Reptile & Amphibian Forums

i just bought(they come on tuesday cant wait) 3 (0.1.2) 02 b&w banded kings of the classifides hear on kingsnake.i curintly have a ball python and not much experince with kings. first of can i keep them in the same cage. its a 20 long. also i am interested in finding out what the 0.0.2 are can i pop them if thay are yearlings. and any other tips will be apresheated
thanks
tim

Question #1. No. Kingsnakes are ophiophagous snakes, meaning they eat other snakes. Even if they don't try to eat your Ball Python, it will surely stress him. Plus, they need to be kept in separate rooms (quarantined) for a couple of months to make sure the kingsnakes aren't carrying anything your Ball Python could catch (or vice-versa). That's not so critical with neonates, but by the time they are yearlings they can be carrying parasites and other diseases.

Question #2. Yearlings are getting a little old (although it can still be done) for "popping". You are better off probing them if you can't tell by looking. Or, better yet, get someone else to probe them that has some experience with the procedure.

doesn’t the problem of cannibalism dissipate after breeding age?

Well, we're not talking about cannibalism here. We're talking about the habit of eating other species of snakes. Kingsnakes do that all their lives.

i think i should clarify somthing i ment that the kings are in the same tank. not the same one my ball python is in will thay eat each other

Congrats on your new kings. I think desert Phase kings are beautiful.
If this is your first experience with kings a few things to keep in
mind. Kings are way different than balls. Balls lay there most of
the time, kings move almost constantly and are always looking for
a way out. If there is way out they WILL find it. Ball pythons
will freguently ball up and sit in your hand, kings will try and
get away. If they are hatchlings or subadults that have not
been handled they will often thrash and musk untill you can get
them tamed. With consistant gentle handling they will tame down
nicely but it takes work. And finally, cal kings will occasionally
bite and usually when you least expect it. Luckily it does not
cause much pain or damage. Balls can be picky feeders, kings will
eat you out of house and home. Not trying to rain on your parade
at all, kings are great and you should enjoy them very much.
Hope this helps.

the kings came today. i am vary pleased. you all were corect though i put them in the tank. within 2 minuted one of them grabed the tail of the other one. so as quickly as i could i put them in there contaners that thay where shipped in ran to wal-mart and got 2 rubbermaid containers i put the 2 that seemed the wildest in them and the other one stayed in the 20 long by himself. after that i figured if they were hungry all of them ate. even the one thats sheding. kings are awsome.

ps yes i put a heating pad under the 2 rubermaid contaners