King snake questions

[ballpython2]

A friend gave me mine I dont know anythin about this snake except the fact its aggressive and a great eater... So if anyone can tell me how many feet they think it may be and anything else thanks...

and I was told these snakes DONT need a hide..I have one in there but is it optional? I love looking at this black and white beauty.

By the way if it helps to determine the length of the snake that tank i have him in is a 29 gallon

 

[xBurntBytheSunx]

i would suggest using a hide, they like to be pretty secretive. mine stays buried in substrate unless its hungry

 

[johnharper]

I have several of them as well. Most of mine are in the 3 to 4 ft range but occasionally they do reach 6ft but its not too common.


John

 

[reverendsterlin]

looks like a fairly short vent to tail tip length, may have a girl there lol.
Rev

 

[ballpython2]

looks like a fairly short vent to tail tip length, may have a girl there lol.
Rev

Hmm i hope it is then maybe i can get a male and mate em..

 

[JohnEDove]

All snakes need some type of hide where they can feel concealed and safe.
Nice looking Cali.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

My cali king loves her hide. its not like they stay out in the open in the wild.

 

[Hedorah99]

Did no one else see the big cardboard box for the snake to hide in?

 

[crpy]

Alright I'll play nice, nice snake but I would switch to frozen

 

[froggyman]

nice snake but two things...first get a different hide..and two hides at that(one on the hot side and one on the cooler side) also you shouldnt be feeding live mice try to convert it to frozen/thawed

 

[ballpython2]

nice snake but two things...first get a different hide..and two hides at that(one on the hot side and one on the cooler side) also you shouldnt be feeding live mice try to convert it to frozen/thawed

yea on the mice, im gonna convert it but not to frozen thawed just more so pre - killed.

and these snakes are native to north america so they dont need a heat mat all so therefore there is no warm side or any cool side.

Just like when I had my four corn snakes none of them had a heat mat underneath the tank. And that was because they are native to north america and they did well without a heat mat or a heat lamp.

It stays in a humid / hot closet anyway all the time.

And why do I need a different hide box?

Its a size 11 shoe box so the snake fix in it with room left over.

However my ball python, Brazilian rainbow boa and my Boa constrictor all have heat mats because they are not native to this country therefore it would be harder for them to adapt without the belly heat.

 

[JohnEDove]

And why do I need a different hide box?

Its a size 11 shoe box so the snake fix in it with room left over.

However my ball python, Brazilian rainbow boa and my Boa constrictor all have heat mats because they are not native to this country therefore it would be harder for them to adapt without the belly heat.

The problem with that type of hide is the fact that it has too much room. Snakes like to hide in and under tight spaces rather than in dark open spaces where there is lots of room for possible harmful guests.
In the wild you find them either moving from place to place or in tight places like under boards, logs, etc.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

yand these snakes are native to north america so they dont need a heat mat all

I'm not sure I follow your logic - even snakes in the US will move from cooler spaces (under logs, in burrows, etc) to warmer spaces (in sunlight or on a warm surface, etc) to help them digest and keep their metabolism up - and go back to the cooler spaces when they start getting TOO warm. Being from the US doesn't change that. :?

 

[arrowhd]

Even snakes in the US will move from cooler spaces (under logs, in burrows, etc) to warmer spaces (in sunlight or on a warm surface, etc) to help them digest and keep their metabolism up - and go back to the cooler spaces when they start getting TOO warm. Being from the US doesn't change that.

Exactly. The animal cannot do this when confined in a cage. A heat pad on one end of the enclosure is needed to help provide this type of heat gradient.

 

[Hedorah99]

and these snakes are native to north america so they dont need a heat mat all so therefore there is no warm side or any cool side.

I give my garter snakes which are native to Connecticut heat lamps. I have no idea where you got the idea that it wouldn't need one being native to NA, especially a king snake which comes from a warmer climate. If you don't want digestive and respiratory issues with it, i would give it some heat.

 

[ballpython2]

I'm not sure I follow your logic - even snakes in the US will move from cooler spaces (under logs, in burrows, etc) to warmer spaces (in sunlight or on a warm surface, etc) to help them digest and keep their metabolism up - and go back to the cooler spaces when they start getting TOO warm. Being from the US doesn't change that. :?

Well for reason the native snakes I have / had always seem to do quite well in regular non heated conditions maybe it was cause the heat in my house is/was always on or something

Not sure what is it but it works for me.

And as far as the hide thing goes I will very much replace it and get a smaller one but i thought as long as the snake had a hide that it fit in, in general it would be less stressed out but ok. i'll change it when I find something smaller.

 

[Aztek]

in the wild they have acres to look for a cooler spot and a warmer spot.

in that tank they have only one constatn temperature.
no matter if it lives here in the u.s.