First off, there are many approaches to keeping snakes, they depend on you.



Do you want to see what abilities kings have, or do you want a snake in a box.



Also, I cannot speak for others, but in reality, I do all the above. I feed some alot, others not so much, some I let go down/hibernate, others are active year a round.



Some I feed when they are hungry which means daily, others not.



Some are in sweater boxes and others nice cages with lots of options.



These kings use a temp range from the mid fifties to 100F hot spot. Which means the must be able to get totally to those temps and temps inbetween. or you can keep them in the low 80's and be happy(you)



Breeding or better yet the quality of breeding will indeed reflect how well you allow the animals to do what they want.



For instance if you give them the above choices and humidity thats normal to them and they hunt everyday, why would you not feed them? So if they hunt feed them. Then see what happens. If they have choices and you feed them when they are hungry, what could be wrong with that? True is, they will eat a whole lot and grow like weeds and reproduce to the best of their ability.



How well you support them is measured by growth, reproduction and longevity. Not one, or the other. All three.



Aside from those three areas, you can also enjoy their behavior. That is, how they behave with eachother. Which is the pairing and grouping we see. Or you can keep them solitary and time the animals. The first is natural, the second is about you.



When given temps choices, there is no need to do anyting but feed, clean and dig up eggs. Keeping them at constant temps means you have to do everything, you know, raise the temps, lower the temps, hibernate/brumate, etc.



WIth the first method, all you have to do is maintain the cage, the second you must do everything for the helpless animal.



They are not helpless, we just make them that way. Consider all the wild snakes are on their own and do very well that way.



So, what is your interest? once thats decided, then we can help you achieve your goals. Thanks



p.s. my best results have always been by letting the snakes do what they want. Give them choices.

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