Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Looking for a little habitat/substrate advice.

I have Ruthven's Kingsnake (Queretaro Kingsnake) and want to create the most realistic, natural habitat that I can.

I know that kings will do fine with bark, astroturf, newspaper, etc. but my goal here is to replicate it's natural habitat and have it look as fantastic as the snake itself. I realize this will require much more work, and be more expensive - but I'm ok with making this complicated.

So this particular snake's natural habitat is "Rocky upland areas of the Mexican Plateau, specifically the states of Michoacan, Quretaro, Jalisco."

Any suggestions on the substrate? Sand, gravel? Was also considering sand on half and some rocks/bark on the other? Anyone here from Michoacan lol?

Thanks

A couple empty carona bottles, some Taco bell wrappers and a sign "dont drink the water". LMAO. There was a rock wall-type enclosure posted here recently, that would be your best bet.

Habitat is soil with some rocks protruding but likely lots of rock structure extending underground. Not sure if it is granite or basalt or ?

Here is one way:

Really, you would be doing great with a deep substrate of coir fiber (coconut fiber sold in bricks at pet stores). If you want to add a little sand, it will hold burrows a it better. Regular sand, nothing expensive or fancy.

Then place some flat-ish granite pieces on top of the substrate, or use ceramic tile. Be generous. Then heat from above with a ceramic heat emitter right over a rock or tile. Snake will go under the rock or tile (in the substrate) to warm up.

Then have small figurines transporting little bales of drugs across the landscape
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Mark

LOL that was awesome.

Not only are you guys smart, but funny too. Thanks for the advice.