Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently purchase a MBK hatchling and it's my first King snake. He seems to be doing well and is certainly eating well, however he is more active than my Texas Rat and corn snakes. Pretty much any time of day, he's likely as not to be out wander his cage. Is this typical with MBKs?

deg

My guess is it may be a little too warm? Try cooling him off a few degrees. He should have access to a spot cooler than 80 degrees,,,even in the mid or low 70s...and of course ideally a warm spot too that is about 80-82. Tom Stevens

>>My guess is it may be a little too warm? Try cooling him off a few degrees. He should have access to a spot cooler than 80 degrees,,,even in the mid or low 70s...and of course ideally a warm spot too that is about 80-82. Tom Stevens

Hey, Tom. I've tried both letting the entire cage temp go as cool as my house, about 76 - 78 degrees, and adding a bit of heat to one end up to the mid-80's. Hard for me to get much cooler unless I lower the thermostat for my entire house, but it sounds like I maybe should forget about supplemental heat for now.

thanks,
deg

It was my understanding that Mexicans like it pretty warm. Your hatchling is probably active because it's hungry.
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chickabowwow

>>It was my understanding that Mexicans like it pretty warm. Your hatchling is probably active because it's hungry.
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>>www.BugChick.com
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>>chickabowwow
>>

I thought perhaps that was the case as well. He's a hatchling about 14 - 16" long and 17 grams. I fed him 2 small pinkies Friday evening and he was out and about on Saturday. Oh, and he's got a paper towel tube pressed to about 1/2 normal diameter as a hide and enough aspen substrate to burrow in if he wants.

deg

I have five MBK hatchlings (about one week old) that are all like that too.
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chickabowwow

Most Kings are active - just like the literature says - at dawn & dusk. Some come out for awhile during late afternoon.

If yours is active for hours, it's likely that he's new and just exploring. Enjoy this precious time! Soon enough, your snake will likely get into a more normal routine and you will see it less.

hey there
ive had my MBK for almost 3 weeks now. no matter how much i feed him or how cool or warm the ends of his tank are his is always active. mine is out almost everyday from 2pm till when ever i go to bed. hes out sometime earlier then that, i think sometimes he wants to be picked up so i do and hes all over the place exploring. so no different thenn mine and hes healthy..
eric

The most active snake I ever had was my current desert phase Cal King.

Once when he was new to his 60-gallon desert vivarium, he was active for over 3 hours!

He has a much more normal routine now, is very crepuscular, like most snakes.

>>hey there
>>ive had my MBK for almost 3 weeks now. no matter how much i feed him or how cool or warm the ends of his tank are his is always active. mine is out almost everyday from 2pm till when ever i go to bed. hes out sometime earlier then that, i think sometimes he wants to be picked up so i do and hes all over the place exploring. so no different thenn mine and hes healthy..
>>eric

Sounds like they are related. You didn't get your's from Tom did you?

deg

i picked him up at a show here in San Diego, ca. not too such who i got him from im at work and have the card at home..