Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently, I bought my first colubrid! He's a beautiful California King. I'm using a water dish from a previous and much bigger snake. It's big enough so that not only will this kingsnake be able to fit in it now, he'll probably be able to fit into it for months to come. I have had a couple constrictors, so I'm used to keeping them in high humidity and letting them soak to help their sheds.

Kings are typically desert snakes right?

So, should he be soaking?

If so, how should I go about getting him to start doing it?

Thanks!
-----
George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)

He'll soak if he feels he needs to. IE Shedding. If he is not soaking its not a problem either.

Kings, esp. Cals, are definitely not solely desert species. Here in California they range throughout the state in all different habitats. I've encountered kings in our local desert scrub (SoCal/Chatsworth) and up in Northern CA in oak & pine forests. It's good that you have the large water bowl. I've noticed mine making use of hers as a tub, souce of drinking water and a toilet (not @ the same time of course).

reako45

It's prolly a good thing that your king isn't soaking 24/7.
2 years ago I rented the top floor of a 2 story that didn't have a/c on the top floor.
It got over 90 degrees as a matter of course, and from late july to mid august, all the kings were in their water bowls to try to cool off.
I got a condo that has a/c and never saw one in their bowl this year.

Ok great! Hopefully he'll soak when he needs to. Thanks for the help!
-----
George
1.0.0. Columbian Red Tail Boa (Madmartigan)
1.0.0. California Kingsnake (Noodle)