The conflicts you hear in advice are due to the differences in opinions on husbandry of these animals. Some advice is good, some bad. It's all pretty much a matter of opinion though I'll give you my humble opinion on these subjects



(1. feed live or frozen? [Contrary to what I have learned, I have heard the argument; the only reason you feed frozen is for convenience. Animals however enjoy "a kill" and should be given live (at least once in a while) and “always” if the animal is off its feed.)

The main reason people suggest and swear by frozen or pre-killed is not only the convenience but safety of the snake. Rodents don't like being bitten and constricted so they fight back. Most of the time it's to no avail but sometimes the rodent gets lucky and can give a really nasty bite and a rodent bite is full of bacteria and will normally cause infection and a pretty heavy vet bill. Yet if you know that risk and are kind of sadistic and want to watch your snake kill it's prey than it's not any different than the snake having to do it in the wild. "NEVER leave a live rodent wandering in the cage it can potentially kill your snake" snakes are not too smart and will not kill the rodent to protect itself it will let the rodent gnaw on it and chew big chunks out of your snake. It's happened many, many times. Can't be too hard to find pictures online. Another reason is that the snake will become less aggressive interacting with you if it don't have to kill it's prey it's less likely to bite you with a mistaken feeding response if it don't have to kill.



2: Substrate-- what is the best for Kingsnakes? I have mine on Cyprus mulch but, have heard sand is better for kings.

What are the best substrates?

I totally agree with the guy that said sand is too dry for kingsnakes. Personally I find the best substrate in the world for almost everything to be newspaper. CHEAP!!, Easy to monitor fecal movements, Easy to clean, can help control humidity very well (dry or damp), and doubles for hiding for some that like burrowing under it.



3. Tank size – what’s appropriate (lets say for a four foot snake)

This is a species specific question. Depends on the species of the snake. Some species need more room than others. A smaller black racer will need more room than a constrictor larger than the racer. A kingsnake would need an enclosure that the length of the snake isn't longer than the length plus width of the cage.



4. Separate tanks vs. housed together?

This is a question that will cause alot of conflict in advice how you've put it. Alot of keepers especially in here will totally advise against it. The reasons are fairly obvious. One possible cannibalism, others being mainly health specific reasons. If one gets sick they both get sick, If a sign of one being sick is left in the habitat you don't know which is sick first. On the other hand it's no more a risk than the animal living in the wild. If you're willing to take the risk than it's truly your business if you know the possible risks involved. Kingsnakes are highly ophiophagus (snake eaters). If you take that risk of keeping them together. As nature sees it you may possibly end up with one fat snake rather than two snakes.



5. Hides- how many should they have?

I hear alot of people advise against a habitat that's too large for the snake. I find that kind of redundant beings the snakes true habitat is the face of this planet. Only agreement I would have would be it being harder to monitor the snakes health to quickly find regurgitated food items or fecal movements. Many claim it will stress the snake having too large a habitat. That won't happen if the animal feels secure (Plenty of places to hide). I agree with the guy that said as many as possible. You will find the snake will do best if it has a choice of hiding places throughout the habitat even if it chooses one mainly. You don't want the snake to choose between safety and comfort (humidity and temperature). I normally stuff paper towels in smaller hides and newspaper in larger hides to allow the snake to feel secure in the hide. It really don't do a tiny snake as much good as you'd think offering them a hide they lay under and don't actually feel secure. When they feel the paper towel or newspaper surrounding their body that helps make them feel safe.



I really hope I helped in some way to answer your questions. And remember that the differences in opinion are just that, just another opinion. Some are educated differences and some are uneducated differences. You just have to use your better judgment to decipher which is which.

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