Reptile & Amphibian Forums

hi everyone.i just bought my second king at the show in white plains jan.7.he is a beautiful brooks but i have a question.since these are florida snakes,do they require higher humidity levels than other kings?my other snake is a grey banded and the water bowl seems to provide a good enough level but should i mist the brooks tank once or twice a week?both are in 20 longs with under tank heat at one end and 30 watt bulbs during the day.by the way,i put the gbk down from dec to march,he insists.also,the guy said brooks have a much better feeding responce than gbk snakes.....thats the understatement of the year!! thanks for any information

I don't mist mine ever. Wet quarters are probably more harmful than dry quarters. You should be fine, but if you notice shedding problems a breif misting will most likely suffice.
Good luck and I'm glad that you picked brooksi I think you will find they are very rewarding as pet due to their "personality" and feeding vigor.
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-J.Hill

An occasional soak in very shallow (so the snake doesn't have to swim to avoid drowning) tepid water helps prevent the snake from drying out even when you keep the snake dry between soaks.

I think this is more effective at hydrating the snake than misting.

Digressing..
The best time to find Cal kings near where I live is when the soil under boards and in their burrows isn't bone dry but isn't wet either. Kind of moderate humidity without much dampness. And when warmed by the sun, still not dry. Hard to achieve perfectly in captivity with our drying heat pads and such. I think it is better acheived in captivity with a soil substrate and overhead heat, because the snake can be warmed just under the soil without being dried out so much. Or taking measures (like soaking) as an alternative way to make up for us not providing ideal conditions in a cage.