• Tank – 20-40 Gallon
• Substrate – 10-36 qt
• Heating – overhead or undertank, if using an
undertank heater a
thermostat is required
• Digital Thermometer
• Water Dish – large enough
for the snake to fit inside
• 3 Hides
• Leaf litter/foliageKing Snakes require a large terrarium as an adult, such as a 40 gallon. Babies and juveniles can be kept in smaller terrariums, such as a 20 gallon long.
We suggest a soil and bark blend, such as coconut fiber and cypress mulch, to recreate a woodland floor. This helps maintain humidity and is easy to keep clean.
King Snakes need a hot basking site that reaches 86-95 degrees and a cooler area between 75-80 degrees. They appreciate a day and night cycle that mimics our own.
Overhead lighting should be turned off at night to maintain a day/night cycleKing Snakes do not require high percentage humidity. Light misting during shedding is all that should be needed. A large water bowl should be provided that the snake can fit its entire body in to soak.
All snakes are strictly carnivores, and the King Snakes feed weekly on rodents. The food item offered should be about as big around as the largest part of the snake’s body. Adult snakes will eat less often than juveniles, and all King Snakes may have decreased appetite in the winter.
King Snake’s should eat a prey item slightly larger than the circumference of the largest part of their body. The size of the head and neck can be ignored. A lump in the middle of the body should be apparent after feeding, if a lump is no longer seen it is time to move up the prey size. They generally eat once per week.
Live prey should never be left unattended with the snake. Frozen food must be completely thawed and warm before offering to the snake.
All snakes should be kept in their enclosure for feeding. It reduces the stress on the animals and makes them more likely to eat. Removing them from their caging does not make them less “aggressive” but can cause your snake to not want to eat.These snakes like to live in underbrush and enjoy having leaf litter and ground clutter to move through. They should also have several hiding places within the different temperature zones for security and thermoregulation.
Spot clean your snake’s enclosure daily, removing any feces, urates, or shed skin. Full substrate changes should be done every 6 months unless a bioactive setup is in place.
King Snakes are generally easy-going snakes, but can be a little timid and shy, especially as babies. During handling, their body should be evenly supported without allowing large portions to dangle. They will remain calm with less movement from the handler.
A snake should never be held for at least 24-48 hours before or after a meal.
They also should avoid being held while shedding.
Incomplete or flaky sheds occur when the snake is too dry. Simply increase the humidity and give the snake a soak during the shedding process to avoid this condition. The shed should come off in one piece.
Snake mites are the most common health concern encountered by snake keepers. Mites are transferred from snake to snake mostly through handling by multiple people. They can be prevented by washing hands before and after holding any snake. To treat mites, we suggest a combination of a topical treatment on the snake along with a deep clean and treatment of the terrarium. There are several products available for this.
King Snake
Kingsnake species inhabit the Americas from southeastern Canada to southern Ecuador
Their name originates from their tendency to eat other snakes, even venomous ones, in the wild. They are opportunistic feeders and will also eat lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs.
Throughout their range, the King Snake displays a wide variety of color and pattern, depending on the species and locale.
Like the vast majority of nonvenomous snakes, King Snakes constrict their prey before swallowing it whole.
If they feel threatened, they may rapidly vibrate their tail in imitation of a rattlesnake. They are generally reluctant to bite, but they may resort to that as a last resort to defend themselves.
Size: 20-72 inches
Lifespan: 15-25 years
Diet: Rodents
Care Level: Beginner
Temperament: Docile
Activity: Mostly Diurnal