Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I adopted this rescued baby King Snake and was needing advice. What kind of bedding do I use in the aquarium? Can I use sand? Is a 10 gal tank ok for now (he is very small, just a baby still)?
Please, any advise welcome!

Use pince shaving or aspen. Not sand.

Try and puit the little snake into a showbox size conatiner until he is on weaned mice. Helps in his security and finding him because he will burrow. Place heat pad (or strip) under box. No overhead light except for display puposes.

Feed him the largest possible pinks and fuzzies until he is big enough to eat small weaned mice. Then put him in the 10 gal. Make sure the lid is secure!

He should be big enough for the 10 gal in 6 months unless you keep feeding him pinkies which is not good.

Well, sand should be fine, watch and make sure he is'nt eating it when you feed him. The 10 gallon will be fine for now if it is secure. To be safe you could feed him in a paper bag, or house him on paper towels. Aspen shavings are good too but you will never see him. Just make sure he can get from 72-84 degrees and give something to hide in and a water bowl. Toss some pinkies in and you'll be fine. (an adult cali king needs a 20 gallon tank.)

sand is about the worst medium you could keep a neonate colubrid in. Almost anything but sand is better for the snake. Shaving like aspen, pine, or even newspaper or paper towels. But all will allow the snake to hide and be out of veiw. this will be better served for the king because it needs tight security (not a box) and that is better for feeding response.

>>I adopted this rescued baby King Snake and was needing advice. What kind of bedding do I use in the aquarium? Can I use sand? Is a 10 gal tank ok for now (he is very small, just a baby still)?
>>Please, any advise welcome!

I’ve been housing, snakes for about twelve years now on sand. I have tried different kinds of sand. The play sand has too many fines in it, could be harmful if the snake ingested to much at once. Be careful when feeding that the mice aren't damp where the sand will stick to the rodent. another problem with fine sand is the fines absorb up to much moisture, so a 1” feces spot will turn into a 3” spot, big coarse sands,(gravel)don't absorb anything, I use a cleaned (dust free) Monterey #3/12 grade kiln dried sand (its a smooth beach sand more or less). it’s kind of hard to find, I buy it at industrial supply stores, or sand and gravel supply. It’s used for sandblasting, it’s about ten dollars for 90 lb. Bag. (I've also seen it in pet shops, $10.00 for a 10 lb bag. lol); Retains heat well, doesn't dry out reptiles skin like wood shavings might. I think it’s easy to clean, all I use, is a plastic spoon and paper plate, just scoop it out and try to pick up most of moisture after each feeding.

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R.BICHLER
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html