What do you think of California king snakes? Do they make good pets?

[pouchedrat]

I have a 3+ foot female, and a smaller juvenile male california king. They're really awesome snakes, one of my favorites! A while back I was rehoming some of my snake collection, deciding to just stick to my breeding western hogs, but I couldn't part with my cali kings, no matter what. I think it's just the dramatic black with white, and the ease of care, and they're much like a corn snake. My girl WILL have her moments when it's feeding time, she tends to jump out of the feeding tub at the tongs as soon as she smells it. Quite the aggressive eater, lol. Otherwise, she's calm and even my 7 year old can handle her fine. The male? completely docile, but he's also young.

 

[bchbum11]

They are great snakes, but slightly more unpredictable than a corn. I've been bitten my mine more than any snake in my collection, but most of the bites were from females in lay cycle that were just hungry. Even if one does bite it can't cause much damage. They'll hold on for awhile, but have relatively small teeth. It's honestly more cute than painful. They're beautiful, curious and interactive. I agree with pouchedrat... out of the several species I keep, the cali kings would be among the last to go if I had to choose.

 

[Tarantuloid]

I have a 3+ foot female, and a smaller juvenile male california king. They're really awesome snakes, one of my favorites! A while back I was rehoming some of my snake collection, deciding to just stick to my breeding western hogs, but I couldn't part with my cali kings, no matter what. I think it's just the dramatic black with white, and the ease of care, and they're much like a corn snake. My girl WILL have her moments when it's feeding time, she tends to jump out of the feeding tub at the tongs as soon as she smells it. Quite the aggressive eater, lol. Otherwise, she's calm and even my 7 year old can handle her fine. The male? completely docile, but he's also young.

You have Western Hogs too? Those are such awesome snakes! If they were't so expensive I'd consider getting one myself haha. Thats good to know about the California King being a laid back species, especially considering my last snake choice was almost a rat snake. Yeah that dramatic black and white makes them look so neat, I don't think I've seen them around here despite their status as a common reptile species.

---------- Post added 04-02-2013 at 09:52 AM ----------

They are great snakes, but slightly more unpredictable than a corn. I've been bitten my mine more than any snake in my collection, but most of the bites were from females in lay cycle that were just hungry. Even if one does bite it can't cause much damage. They'll hold on for awhile, but have relatively small teeth. It's honestly more cute than painful. They're beautiful, curious and interactive. I agree with pouchedrat... out of the several species I keep, the cali kings would be among the last to go if I had to choose.

That's interesting to know as well, how long do they bite for once they got your hand? Another thing I'd like to ask is why do you favor California King Snakes in your collection? Usually, I find breeders and snake owners getting bored with the "common" species of reptiles, the California King I hear is pretty common, but great looking snakes.

 

[Greenjewls]

California Kings are great pets. Most of the ones I encounter in the wild are as docile and tame as ones that are used to handling. I've never seen one strike at anyone who wasn't dangling food in front of it. They are great eaters, loving mammals, lizards, and yes they not only eat rattlers but seem to prefer them over anything else. The easiest way I've found to locate Cal Kings is to leave a dead rattlesnake in the yard, inevitably a king shows up and eats it, even if it has been dead over 24 hours. They will eat a rattler that is the same length as the king. They breed readily and are pretty easy raising from egg to adult. The one in the picture is really nice, they don't always have bright white and jet black, I've seen them chocolate brown with yellow stripe down the spine and I've also seen them 90% black and 10% white. I've seen them up to 6' long as well.

 

[Tarantuloid]

California Kings are great pets. Most of the ones I encounter in the wild are as docile and tame as ones that are used to handling. I've never seen one strike at anyone who wasn't dangling food in front of it. They are great eaters, loving mammals, lizards, and yes they not only eat rattlers but seem to prefer them over anything else. The easiest way I've found to locate Cal Kings is to leave a dead rattlesnake in the yard, inevitably a king shows up and eats it, even if it has been dead over 24 hours. They will eat a rattler that is the same length as the king. They breed readily and are pretty easy raising from egg to adult. The one in the picture is really nice, they don't always have bright white and jet black, I've seen them chocolate brown with yellow stripe down the spine and I've also seen them 90% black and 10% white. I've seen them up to 6' long as well.

Thanks for the information, it was incredibly accurate. Ironically, my cali kingsnake bit me the first day I brought him home (although it was extremely minor) but it was my own fault. He came with a rather unexciting set up so I decided to give him a place to hide and he didn't care for me trespassing that close.

I let him settle in for two days without handling and now, he is the nicest snake ever! Very gorgeous to look at overall, most of my family absolutely hates and fears snakes, but even they admitted he was a beautiful reptile haha.

I wasn't sure when the last time he was fed, so I tried feeding him for the first time and he won't eat. Any tips?

 

[bchbum11]

Let him settle in for a few more days, and find out what was working for the previous owners. What did you try to feed him (assuming a mouse, but f/t or live)?

 

[Tarantuloid]

Let him settle in for a few more days, and find out what was working for the previous owners. What did you try to feed him (assuming a mouse, but f/t or live)?

I asked a size recommendation for a 2-3 ft california kingsnake and the store gave me a small rat. I know snakes can ingest larger prey, but after opening the package, it seems like it's way too big. They said that california kingsnakes can easily eat a small rat, which might be true, but he's avoided it all day and all night.

What should I do with the uneaten rat?

EDIT: I contacted the owner and he said he fed him about two weeks ago so feeding should be right on schedule.

 

[bchbum11]

Dispose of the rat, even if you have something else you're tempted to feed it to. Bacteria buildup from being room temp for however long and the fact that it was in an enclosure with a snake that hasn't passed a quarantine period pretty much make it unfeedable to any other animal. If it looked too big to you, it may have looked too big to the snake also. Large cali kings will eat rats, but I don't see any reason to feed them. People try to switch boas/pythons over because 1 large rat is more cost effective than 3-4 large mice. On a 1 for 1 basis though mice are much cheaper, and even a good sized cali king can get by with 1 large mouse per feeding. I feed mine once a week btw. They have fairly high metabolisms compared to many snakes, and feeding every other week is probably not offering enough food. Especially at 2-3', when the snake is likely still a growing juvenile. Edit after reading the other thread running with this one. Aviara is right. 2 weeks isn't a long time to go without a meal when trying to switch to f/t, or when centered around a move. Once established and eating however, a twice a month feeding schedule would be on the lean side for these.

 

[Tarantuloid]

Dispose of the rat, even if you have something else you're tempted to feed it to. Bacteria buildup from being room temp for however long and the fact that it was in an enclosure with a snake that hasn't passed a quarantine period pretty much make it unfeedable to any other animal. If it looked too big to you, it may have looked too big to the snake also. Large cali kings will eat rats, but I don't see any reason to feed them. People try to switch boas/pythons over because 1 large rat is more cost effective than 3-4 large mice. On a 1 for 1 basis though mice are much cheaper, and even a good sized cali king can get by with 1 large mouse per feeding. I feed mine once a week btw. They have fairly high metabolisms compared to many snakes, and feeding every other week is probably not offering enough food. Especially at 2-3', when the snake is likely still a growing juvenile. Edit after reading the other thread running with this one. Aviara is right. 2 weeks isn't a long time to go without a meal when trying to switch to f/t, or when centered around a move. Once established and eating however, a twice a month feeding schedule would be on the lean side for these.

Don't worry, I disposed of the rat yesterday. Yeah I agree, I'm sure the rats are more cost effective and have more nutrients, but the overall size felt a little overwhelming compared to this cali king I have. So you think I should be feeding him every week in contrast to every other week?

 

[bchbum11]

Yeah, twice a month isn't enough food for king/milk snakes imo.

 

[Tarantuloid]

Yeah, twice a month isn't enough food for king/milk snakes imo.

I'm happy to announce that I finally got him to eat this morning haha.