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Do you want to bring a king snake into your home? Wondering if it’s a good choice? No need to stress. Many new snake owners, especially beginners, often ask are king snakes good pets. It’s common to feel a bit confused when introducing a new member to the family.
Known for their bright colors and active personality, king snakes are very popular in the pet trade. They have a calm demeanor and possess beautiful colorations. However, when researching king snakes for sale, there are many things you need to know before bringing one into your home. What are these? Let’s discuss this in detail below.
Morphology and Behavior
What does a king snake look like? King snakes attract reptile enthusiasts because of their beautiful physical characteristics. By appearance, they are colored brown or black with a combination of red, yellow, or lavender stripes along the length of the body. Besides vibrant body shades, they also possess sparkling chain-like patterns, giving them a shiny look.
Depending on the body color, you can find multiple varieties of king snakes, each with a unique shade or pattern. For instance, the Mexican black kingsnake has a solid black color on its body, making it a unique. Similarly, the hypo mosaic king snake comes in an attractive combination of black, yellow, and red colors. The list goes on, so you can easily choose the one that catches your eye.
Size and Habitat
Knowing the size can make it easier to figure out, are king snakes good pets. How? This is because when you have an estimate of how long your wiggly buddy measures, you can be in a better position to arrange resources for it.
How big does a king snake get? Generally, kingsnakes range from a minimum of 24 inches to a maximum of 60 inches in length. This, too, can vary depending on the gender and age of the king snake. Usually, female king snakes are larger than males. Thus, you have to prepare their habitat accordingly.
Regarding habitat setup, this pet snake needs a secure, medium-sized terrarium to adjust comfortably. Depending on the size, a 20 to 40-gallon enclosure could be great for your reptilian friend. Naturally, kingsnakes like to live in forests, shrublands, and deserts.
However, when kept as a pet, you can provide them with one or two hideouts in their artificial environment so they can enjoy their living space. Here are some additional habitat requirements you should know about:
Humidity: Are King Snakes Good Pets?
If you want to know, ‘’are king snakes good pets?’’, you should also know their survival requirements. They need 40 to 60% humidity to live in their enclosure for proper growth and maintenance. You can keep a medium-sized water bowl in their vivarium, or a humidifier can do the job.
Temperature
Being cold-blooded animals, kingsnakes depend on their surroundings to maintain their body heat. Thus, when keeping them as pets, ensure they are kept at an optimum temperature. Usually, a temperature ranging between 78°F and 85°F can work best for your reptilian buddy. This will help regulate their body’s metabolic levels and overall health condition.
Feeding Requirements
Looking at the dietary intake can answer your query of ‘are king snakes good pets?’. Generally, they are opportunistic feeders and thus get their food from multiple sources. You’ll be surprised to know that they also prey on venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes or copperheads.
However, when trying to mimic their natural diet, you can provide them with lizards, rodents, bird eggs, frogs, and other species of snakes. You can also add supplements to the dietary intake to fulfill their nutrition requirements. Plus, the feeding patterns can change depending on the age and size of your pet snake. Enlisted below is a guide to the feeding chart for kingsnakes:
- Baby king snakes or hatchlings need to be fed once every week as they are in the growing phase and require proper nourishment. You can provide them with small live or frozen-thawed mice.
- Adult king snakes can maintain a healthy weight while being fed every two weeks with a single meal. Feeding them once every two weeks will fulfill their nutritional needs. Excessive feeding can result in being overweight or other health issues for your wiggly companion.
Are King Snakes Good Pets? (Handling and Temperament)
Behavior and temperament is a crucial factors in determining ‘’Are king snakes good pets?’’. Usually, they are docile, active, and non-aggressive. Compared to other pet snake species, they possess a calm personality and do not bite or attack the owners.
Moreover, reptile enthusiasts love kingsnakes due to their gentle nature and non-aggressive behavior. This characteristic also makes them beginner-friendly and easy-to-handle pet snakes. With minimal care requirements, you can quickly form a lovely bond with your reptilian buddy and develop a lifelong companionship.
Life Expectancy
The answer to ‘are king snakes good pets?’ indirectly lies in the average life span. Surprisingly, they can live for over 20 years and have a longer survival ratio than other pet snakes. Considering the life expectancy, you can spend a long time with this attractive exotic reptile.
However, the lifespan can vary depending on how you care for them. For instance, if you provide them with proper food and a cozy habitat and fulfill their survival needs, you can easily spend more time with your buddy. Conversely, if the kingsnake is not cared for properly, its average life span can be reduced. Thus, make sure you meet their needs and you’re ready for a lifelong commitment.
Conclusion: Are King Snakes Good Pets
At this point, you might have gotten the answer to ’are king snakes good pets?’. They can be fantastic pet snakes if you handle them with care. Unlike other pet snake species, kingsnakes for sale come in multiple morphs, each displaying an attractive body coloration.
Above all, they have simple survival needs and do not demand much time from owners. You can keep them in your household without worrying too much about the dietary intake or habitat setup. They are also less likely to develop long lasting health issues when cared for properly.