Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, I have few questions about king snakes, especially about Mexican Black King...i read some care sheets, but i want to ask couple people that had some experiences w/ snakes...

How long does it take for them to reach their full size?

How big of a cage should i get for an adult snake?

Is it better to build a custom cage or buy an aquarium?

Is it better to feed them killed or live prey?

Heating lamp, under tank, or heat rock?

1 hide or 2? (i read somwhere that it's better to put 2)

How many times do they shed in a year? (i have my snake for 2 months and it shed 2 times already)

Thanks in advance!

Not sure how big a Mex black can get but adult king snakes should average out btwn 3-6 feet (varies from Ssp to Ssp)... a snke can reach adulthood in as little as 18months but i'd say a snake would be very close to full grown at 3yrs. (i don't think they every really STOP growing... have no proof but...)

Housing
an adult king can be house in a 20 gal long enclosure but if you have space for bigger go bigger.

custom build or buy:
Depends on what you wanna do... I custom build cuz I have too many snakes to house each of them in aquariums but if you have one or two then I think buying an enclosure can work out fine

Fresh killed or Live:
I say fresh killed... your snake won't get hurt by a feisty mouse that won't go out without a fight.

Heat:
under tank for aquarium, heat tape for enclosure (heat rock are a big no no, heat lamps aren't necessary)

Hides
I've read that you can use two but I use one some times none, but I put the hide on the cooler side of the enclosures, if they get too cold they'll migrate to the warmer side.

Shedding:
snakes shed at least once a month, sometimes twice a month

one of my multilevel custom display enclosures: the other one is almost finished

hope that helps
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF

thanks for the reply, it's a nice cage btw.
how many herps do you own?

last time i checked i was somewhere in the 50's but i'm not 100% sure how many, haven't had too much time to update my records (school and all)... but i'd like to see a pic of the snake in question

good luck with him/her and welcome to the world of kingsnakes
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF

here it is, and thanks

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sorry, i don't know why it didn't show up

Nice... i use to have a pair but i sold um a few months after i got um.

is that sand? if so please feed your snake in a separate container.
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF

yes it is sand, i bought it in a pet store and it said on the pacage that it's non-toxic...and i feed my snake in a shoe box w/ paper towels.

well it's good you feed your snake in a separate container... it's not the toxicity i was concerned about (although you should be concerned) it's the chance that your snake get impacted with the sand and dies cuz it can't release it's waste.

i had it happen to me with a jungle corn but it was wood bedding not sand
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF

oh, sorry about your snake though

Did you make it up, or find plans? I would love to build something similar, as our house is getting taken over by aquariums, rubbermaids etc...Thanx for the pic

Matt

Hey... email me i cna send you the plans i modified to make this enclosure and i can try to explain how i did this one and my other one

ZFelicien@aol.com or just click on my user name above.
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Thanx
Royal Blue Reptilez

~ZF