How to Care for a California King Snake

Snakes make great pets and the California King snake is no different. There are some basic essentials to caring for your new snake that will keep him happy and healthy. Owning a snake can be a very rewarding experience and fun to show to your friends and family as well!

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Substrate
• Reptile heating pad
• Secure ventilated lid
• California king snake
• Feeder mice or rats
• Water dish
• Enclosure

1. Purchase the appropriate caging system for your snake. An adult king snake will enjoy a 30 gallon tank with a secure screen top lid for ventilation.
2. Cover the bottom of the tank with any of a variety of substrates including newspaper, pine shavings, mulch, sand and bark.
3. Warm the tank to a comfortable 80 degrees Fahrenheit on one end of the tank and 95 degrees Fahrenheit at the other end.
4. Provide your snake with fresh clean and non-chlorinated water at all times. You should provide the snake with a water dish that it can submerge in and is not easily flipped over.
5. Feed your snake appropriately sized mice and rats. You should feed them once or twice each week.

Tips & Warnings

• Place a heat mat in one end of the tank to achieve the thermal gradient your snake requires.
• You can purchase live or frozen feeder mice and rats at your local pet store.
• King snakes are cannibalistic and should be kept in separate containers.
• Do not use cedar shavings for your snakes bedding as they are toxic to the snake.
• Be sure to thaw and preferably warmed to room temperature frozen food so your snake will eat it.