California kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula californiae, are one of the most popular species in the pet snake industry today. Substrate is key to a happy Cali King. Kingsnakes hatch from eggs at between 8-12 inches long. Though some things can be out of your control, proper care is crucial for the health and wellbeing of your pets. California Kingsnake Care Level While California Kingsnakes are highly adaptable, most species need to have an easily secured food source consisting of rodents. Using a full-spectrum fluorescent light (one that produces both UVA and UVB rays) will give your snake about 10 hours of light each day. Since the albino kingsnake is usually bred under a controlled environment, I would advise you to get yours from a breeder rather than a pet store. They can live for 20+ years if provided with the right living conditions and kept free of health problems. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo describes the California kingsnake as having shiny black scales with bright white markings. For the hot side, heat it to 88 – 90 degrees and add a hide so your snake can curl up and bask in the warmth. Rule of thumb, you’ll need a 20 gallon cage or enclosure for your California King Snake. California kingsnakes make great pets, are easy to care for and fun to breed. This is known as "cycling" snakes. California Kingsnake Care Sheet A water dish is necessary, and the water should be replaced and the dish cleaned frequently to ensure clean, fresh, drinking water. The king of snakes: If you've lived in California for a while, chances are good that you've encountered a kinga kingsnake, that is! Your snake might try to wrap themselves loosely around your fingers or wrist. According to the Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 29% of diet items eaten by California kingsnakes they studied in the wild were mammals, 29% were snakes, 25% were lizards, 11% were birds, 4% were squamate eggs, 1% were unidentified squamates, and 1% were amphibians. Although a thermometer isn’t necessary, it’s good to have one side of the tank be around 68-74 degrees and the other side of the tank to be around 82-87 degrees Fahrenheit. By looking after your California kingsnake properly, you’ll be able to maximize the lifespan of your pet snake. The California kingsnake is a nonvenomous snake endemic to the western United States and northern Mexico. Should I worry. You can start off smaller if you want – but know that you’ll have to upgrade down the road. While you don’t want something too small, you don’t want something that’s too big either. California Kingsnakes are diurnal constrictors that are also skilled and aggressive hunters. So you’re probably pondering about if California King Snakes make a good pet. * Full grown California King Snakes typically grow to between 3-4 feet long. Unlike Aspen shavings, cedar shavings are not good for your snake’s health. A family of snakes well known for their ability to resist venom and eat venomous snakes.. Black Kingsnakes get their name because of their black and deep brown coloration. In most cases, wild caught snakes have a high likelihood of having some type of ailment. Keep your cage clipped/locked so your snake escape. Even rattlesnakes are on the menu, which is why it’s known as the ‘king’. Albino Banded California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae) Albino California Kings are really pretty snakes. On the other hand, if you have your snake in the basement, it will need special lighting made for reptiles. If you have to compromise to save some money, we listed out some popular alternatives below. Your preference will likely come down to the overall look, price, and security of the vivarium. I’ve always been fascinated by snakes and reptiles. I hope that you find this website useful! For now, if you’re planning on converting an old fish tank, be sure it’s a long, narrow 20 gallon tank as opposed to a tall, wide one. Always a solid choice going with this option. That said, if you want to make sure you’re giving the best care to your Cali King, take it to a vet for a checkup. Snakes can be fed two small adult mice every 7-10 days. Here are some of the best substrates available to use: Whichever substrate you choose to use, you’ll need to replace all the material from the vivarium at least once a month so that it’s fresh, clean and healthy. Snakes at Sunset has beautiful kingsnakes for sale that feed on frozen thawed mice of appropriate sizes.The kingsnakes for sale are all well started babies unless noted.. Nuevo León Kingsnakes (Babies) Nuevo León Kingsnake (Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri) A.K.A. Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment. This is easily the best cage for a California King Snake available. Well, this one’s for you. Prepare to take care of your California King Snake for a long time. But now, you need to figure out what type of enclosure is best for this particular breed. California kingsnakes are one of the most commonly kept pet snakes, and for good reason. This is perhaps the most important information you’ll need to know about California King Snake care. California kingsnakes are generally calm, mild, and docile. This will help lubricate the skin so that it comes off easily. And being from warmer climates, heat lamps should be used to provide the right level of heat. (fuzzies ). After observation, they found that kingsnakes subdue prey snakes by constriction before swallowing them headfirst. No! The California Kingsnake (L. californiae) is found in the southwestern United States, from California eastward to Arizona. By feeding your snake more than you should, it will get longer instead of fatter. He is the friendliest, happy snake I’ve owned. The good thing about these snakes is that they don’t get too large, but they also aren’t too small. Another important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t handle your snake after you’ve touched their food, as it may bite you. Additional Photos: Heck, I started my baby Cali King off in a shoe box cage… Later on, you’ll see our recommended setup. Meaning they will eat rodents, frogs, lizards… and other snakes. Habitat: King Snakes love hiding spaces and branches to climb on. Pinkish ground color, often with faint purple overtone with contrasting yellow or yellowish white bands. California Kingsnake Care Sheet Printable Version Of This Care Sheet Temperature Level Tank Temperatures: The tank should have a basking (warm) side of 90F – 95F, and an ambient (cool) side that hangs around 80F – 85F. There are two main times when California Kings should not be handled. We don’t recommend that you feed your California kingsnake live mice. Extensive Care Guide for California King Snakes - Housing, Heating, Lighting, Breeding Kingsnakes, Morphs, Genetics and more! Although these are our most recommended products, there are plenty of other alternatives. Wait until their food baby (or mouse bulge) goes away until handling. When it comes to the enclosure for your California kingsnake, you have plenty of choices. According to ScienceDirect, California kingsnakes are ophiophagous, as they are able to ingest prey snakes that equal or exceed their own length. Especially for first timers. The California kingsnake is one of many subspecies of the common kingsnake. My Cali King I had for ~15 years was such a friendly snake, I miss him a lot! It has plenty of space and doors that open in the front (great for easy feeding). (More on reasons why below). It’s large, doesn’t emit odor (never buy substrate with odor), and allows them to burrow. Kingsnakes are adept climbers, and excellent swimmers, found in just about any type of environment, from swamps to grasslands. If your snake lays around the edge of the tank and doesn’t cover more than 2/3 of the distance … If this is the case, remove them from their vivarium, pop them in the water bowl and then fill it with water. Here’s one of our favorite California King Snake hides, and it should do the trick. Kingsnakes are adept climbers, and excellent swimmers, found in just about any type of environment, from swamps to grasslands. With attractive patterns and very easy care, they are fast becoming a … It still will spray you if you pick it up. Lucky for you, this breed will be in most local pet stores that supply snakes. It’s really important you don’t guess the temperatures as you probably won’t get them right. Happyserpent.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Thayer's Kingsnake & Variable Kingsnake *Various colors available. They are low maintenance, very rarely bite, and don't mind being handled. California kingsnakes are very adaptable when it comes to the humidity of their enclosure. If they wrap too tight, simply unwrap them gently and slowly from their tail end. California King Snakes hatch at about 8-12 inches. Snakes will do this naturally — just make sure the bowl isn’t too deep so that they can easily get in and out of it. These slithery little fellows are easy to maintain, don’t get too big, and are typically friendly and docile. This is actually a very important step. King snakes have been known to be cannibals, too. This is because your snake could get nervous about the extra space available to it. For the basic care of California kingsnakes this kind of natural drop in temperature is sufficient. I would like to state when Cinnamon went through a growth spurt he would get hangry and I finally realized he needed to eat more. Your snake should be able to stretch out inside their enclosure. They are common in a variety if habitats, and are frequently caught and kept as pets by local youngsters. To ensure proper California King Snake care, you’ll need to make sure it has plenty of places to hide away. High quality and affordable Kingsnakes for sale. See for yourself and check out the above link to explore different frozen mice options. Below is a chart of every piece of your California King caging you’ll need. California Kingsnake Care Guide 1. It’s also essential that your vivarium has good ventilation to stop the build-up of harmful bacteria. This is perfectly normal, so stay calm. This means your snake is unlikely to get aggressive while getting used to its new home. I’ve owned a king snake since it hatched and he’s now about 5 years old. A baby albino California kingsnake can be sold for anywhere between $50 and $200 depending on the breeder and the snake’s appearance. Never use sand as a substrate. here they are: Now that you know proper California King Snake care, you can take the plunge into becoming a snake owner. While it may feel natural to you, grabbing your snake will cause stress, potentially leading to them biting or struggling to get away. California King Snake care is pretty easy when it comes to temperature. In total, expect to pay upwards of $350. Be sure when you handle this breed that you’re not in a stressful environment. For example, if you live in a house that needs constant air conditioning, you should think about choosing a glass enclosure that retains humidity and moisture otherwise the cage will become too cool. Now that you have all the tips and advice you need to effectively care for your California kingsnake, it’s time to go ahead and have some fun with your new companion. Exciting times are ahead! https://www.snakesforpets.com/california-kingsnake-care/. Call first, though – as some vets may not evaluate serpents. Try to maintain a healthy relationship with your snake. That's because they play a role in conditioning snakes for the breeding season. Short answer – yes! If you buy your California King Snake at a young age, you could have trouble feeding them live mice… or “Pinkies” at this stage. Required fields are marked *. Be sure you get the right mesh lid and clamps – and presto! Second, live mice can be potentially harmful to captive California King Snakes. They are not aggressive unless they feel threatened or are backed into a corner, and they also adapt to captivity well. That is not good for there digestive system and can cause regurgitation. This is what makes them so attractive as pets. This species is notoriously known for irregular eating patterns or even refusing food, but with the right care this problem is avoidable. They should be left to sit in there for around 15 minutes. This bedding is made from coconut chips that are large enough to not interfere with feeding. Keep it away from radiators or any other sources of draught and heat. California King Snakes make excellent pets, and they are a fairly common snake to own. Buy Kingsnakes For Sale. For convenience, you should try your best to make your snake take to frozen mice. I have a Cali King and it’s going on the 4th week of not eating ( unfrozen) fuzzies. There are some precautions you’ll need to take to make sure your snake is comfortable. 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