Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm starting to get things together to purchase a snake for the very first time and I would love any advise and tips for keeping a healthy happy snake. I'm going to be purchasing a corn snake or a king snake and I have a 10 and a 20 gallon tank for it. Any cool ways to decorate the tank and any advise about these types of snakes would be greatly appreciated. Also the type of king snake I am looking into getting is a Black & White Aberrant California Kingsnake. Are they any different then other king snakes as in more/less aggressive? I am really wanting a interactive snake that enjoys being held and is most of all as non aggressive as possible. THANK YOU!!!!!

If you want a more placid snake, then the cornsnake is a good choice, as most are about as calm as a snake can be. It may take a few years for the snake to get calm. Many times young snakes just want to get away from you, so don't be put off by a baby snake's flighty behavior. Many corns though are fairly "tame" from the get-go.

Cal kings not so much. They are rather flightly as babies and will often "musk" on you - discharge poop on you. As adults, they can be calm, usually that is so. Great pets nonetheless.

Florida kings get really tame as adults, even if flighty as babies. If you want a large king that will be very placid as an adult, a Florida king is a great choice.

Kings are subterranean for the most part, they need low-height hides. Corns will use both hides and will also rest in branches at times, whereas Cal kings only use branches to try and climb out.

This pic is a cage for leopard geckos, but the hides I made myself, and kingsnakes love them. This is to give you an idea of what you can do yourself if desired. They are made from 3/4 inch thick pink poly foam insulation. The inside height is only 1.5 inches. Snakes prefer that height over say 3 inches high, but then again a snake will use anything it needs to. I glued the pieces together (low-temp glue gun) and painted with low VOC water-based paint. You don't really need to paint, but the pink color was not for me.

The 10 gallon tank will house a baby corn or king for a year or so. Adults do well in the 20 gallon long tanks. I have my corns in 20 gallon longs. They need a warm side an cool side (although couple of mine don't have extra heat since we keep our house in the 70's - 80 most of the year an are doing great.

Most snakes like something to hide in to feel secure. I've used paper towel rolls, cut down boxes. Pretty much anything. I have a honduran milk that love being under newspaper. I use newspaper / paper towels for substrate. Its cheap an works for me.

I've had king snakes in the past an will not have another one. A baby managed to escape (how I don't know because I had that lid SECURE) found him outside dead.

Another king I had pooed / musked on me everytime I handled him. Couldn't take it anymore an re-homed him.

Have fun! Oh, an by the way...snakes are addicting.

I did end up purchasing a corn snake and after reading a corn snake book by kathy and bill love I have found out 80% sure my snake is a female. I dont plan on breeding so I really dont wanna get her probed.I guess she is a carmel corn and the next snake I want to purchase is a black and white aberrant california king in the future once I get this one and its care down to an art.