Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello to all from chilly MA. I just got a 3 month old King Snake. It's about 2.5 feet long & very beautiful. We got her/him a nice big tank with all the recommended extras. My questions are-

When & for how long should I turn off the King Snake's red heat lamp? Should it be on all the time? I also have a heating pad the attaches to the side or bottom of the tank. Should I put this under the part of the tank where the snake's hiding rock is?

Thank you very much for going over what must be very familiar ground here. I'm looking forward to learning all I can to make a good home for my King Snake.

Underbelly heat is best for most snakes, including kingsnakes. Attach the heating pad under the glass at one end of the tank and put one hiding place at the warm end and another at the cool end so that the snake can thermoregulate itself properly. In the wild snakes spend most of their time NOT being seen (a behavior that helps explain why they have been so evolutionarily successful). The main reason for lighting is to help YOU see the snake. You should also have a non-tippable shallow crock of fresh water for the snake at all times.

The only thing more important than a temperature gradient and places for the snake to hide is an escape-proof lid/locking mechanism. Snakes are EXPERTS at escaping and, as mentioned before, VERY good at not being seen. If your kingsnake is not already eating frozen (then thawed) mice, try to switch it from eating live mice as soon as you can. The way snakes suffocate their prey is efficient, but not all that quick sometimes. The mouse can suffer, not to mention that it can bite the snake and leave scars, or worse, an infection.

You should check out some breeders' websites, which often have care sheets that give more information in greater detail. Enjoy your new acquisition!

How do think they feel when they're vacuum packed and thrown in a freezer?
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
1.0 Brooksi
0.1 Red Belly Piranha
1.0 Australian Shepherd

The mice would probably suffer just as much if they were still alive when the are vacuum packed. But there are several ways to humanely euthanize mice; the most common and accessible method uses compressed carbon dioxide. Also, a deft cervical dislocation can be an instantaneous and humane way to euthanize on a mouse by mouse basis.

Of course it's just my personal opinion, and I don't think any less of those who feed live prey. But as a guy who has been keeping and breeding snakes for over 40 years, I can do without the spectacle of rodents gasping with bulged-out eyes. In addition, I like to avoid the danger of the mouse/rat chewing on the snake at feeding time.

I prefer to feed f/t myself, just for the safety of my snakes... I guess I just never thought about feeding from the mouse point of view...
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~Maggie~

"Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious."
1.1 Cal Kings
1.0 Mali Uromastyx
1.0 Brooksi
0.1 Red Belly Piranha
1.0 Australian Shepherd

I rarely miss with the fresh killed knock out. I still feed live but they are almost all knocked unconcious/dead before feeding.
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Todd Hughes

How big is the tank? How many watts is your red light?

Just a curious question, 3 months old and 2.5 foot? What species?
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B

You have a 3 month old 30" king snake? What kind is it? I haven't experienced that kind of growth in three months time except maybe indigos, gopher/bull/pines, and diamondbacked rattlers! They sometimes come out of the egg 18" or better. I would put the heater under one end and put another hide on the cool side and cycle the light 12 on and 12 off. Pics please!
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Todd Hughes

That's very fast growth in three months! Yes please post pics!

Snakes are my teachers, I am just a student!

Scott D

Thank you all for your helpful & speedy replies! I will follow what's been suggested here carefully. Just so you know, the snake does have a big water dish and a stock of mice on ice in the freezer.

I'm starting to think I may have misunderstood what the guy at the pet store said about the snake's age. I'm told it's a California King Snake. I'll post a pic or two shortly.

Your input is much appreciated!

Pix of our new California King Snake

Missed the wattage question... It's a ZooMed 75 watt red bulb. I just bought the whole set up that the snake was in at the pet store.

A 75 watt red bulb and a undertank heater in what size tank? Is it a 20 gallon long?
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B

The tank is 2.5 feet long & 1 foot across X 1 foot deep. I turned the light off over night. The pad stayed on under the stone. The King Snake is behaving normally at this time.

Should I get rid of the light or the pad?

Many thanks,

Tom

I do not use a light setup with any of my snakes, but mine are not in display type cages. I have terrarium and sweater box racks. I would keep the pad and ditch the light, and put another hide on the other end of the tank so the snake can choose which temp it needs to use. That's a neat looking calking!
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Todd Hughes

Thank you Todd. That makes sense to me. Will do.

And thanks for the compliment. My 8 year old daughter ("Dad, can I have a snake for Christmas?" and I were both knocked out when we saw it. We're used to catching & releasing not-very-big Tile Snakes around here!

Based on what I've been reading here I think the young guy in the pet shop gave us some good "first snake" advice.

Tom

Tom,
Cool deal on getting your young ones a great pet at an early age!

I agree with Todd- I'd probably ditch the light, or at least move it to one end of the enclosure (prob same side as the under-tank heat).

My parents got me my first snake at around the same age, and I kept them off and on all my life. I recently got back into keeping them a couple years ago again, and am up to 19 in total. They do make great pets, and are a great source of educational value!

//Todd

O man, that is a great picture! Thanks. My daughter will love it. What is that cool looking snake?

I've got a warm & cool area in the King's tank now. My daughter has named him Blazer. He is very mellow but curious too. Tonught he took a nice (supervised) walk all over our family room...

Tom

Thanks- it's my olive python. He's my personal favorite, but I love 'em all!

//Todd

Here's my boy with one of my Irian Jaya's, and my youngest daughter with our Bredli...

Hello all & Happy Holidays. I have a new King Snake connundrum. Blazer has been eating very regularaly- one defrosted mouse every seven days like clockwork. It has now been 11 days & he shows no interest in his mouse when I put him in his darkened feeding basket.

Any cause for concern here?

Thanks so much for all the help given so far!

Tom