Just got an albino California King snake three days ago. We set up his tank with a uth and ceramic overhead heart lamp on one side and a watering hole with a dayblue lamp overhead on the other end. Plenty of housing and climbing spots, he seems to enjoy basking at the highest point, even during the day. But, when we got him, they couldn't tell us when he'd last been fed, so we tried last night and today, but he seems skiddish, just runs away as soon as we open the lid. Not sure if i should be concerned, or if anyone had any tips to help him eat? Also, they popped him to sex him in the store (he seems very young, not really thicker than a pencil in the middle), and he still is bleeding a bit. We've done a lot of research on Hannibal,but there are a few details in hoping you all could help with.
Reptile & Amphibian Forums
Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.
just got a snake, couple questions
Replies (1)
I can help.
Cal kings live underground 99.9% of the time. They are best kept in smallish cages when young with limited ventilation.
A plastic "shoebox" like a Sterilite 6qt container (with a few holes poked with a soldering iron) works great. Iris shoeboxes are even better. Or a KritterKeeper or other small plastic container sold for temporary housing.
Heating for a small cage is simple: Rest about 1/4 to 1/3 of the cage floor over a heat pad. During summer, 1/4 is plenty. Make sure to control the temperature of the heat pad. Thermostats are available online or in some stores. Amazon sells some small herp-related thermostats. At least use a lamp dimmer to reduce the temperature to a good range - 82-85 for a snake like yours.
Bedding can be shredded aspen or sanichips or cocofiber. All are available. Paper mulch substrates IMO are too absorbent for babies.
Hides can be crumpled paper, crumpled paper towel rolls, PVC pipe, small cardboard box, etc.
Things that are not good for Cal king cages:
1. Overhead lamps. Lose the blue daylight bulb.
2. CHEs are fine, but lamps are too dehydrating.
3. All-screen top: cover those screen tops!
4. Too big a cage for babies.
Baby Cal kings are shy. They need security and to not dry out (lamps plus screen top = drying out). Put that snake in a small, secretive cage, and I bet it eats a thawed pinky. Sometimes during this time of year babies will refuse food. Rare with Cal kings but can happen. If so, report back here.
