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 King Snakes
(Lampropeltis)
Natural History
King Snakes (sometimes called Milk Snakes)
are some of the most beautiful snakes in the
world. Because they are
 moderately sized,
not poisonous, usually quite docile, and are
easily kept in captivity, they are very
popular with both beginning and experienced
snake handlers.
King Snakes are found throughout the United
States, southern Canada, Central America,
and parts of South America. These
highly-adaptable constrictors live in arid
deserts, swamplands, farmlands, grasslands,
pine and deciduous forests, mountains, and
riparian habitats. In the wild, they consume
a variety of prey, including other snakes,
amphibians, lizards, rodents, birds, and
even rattlesnakes and cottonmouth snakes.
(King Snakes are unique among snakes because
they are immune to poisonous snake venom.)
Southern King Snakes look very much like
venomous coral snakes, but they are NOT
poisonous. Both snakes have colorful yellow,
red, and black bands. However, King Snakes
have the black bands touching the red bands.
In coral snakes, the yellow touches the red
bands. This simple rhyme makes it easy to
remember the order:
“Red on Yellow, Kill A Fellow!”
King Snakes can grow from three to seven
feet, depending on their subspecies. With
proper care, they can live 20 or more years.
Like all snakes, they are escape artists.
King Snakes are the most tenacious about
testing their environment to find an escape
route. If there are any small gaps or holes
in your tank lid, or if the lid “gives” at
all when pushed against, your King will
escape. And once they escape, they are very
difficult to find again. Make sure that your
tank is extremely secure, so that you don’t
lose your snake.
GETTING STARTED
Hatchlings may be housed in a
ten-gallon enclosure with a tightly-fitting
locking lid. Medium-sized adults may be
housed in twenty-gallon enclosures. The
longer and larger snakes should be housed in
a 60-gallon enclosure. Snakes that cannot
stretch out fully on a regular basis are
prone to respiratory infections, so plan
ahead! Make sure your snake’s enclosure is
big enough for its special needs.
King Snakes live in a wide range of
environments that include extreme heat and
cold. In northern and mountainous regions,
Kings hibernate through the cold winters,
and are active during the summer months.
Desert species will hide in cool crevices
during the hottest part of the day, becoming
active at dawn and dusk. Snakes in captivity
do well with more regulated temperatures. In
general, provide a temperature gradient
ranging from 76 - 86o, with nighttime drops
into the low 70'so.
Special reptile heating pads that are
manufactured to maintain a temperature about
20o higher than the air temperature may be
used inside the enclosure. There are also
adhesive pads that can be stuck to the
underside of a glass enclosure. Heating pads
made for people, available at all drug
stores, are also available; these have
built-in high-medium-low switches and can be
used under a glass enclosure. All snakes are
susceptible to thermal burns. For this
reason, do not use a hot rock in your King’s
tank.
Provide a bowl of water for your snake. This
is generally all the humidity it will need.
It will often soak in the water, especially
prior to shedding. Be sure to change its
water regularly, especially if it’s dirty.
Note: Some books and herp keepers recommend
just putting in a bowl of water once a week
for a limited period of time. Until such
time as you learn to speak Lampropeltis,
or your snake learns to vocalize its needs,
or you both communicate by telepathy so that
you will know when exactly it is thirsty,
keep water in there all the time.
Kings are rather secretive snakes,
preferring to curl up in a rocky crevice or
under a log. Shelters of some sort should be
provided. They can range from commercially
available "rocky" caves, half-circles of
tree bark, and upside-down flower pots to
cardboard boxes with an entry door cut in
one side.
For bedding, aspen shavings are attractive
and safe for your snake (unlike cedar and
redwood shavings which are poisonous), or
you can use a utility carpet which can be
easily removed and cleaned. Kings are
curious, and enjoy exploring their
environment. Try adding branches and layers
of piled rock in your tank to simulate a
natural environment.
Captive-born hatchlings are fed newborn
pinkie mice. If frozen mice are used, make
sure to defrost thoroughly (leave on
counter, under a light, or soaking in warm
water). Feed one to two mice every two to
seven days, depending upon growth rate
desired. Generally speaking, a snake will
grow faster being fed several small prey a
couple of times a week, rather than one big
prey once a week. The smaller prey are more
digestible than the larger prey, so the
snake is getting more nutrition from them.
Kings are typically hungrier during the
spring and summer. They may “wind down” in
the fall, and not eat during the winter even
though they are still somewhat active. Full
size is reached by three years of age. Feed
adult Kings one full-sized mouse, or a
pinkie rat, once a week unless they look too
lean; then increase their diet to one mouse
twice a week. Generally speaking, snakes
over four feet long need at least two adult
mice each week.
After your new snake has settled into its
new home, begin gently picking it up and
handling it. Don’t worry if it lashes its
tail, hisses, or anoints you with a smelly
musky substance from its vent. You’re a
hundred times bigger than it is, and it’s
quite reasonably afraid of you. Be patient
and persistent. Eventually it will realize
that you aren’t a threat, and it will relax
in your presence. At that point, you can
start carrying it around the house with you.
However, never leave it untended. Snakes
love to crawl into seat cushions or behind
furniture, and can easily escape.
If your snake wraps around your arm or neck,
unwind it by gently grasping its tail and
unwrapping it. If you start at its head, you
will find that your snake is stronger (or at
least more stubborn) than you are!
With proper care and attention, your King
Snake will be a beautiful, gentle lifetime
friend. Enjoy!
HELPFUL RESOURCES
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The General Care and Maintenance of
Common King Snakes, by David Perlowin.
1992. Advanced Vivarium Systems,
Lakeside CA.
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King Snakes and Milk Snakes, Ronald
G. Markel. 1990. TFH Publications, Inc.
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Snakes of the World, by Scott Weidensaul. 1991. Chartwell Books,
Seacacus, NJ.
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Living Snakes of the World, John M. Mehrtens. 1987. Sterling Publishing Co.,
NY.
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