Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Can I keep 2 cal kings together. I just thought I'd ask because i know after all they are king snakes and do eat other snakes. I usualy am not one to keep snakes together except for breeding, but I do have limited space right now. I am going to start on my racks soon, so I'll have more room in my house for hacthlings and yearlings. I do have them together right now in a 10 gal( I usualy use the glad ae/tupperware boxes and stuff but wanted alittle more space for these since they are kings. i will seprate them If I need to, but if It is not nessassry I will not. If thre is any chance in them trying ot eat each othe I will. Oh by the way it is a breeding pair of hacthings.
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Justin

Okay, some people may keep their Cal Kings together with no problems. I have heard of that, BUT I would not recommend that. I keep all of my snakes separate until breeding time, and then I observe the breeding process. No accidents yet. I would take the cautious route and house them separately. Being siblings, or a breeding pair, or un-related has no direct correlatiion to cannibalism. It can happen and does happen, even with well fed cal kings.

Kerby...

I have only ever kept a couple of cornsnakes together, and then only for a week or so. (I do keep some insectivores in a large communal tank). I have never kept kings together. I did, however, have to clean a couple of cages. So I was holding on to two of my hatchlings whilst my hubby cleaned the cages. For whatever reason I ended up having to switch both hatchlings to one hand and instantly it was a struggle to the death. Luckily my stepson grabbed some alcohol and with my fingers soaked in alcohol one pass over the face of the one trying to do the eating was enough. I'm now a thorough believer in the cannabalistic instincts of cal kings. I remove them from the incubator ASAP and place them ALONE in their own container. It's not worth the risk.
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~Sasheena

Cal Kings are some of the most cannabalistic snakes there are. Even if they are the same size they will attack each other. If you have to put one in a plastic shoebox at room temp. taped shut and alternate cages every day so they each get to use the hot spot every other day.

Oh i've seperated them. I got 2 more boxes for them today.I've got just enough space for them. I don't realy have to worry about the temps right now. My room stays much warmer than room temp. It is about 80-85 degreese. about room temp at night. I have some lights on my shelves that I keep on about 4 hours during the day till it warms up in there.
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Justin

My brother-in law Ed came home from work early a few months ago to find his FL king wrapped around his CA king, trying to make a meal out of it. He got them seperated & they now are in seperate tanks. Lucky he came home early....best advise...seperate. On a seperate note...we have the breading pair that Ed's FL king came from. We have tried to seperate those two & he will rub his nose raw trying to get out of his tank to be with her & actually made it out one night. We found him laying on top her tank happy to be near her. We gave up & they live together happily now, but I must say, those two are ODD! LOL