Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone here keeps adult pair of any Lampropeltis species in a single terrarium all year long? Is it possible?

I've heard of many people having trouble with one snake trying to eat the other when merely introducing their kingsnakes to breed; attempting to keep them together year-round would be a disaster. While some Lampropeltis are more notoriously ophiophagous than others, it would still not be a great idea to keep any of them together.
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- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
0.1 San Ignacio Rosy Boa
0.1 Ortiz Rosy Boa
2.2 Kenyan Sand Boas
0.1 Saharan Sand Boa
1.2 Rubber Boas
0.1 Pickering's Gartersnake

There is a great alterna (gray band) exhibit at the Philadelphia Zoo that houses 6 or more alterna of various sizes year round.

They are fed individially in separate containers.

Tom Anderson

I know Bob Applegate keeps many of his Kings and Milks together in the same enclosures. From his care sheet.......

"If you decide to keep a colony of adult kingsnakes in one cage, only have one male in each group or they can combat and either injure each other, or the loser will be intimidated and will not eat and will do poorly. Kingsnakes are famous for being cannibals, but I keep groups of four to six together year round and have had only one problem in 30 years. One of my female California banded kingsnakes insisted she would eat this certain male if caged together. She would mix well with any other male or female, and he with any other females. I was never able to explain this, but it reaffirms the old adage, "There are always exceptions to the rules".

" The common or banded kingsnakes (getula) are the ones most likely to eat other snakes, but all kingsnakes are capable of it. It is very important to isolate each kingsnake for feeding, then wait a while before putting it back in the group. If a hungry kingsnake smells food and something moves, or they both go after the same food item, that is where your accidents happen."

applegatereptiles.com/articles/king-milk.html

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Ace

I raised a couple neonate cal kings together.

Local natural history museum keeps several adults together.

It can be done, but there is always risk.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

Do you know if desert kingsnakes(splendida)are more or less prone to eat others? tks

They are a getula and are therefore more likely to than most non getula.

It can be done, especially if you keep them well fed, but there is risk.

It's better not to.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)

They will eat your fingers, their mates, their progeny, and lick the glass clean! Seriously, I have only kept one pair of adult splendidas together and I felt as though I couldn't trust the big girl after she tried to snack on him at breeding time this year, and I was afraid the male would hurt her, LOL! I wouldn't do it, but there are some that do. I think they are just garbage cans as adults and if not fed separately, or if you miss a meal, they will help themselves, and that would be the keepers fault.

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Todd Hughes