snakes, there are a couple of different substrates that can be used:Īspen shavings may be used for King Snakes. Warning: King snakes are known for their cannibalistic tendencies, so it is important that they are always housed individually to avoid any mishaps. They will feel more secure in a suitably sized vivarium, which should be around 4ftx2ft for an adult, dependant on how big your King Snake grows. King Snakes may grow up to 6ft in length, but do not necessarily need a large vivarium. King Snakes are very strong and can push a loose fitting lid from a vivarium. Make sure your vivarium or tank has a tight fitting lid, which can be clamped down. Hatchlings should start out in an appropriately sized small vivarium or RUB (Really Useful Box) as they can become stressed and stop feeding in an oversized vivarium.Īll Snakes are excellent escape artists, so care must be taken when planning their housing. The vivarium should allow a minimum of 1 square foot of floor space to each foot of snake and be approximately a third of the snake’s length in height. A medium sized vivarium (Even a fish tank with a tight fitting lid) will house your King nicely. King Snakes are quite active, but do not need huge enclosures. Never handle your snake straight after a feed, as it will regurgitate its meal. Wild rodents carry parasites and should be avoided at all times.
Shop brought frozen rodents are available from most pet shops or bought over the internet these can be thawed to room temperature and make an excellent all round food for your snake. You may also feed a mature King Snakes on day old chicks to provide a variation in diet.ĭo not feed your snake with live food, even a small mouse may bite or injure your snake. Very large snakes may require 2 adult mice per feed or even the introduction of larger prey items such as rats. Hatchlings start on pinky mice, one every 5-6 days and graduate up to an adult mouse every 7-10 days as they grow. The rodent should be of a appropriate size in comparison to the size of their mouth and be large enough to leave a bump in your King Snakes body once ingested. King Snakes in the wild will eat a very varied diet of rodents, birds, amphibians and other reptiles (including other snakes), but King Snakes in captivity can be fed entirely on mice or rats and still be healthy. Many of the common kingsnakes are normally diurnal (active by day), but when summer temperatures are high they often become more active by night to avoid the heat of the sun. The climate in their native homeland is quite dry, so they prefer low humidity levels in their habitat. Habitat: Common Kingsnakes are usually found in mountain regions, desert savannahs and occasionally in sparsely forested woodlands. Origin: Most of the common King Snakes are native to North America, but some are also found in South America too. Life Span: 15 years is average for a King Snake in captivity, but it is not uncommon for them to reach 20 years with appropriate care. Size: Common Kingsnakes are the largest of the kingsnakes and can grow up to 6 ft in Length, with the average being about 4ft. Either colour variation can be equally striking, that is why kingsnakes have such a great appeal. The colour variation between the different sub-species of common king snakes are so diverse that they can be either vibrant colours like the bright yellow on black of California Kingsnakes or be simply pure plain black like the Mexican Black. Breeders have also developed many new varieties of colours, so trying to describe a common colouring for a kingsnake has become even more difficult. As there are so many different sub-species of Common King snake, these figures may vary a little depending on the type of King Snake you have, but in general.Ĭolouring: King snakes come in every colour imaginable, which is why they have become popular has pets.
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