Kingsnake

[Salamanderhead]

After doing research I went out and picked up a small kingsnake. Not sure the exact kind of kingsnake. I was told its been feeding on dead fuzzies and to feed it once a week.
The little guy is hiding in some artificial caves I made but he must have burrowed under a bit because I seen a tiny tounge flick out of the dirt. It was funny looking.

Im pretty sure I got the care down good from all the research I did but is there anyone here who know alot about snakes that could give me some tips for a newbie? I've only been collecting and caring for tarantulas for the best couple years.

I was told I need a UVB light along with heating. Is this true?

 

[StephanieH]

no light. You want a hot end (87-90)and cool end(78-80)of thetank.DO NOT use a heat rock!!! They get too hot and will burn your snake. Kings are masters of escape.It would help if you can post a pic of the snake and his enclosure. I'm sure someone can id him for you. Don't handle him for 48 hours after feeding. I have 5 of them.

Steph

 

[Salamanderhead]

So no UVB light? Ok that makes things a little easier for me. I'll post pics tommorow. I want to let it adjust to its new home for a little while first.

 

[StephanieH]

Nope, no light. In the wild they stay hidden most of the time. Don't handle him for a week to let him settle.

 

[Salamanderhead]

Ok thanks. I'll post pictures of the setup when I can.

 

[pitbulllady]

California Kings(the most common subspecies of L. getula available in captivity) don't need auxilliary heat, either, and neither do Eastern "Chain" Kings, unless you keep your house really cool. Both are adapted to cooler temperate climates. If it's a Desert King(L. g. splendida) or one of the Florida Kings, especially a L. g. brooksii, you might want a warm end in the 80-85 degree range. The Mountain Kings(L. zonata) really prefer cool temps, especially the California Mt. Kings. Knowing which species/subspecies you have would be very, very helpful in knowing how to care for it properly, since "King Snake" covers a pretty wide range of snakes, their habitats and habits. It's kinda like saying you have a "bulldog", but is it an American Bulldog, a French Bulldog, an English, or what? They're all very different.
Snakes do not need UVB light. This is a gimmick of pet stores to make more money by selling you needless materials.
See if you can take some pics of the little snakey and post them here, since I'm sure someone, if not me, can readily identify it for you, and knowing what you've got is the key to proper care.

pitbulllady

 

[Salamanderhead]

Thanks a lot for the comments. Should I take it out of its cave to get a picture or should I wait at least a few days? Currently I just have a red heat lamp hitting the outside of the glass. Its about 80-85 farenheit on the heated side and about 75-77 range on the cooler side.

 

[pitbulllady]

It won't hurt it to take a picture now. I took photos of the little foundling BRB right after I brought him home. With a captive-bred snake, having its picture taken shouldn't be that stressful, even in a new cage, and like I said, it IS important to know what kind of snake you have so you'll know if you are taking proper care of it. 85 degrees for an Eastern King or a Zonata will result in a regurging, if not non-feeding, snake, while it would be just right for a Desert King or a Brook's King. Florida Kings will need a lot more humidity, at levels that would cause problems for a splendida or a Cal King and probably kill a Gray-Band.

pitbulllady

 

[Salamanderhead]

Ok I got a few pictures. I had a brief handling session then put the snake back in its home where it quickly burrowed out of sight haha.
First time I've ever held a snake. Much different feel and movement than a tarantula! haha. Cool though.

So any idea of the species?

 

[pitbulllady]

Ok I got a few pictures. I had a brief handling session then put the snake back in its home where it quickly burrowed out of sight haha.
First time I've ever held a snake. Much different feel and movement than a tarantula! haha. Cool though.

So any idea of the species?

Yes, that's a Florida King. With this guy, higher temps are good, but make sure you keep up the humidity a bit, too. These tend to develop respiratory issues if kept too dry. In his case, the temp on the warm end is good. He won't keep that orange, though, unless he's from a strain that has been selectively bred to keep that; it will gradually fade to pale yellow or off-white with each shed.

pitbulllady

 

[Salamanderhead]

Cool thanks.What should the humidity range be or is it good enough to just have a water dish in there?

 

[pitbulllady]

Cool thanks.What should the humidity range be or is it good enough to just have a water dish in there?

These like around 65-70% humidity, which can easily be maintained by a large bowl of water in the cage. Most L. getula subspecies will have some problems with high humidity; Easterns are notorious for developing "scale rot", but Floridas and South Floridas do just fine.

pitbulllady

 

[Crysta]

beautiful snake u have there shane, great keeper !

 

[Salamanderhead]

Thanks.

Do these become more active and visible as they get older or adjust to the new home? .. or do they pretty much hide all the time?