There are many different species of Kingsnakes and Milk snakes which are found native in north and central America. It is said that they got their name because of the fact that they eat other snakes. They are thought to be immune to the venom of some viper species, such as rattlesnakes.

The average lifespan of a king snale is 15-20 years.

Housing
Vivariums: 
King Snakes are quite active, but do not need huge enclosures. A medium sized vivarium will house your King nicely. The vivarium should allow a minimum of 1 square foot of floor space to each foot of snake and be approximately a third of the snake’s length in height.

All snakes need a selection of environmental enrichment such as a place to hide in, branches and rocks to climb on. There are a few different types of substrate you can use such as Aspen and woodchip which needs to be cleaned out as and when needed.

Temperature:
Kingsnake’s  are cold blooded and get heat from their surroundings. The ideal temperature for you snake's vivarium is a temperature gradient of 21-32°C, (making sure that there is a hot end and a cool end.)

Thermometers at each end of the Vivarium can be placed to monitor the temperature range. The overall temperature can be controlled by a thermostat which will keep the tank at a consent temperature. If you use a heat bulb rather than a heat mat a bulb guard must be put in the tank to prevent the snake from burning itself.

Lighting:
Unlike lizards, kingsnakes do not need UV light to survive so no light is actually needed in the vivarium but a strip light on 8-12 hours a day promotes the natural day/night cycle.

Cleaning:
Kingsnakes are relatively easy to care for, as they defecate rarely, so with regular spot cleaning a full vivarium clean out should only be necessary every 3-5 weeks. When you clean out the housing, disinfect the inside of the vivarium with a weak disinfectant solution or a reptile safe product.

Feeding and Water
Kingsnakes feed on mice appropriate to the size of their mouth. A prey item should be approximately the same width as one and a half times the size of the corn snakes head.

Hatchling Corn Snakes start on pinky mice, one every 5-6 days and graduate up to an adult mouse every 7-14 days as they grow. You may also feed your Kingsnake on chicks and fertilized quail eggs to provide a variation in diet, although these are not recommended as a staple diet as these will not contain all the beneficial nutrients and minerals that rodents have.

Fresh water should always be available.

Handling
It is important to handle your kingsnake regularly to help build a relationship with him. Saying this it is best not to handle him/her on the same day as you feed it as this could stress the snake and deter it from eating or make it regurgitate its food.

Shopping List

• Vivarium
• Heat Bulb/heat mat
• Thermometers x2
• Water bowl
• Thermostat
• Substrate
• Pet-Safe Disinfectant
• Environmental

Some reptiles carry a form of salmonella, but is usually contacted by ingestion. Good hygiene and washing your hands after handling or cleaning out your lizard should be good enough to prevent any risk of infection. 

We guarantee all animals purchased are healthy and feeding unless noticed at the time of sale. As we cannot be held responsible for their husbandry requirements once they have left us, we only continue this guarantee for 24 hours after purchase. To deter impulse buying we will not give full refunds/exchanges for animals returned for non-health related problems, we reserve the right to charge up to 50% of the purchase price as a handling fee. Please note: this does not mean we will leave you high and dry! We will do our best to help whatever the circumstances.