Types of king snakes. King or milk snakes. Description of appearance

The king snake is also called the Californian snake common snake and the chain queen. It is found only in the USA (California, Nevada, Arizona) and Mexico. This terrestrial snake lives in forests, on mountain slopes, meadows, banks of rivers and streams, in deserts, fields, and the outskirts of towns and cities. Compared to other snakes, the king snake is quite small - only 80 cm.

Name and appearance

She received her name “royal” for her appearance. Undoubtedly, this is a majestic reptile, very beautiful color. The dark background (which can vary from reddish-brown to black-brown) is painted on the upper side with narrow yellow transverse stripes, which on each side are connected at the border of the ventral scutes with longitudinal stripes, thus forming a chain extending to the end of the tail. Each scale has white or yellow spot, which makes it seem that the snake’s body is covered with a scattering of mother-of-pearl beads. Sometimes there are pure white individuals with pink eyes and a pale yellowish, pearl-like pattern - these are albinos. The tail is of medium length and somewhat compressed laterally.

Lifestyle and reproduction

The snake leads a diurnal lifestyle. But the fact is that she cannot stand the heat, and if dry weather sets in, she can go out hunting at night, and during the day she hides under some stone. They feed on small rodents, other snakes, and lizards. Young snakes hunt exclusively for lizards. There are cases when some individuals attack other king snakes.

King snake – oviparous species. Snakes become sexually mature at the age of 2-3 years. After mating, 50-65 days later, females lay eggs. The number of eggs in a clutch is from 3 to 15 pieces. After 59-83 days, the eggs hatch and begin to feed after the first molt.

Toxicity and precautions

Representatives of this family have two poisonous teeth on the upper jaw, one on each side. These teeth have grooves, but in most snakes they are closed and form tubes that are empty inside. There is a muscle around the venom gland. When a snake bites, the muscle presses on the gland, squeezing venom into the teeth, which enters the victim's body through the grooves of the teeth. Typically, king snake venom affects nervous system the victim and paralyzes her. When the poison reaches nerve centers, controlling breathing and heartbeat, the victim dies.

Many poisonous snakes lead night image life, and during the day they are lethargic and inactive. But this is not about the king snake. She can be mobile if necessary, even in hot weather. In addition, this is one of the most dangerous snakes for humans: it lunges without warning. Every year more than 100 people suffer from its bites. In order not to suffer from the bite of this reptile, you must follow the main rule of dealing with all poisonous snakes - be as careful as possible. If possible, do not come close and, of course, do not touch them or make them angry - they very quickly become aggressive and, in defense, rush to any Living being, even if it is much larger than the snake itself.

Types of king snakes

Several species belonging to the genus of non-venomous king snakes are especially widespread:

• mountain king snake up to one and a half meters long, with a triangular black, steel or gray head and a strong, fairly massive body, the pattern of which is represented by a combination of gray and orange shades;
• a beautiful king snake up to a meter long, with a laterally compressed and slightly elongated head, large eyes and a slender, massive body of fawn or brown color with brownish-red rectangular spots;
• Mexican king snake up to two meters long, with a somewhat elongated, laterally compressed head and a slender, strong body, the main color of which is gray or brown with quadrangular or saddle-shaped spots of red or black and white;
• Arizona king snake up to a meter long, with a short, somewhat rounded black head and a thin, slender body, on which a three-color pattern of red, black and yellow or white stripes is clearly visible.

Caring for a king snake, keeping it at home

Terrarium

When bringing such a unique pet into your home, you first need to take care of where it will live. Since your king snake will not jump or run, a horizontal type terrarium is ideal for its personal roof over its head. When choosing the size of such a home, you must be guided by the maximum dimensions to which your pet can grow, but you should remember that at home, these natives of the wild tend to slightly outgrow their relatives from open habitats. Therefore, choose a house for the snake in which it can maintain its motor activity and at the same time, so that the walls of the terrarium do not restrict its movements.

Conditions

One of the most important rules for keeping snakes at home is the correct temperature regime, which is good to maintain with the help of special heating devices; a thermal cord or a thermal mat are good options for the latter. Which should be placed in one of the corners of the terrarium - this will be a more “tropical” corner, therefore, the further away from this corner, the cooler your pet will be. This way, you leave it to your long buddy to find the right conditions for himself at any given time.

Air humidity is no less important, especially during the molting period. To maintain the required moisture coefficient, it is necessary to spray the terrarium daily, just make sure that water does not get on the king snake, it can get very scared, and it does not need unnecessary stress. In addition to spraying, it is recommended to install a container with clean water, it will be both a watering hole and a personal spa for your friend. There he will take baths, and during the period of “changing clothes” he will not leave this personal pool at all.

As a substrate, you can use coconut soil, gravel, coarse sand, you can also place a large number of sphagnum, good place there will be a hot corner for him, where the humidity will be minimal, and he will be able to slightly adjust it. Don’t forget about shelters, because snakes also need somewhere to sleep and be away from prying eyes.

Nutrition

At home, king snakes must be fed either hamsters or laboratory mice, once every five days; under no circumstances overfeed your pet. He, of course, will not refuse an extraordinary meal, but this may negatively affect his health, and, consequently, his life expectancy. From time to time, you can offer your snake vitamin and mineral complexes; it is best to add them to the water.

If the rules of maintenance and feeding are followed, the average lifespan of a king snake, regardless of the species, is about ten years, but, as practice shows, the age of some individuals exceeds fifteen years.

Breeding snakes at home

In captivity, king snakes reproduce well. At home at winter period The temperature in the terrarium needs to be lowered, and in the spring the male and female should be added. A week before wintering, the snake needs to stop feeding, after which the heating is turned off and the temperature gradually drops to 12-15°C. After a month, the temperature gradually increases, and the normal conditions reptile nutrition.

An adult female lays from two to a dozen eggs, and the incubation period can vary between one and a half to two months at temperature conditions 27 – 29 oC. A week after birth, the snakes molt, after which you can start feeding them a couple of times a week. A small terrarium is allocated for the young animals. In the future, king snakes are kept alone, which is due to cannibalism.

Newly purchased snakes must be kept in a quarantine terrarium, which will identify any health problems with the reptile. It is best to keep such a snake in an isolated area to prevent airborne infection of other pet reptiles.

The cost of a king snake may vary depending on the place of purchase, as well as the species and age.

Average price in Moscow pet stores and nurseries:

• California kingsnake HI-YELLOW – 4700-4900 rubles;
• California king snake BANDED – 4800 rubles;
• Honduran king snake HI-WHITE ABERRANT – 4800 rubles;
• Californian king snake Albino Banana – 4900 rubles;
• common California kingsnake Banded Cafe – 5000 rubles;
• Honduran king snake HYPOMELANISTIC APRICOT – 5000 rubles;
• Californian king snake Albino – 5500 rubles;
• Huachuca Mountain Kingsnake – 5500 rubles.

Important! When purchasing, you need to pay attention that a healthy reptile has sufficient weight and does not suffer from anorexia.

Needs to be inspected oral cavity, in which there should be no oral fungus caused by staphylococci. You should check your reptile for mites, which cause skin irritation, and when and how it last shed its skin. A completely healthy reptile must get rid of its old skin at one time.

IN last years Many owners of king snakes implant a special microchip in their pets, which allows them to track their location if necessary. This is a very simple operation, and the unique number contained on the chip allows you to effectively control the reptile.

The king snake is a member of the Colubridae family and has no venom. Found in North and Central America and Mexico. Today, there are only 14 species of Kingsnake on the entire planet.

A distinctive feature of this species is the bright color of its scales. This is what attracts lovers of reptiles. Some people keep a snake as a pet.

Interesting! The kingsnake is also called the sparkling shield due to its distinctive scales on its back.

Description of appearance

Smooth scales of bright color. As a rule, the pattern consists of alternating multi-colored rings. The most common set of shades: red, white and black. The length of the snake can vary from 50 to 200 cm.

The color of the scales may vary among subspecies. Each individual has its own individual appearance. There is no gender difference in scale color. The only way to distinguish a male from a female: male the tail is thicker and longer than that of the female.

Average life expectancy is from 9 to 15 years.

Where can you find a snake

Behavior

The main feature of the Royal species is that it can include other snakes, even poisonous ones, in its diet. IN biological research There was a recorded case of a king snake eating a rattlesnake, which is much more dangerous. The body of this species develops immunity to poisons and toxins. Thanks to this fact, she got her name.
The snake can't stand it extreme heat. Because of this, she can rarely go out to hunt. In hot weather, it can show signs of life only at night, early in the morning and at dusk. Under normal conditions, she leads a diurnal lifestyle.

Nutrition

King snake loves to eat small rodents(mice, dwarfs, etc.) and small lizards. They are also capable of eating other snakes that are poisonous. The body of this species develops immunity to poisons. Adult reptiles can engage in cannibalism.

Subspecies and their features

On this moment There are 14 species of King Snake in the world, but only 7 of them have been fully studied.

The most common subspecies include:

1. Mountain royal. The length of individuals does not exceed 1.5 m. The triangular head is black, gray or steel in color. The body is very massive. The color is an alternation of grayish and bright orange rings.
2. Beautiful royal. The average length is a meter. The head is elongated, slightly flattened on the sides. Big eyes, slender, massive body. Torso Brown with red or brownish rectangles.
3. Mexican royal. The average length of an individual can reach up to two meters. The head is elongated, flattened laterally. Body of gray or brown shades, decorated with rectangular red or black and white spots.
4. Arizona Royal. It is one of the smallest subspecies. As a rule, individuals do not exceed a meter in length. The black head has a round shape. The coloring of the body is represented by a set of rings of red, black and yellow (sometimes white) colors.

Other subspecies are currently being studied. Information and facts about varieties are constantly being updated.

Foes in the wild

In most cases, the king snake is hunted by large predator birds: eagle, stork, heron, etc. Among mammals, the animals that feed most on snakes are: jaguar, leopard, wild boar, mongoose. The snake is also included in the diet of crocodiles.

Snake as a pet

IN modern world More and more often you can find a situation where people keep pet snakes. Many are attracted by the bright color of the Royal. However, before purchasing, a person is required to buy some equipment to make keeping the reptile as comfortable as possible.

Medium-sized individuals are best suited for home conditions. Each animal should be kept in an individual terrarium, since the King Snake has a predisposition to eat its own relatives.

Terrarium and additions to it
The minimum size for an average individual is 80x55x55 cm. For small representatives, 60x30x30 cm is enough. An artificial mat is laid on the bottom or coconut shavings are poured into it. Paper is not suitable for a snake to live on. In one of the corners you need to place a small pool so that the Royal can wash in it. A thermometer and a hydrometer are attached to the walls of the terrarium. It is necessary to constantly monitor the microclimate. Best temperature During the day the air temperature is 25-30 °C, at night - 20-25 °C. Air humidity should be between 50-60%. Periodically you need to spray the terrarium, but do not overdo it.

The reptile needs good, dim lighting. Lamps with daylight. Incandescent lamps can serve as a source of heat, although a thermal mat placed in the corner of the terrarium is better suited for this function. Ultraviolet lamps must be turned on for 30 minutes every day. This procedure keeps the snake healthy.

Nutrition
Cubs and young individuals need to be fed once a week. At this age they prefer newborn mice. Malnutrition should not be allowed, otherwise there will be disturbances in the process of growth and development of the body. An adult feeds a maximum of 3 times per month. Its diet includes gerbil mice, dwarf mice and other medium-sized rodents. After eating, you should not touch the snake for 3 days, otherwise it may regurgitate what it eats. You should also not disturb the reptile while it is eating. Instincts awaken, and the snake attacks the person. Young individuals can be aggressive in the first days, but then contact with the owner is established.

In addition to regular food intake, the King Snake needs nutrients, which are not found in food. You can give her crushed eggshells and a calcium supplement. You can add mineral water to the water, but not often. Vitamins and minerals should be added to the food once a month. Follow the dosage according to the instructions. It is necessary to consult a specialist.

Safety precautions
The king snake has a weak active poison. It can only paralyze the bitten. However, the reptile does not pose any particular danger to humans. Even adult individuals have such short fangs that, in most cases, they do not injure a person. Once tamed, the King Snake becomes a loyal and affectionate pet. You just need to be patient to make friends with the animal. You should spend 15-20 minutes every day on taming.

Age
If you follow all the conditions for keeping the King Snake, its life expectancy will be 10 years. However, there are often cases where an individual individual lived up to 15 years.

Home breeding
At home, the King Snake reproduces well. Reptiles become capable of producing offspring at the age of 3 years. In winter, the air temperature should be reduced slightly. In the spring you can bring together a male and a female. 2 weeks before crossing, you need to give the individual preparations with vitamin E. 7 days before wintering, you need to interrupt the snake’s feeding and turn off the heating devices. The air temperature in the terrarium gradually decreases to 12-15 oC. A month later, the temperature returns to normal, and feeding of the individual is restored.

The female lays from 2 to a dozen eggs. Incubation lasts about two months. The temperature required during this period is 28-29 °C. When the age of hatched individuals reaches 7 days, they begin to be fed 2 times a week. Young snakes need a separate terrarium. Adults need individual housing, as Royal look has a tendency towards cannibalism.

Immediately after purchasing a reptile, it must be placed in a quarantine terrarium for some time. This is necessary to find out the health status of the snake. The best solution is to provide the King Snake with a separate room where there will be no other pets, as they can become infected through airborne droplets.

When purchasing, you need to find out whether the individual has normal weight and whether he suffers from anorexia. Staphylococcus can infect the oral cavity, so you need to pay attention to this during examination. It is necessary to check the reptile for mites that cause skin diseases. The buyer should ask the seller when the snake last shed its skin and how it went.

IN Lately A procedure such as implanting a microchip into a pet’s body is gaining popularity. In this way, owners track the snake's location and better control its behavior. This operation is performed in veterinary clinics and is painless for the animal.

Video: Kingsnake (Lampropeltis)

There are all sorts of animals you can see in apartments and houses these days. Moreover, recently they are gaining more and more popularity exotic pets, among which the king snake clearly stands out for its spectacular appearance. Let's get acquainted with the main varieties of this reptile and the rules for keeping it at home.

What is a king snake?

These reptiles combine 14 species and belong to the genus non-venomous snakes families of colubrids and natural environment live on the American continent. Their size varies from 0.5 to 2 meters and depends on the species.

King snakes have distinctive colors, usually consisting of a large number of rings different colors. The most common colors are red, black and white.

The king snake earned its name because in its natural environment it likes to hunt other snakes, including poisonous ones. She owes this ability to her immunity to the poisons of her fellow tribesmen.

Main types

Let's look at several main types of these snakes.

California king snake

What it looks like. Slender and muscular body 0.6–1 m long. There are red spots on the slightly elongated head with a blunt muzzle. The body is decorated with a pattern in the form of alternating rings - black and white. Most often, the black rings are divided into two parts by a red stripe, which sometimes closes on the stomach. Some subspecies do not have a red tint in color. The upper part of the head is black with a light transverse stripe or lateral spots.

Where he lives. Distributed from the north of the California Peninsula (Mexico) to the southern part of Oregon (USA), including all of California. A separate group is observed in the south of the American state of Washington. Prefers mountainous terrain.

What does it eat? Rodents, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs.

Did you know? According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world's largest reptile - an 18-year-old python named Fluffy - lives in the Ohio State Zoo (USA). This record holder is more than 7 meters long and weighs as much as 136 kg!

What it looks like. The length reaches 1.3 meters. The coloration is reminiscent of poisonous coral adders and is a combination of rich shades of red, black and white.
Where he lives. North America (from Colombia to Canada).

What does it eat? Small lizards, various amphibians and large insects.

Common kingsnake

What it looks like. The average length is 1–1.4 m, the maximum reaches 2 m. A triangular head is located on the slender body. It is painted brown or black with light transverse stripes in the form of an elongated chain. The abdomen is dark in color with a pattern of several light stripes.
Where he lives. Starting from southern New Jersey to northern Florida (USA). Prefers to settle in deciduous and coniferous plantations, meadows, and swampy areas.

What does it eat? Small lizards, snakes.

Mexican black

What it looks like. The average length is 0.9–1 m, but can reach up to 2 m. The slightly elongated head is flattened on both sides. The muscular gray or brown body is decorated with irregular patches of red or black and red with a light border. The head is marked with a dark pattern resembling the letter "U". Gray belly, sometimes red coloring at the bottom of the tail.
Where he lives. Northwestern Mexico and American state Texas. Likes to settle in dry rocky places.

What does it eat? Small lizards, rodents and snakes.

What it looks like. The length ranges from 50 to 100 cm. Slender body with a compact and slightly rounded head. The top of the head is almost black, the tip of the nose is light, and there are red areas above the eye sockets. The body is covered with a pattern of red, black and light stripes. The back is black, on the stomach there is a pattern in the form of uneven areas of red, black and yellow.
Where he lives. Central and southeastern Arizona (USA), through northern Mexico to Chihuahua and Sonora. More often it lives in the mountains, among coniferous plantations, and loves rocky soil.

What does it eat? Lizards and rodents.

Important! The king snake quickly gets used to its owner, becomes almost tame and does not show any aggression. At the same time, you should accustom your pet to handling hands gradually, starting with 5-10 minutes of communication a day.

Campbell's king milk snake

What it looks like. The length reaches 0.9 m. The color looks like alternating red, black and white stripes. The head is dark, the first light stripe extends to the temple and sometimes reaches almost to the tip of the muzzle. The dark stripes are much thinner than the red and white ones; in some representatives of the species the red color is almost absent.
Where he lives. Mexico. Settles in mountain valleys, forests, and floodplains.

What does it eat? Small rodents, lizards, snakes.

What it looks like. The average length is 0.8–0.9 m, the maximum length is 1.5 m. A strong muscular body is crowned with a pointed head. Its shade is black, steel or gray. The snake's coloration is a dark gray background with wide, saddle-shaped orange areas.
Where he lives. Southern territories of Texas and New Mexico (USA), Mexican province of Chihuahua. Settles in rocks and forests.

What does it eat? Lizards, mice, amphibians.

Beautiful king snake

What it looks like. The length reaches 0.75–1 m. The strong body ends with a slightly elongated head, flattened on both sides. Background color - from fawn to brown. The pattern is red or brown rectangular spots located across the body. The abdomen has a beige or yellowish tint with dark areas. There are specimens of red and pink color without dark colors.

Where he lives. Central and southeastern United States from Texas to Florida and North Carolina. Settles in prairies, open forests, and forest clearings.

What does it eat? Rodents, frogs, birds, snakes.

Did you know? Despite its small head measuring only 1 centimeter, the African snake can swallow an egg 5-6 times larger. This helps special structure the lower jaw of a snake, capable of spreading to accommodate large prey. As soon as the egg is inside, special vertebrae open the shell, and the reptile regurgitates its pieces out.

Small and medium-sized reptiles are better suited for a home terrarium, since they are less demanding and easier to get used to. different conditions. Before purchasing a snake, you need to buy a set of equipment for its maintenance.

Terrarium

When choosing a home for your pet, you should focus on maximum dimensions, to which a certain type of king snake can grow. And keep in mind that at home, reptiles are usually somewhat larger than their wild relatives.

The terrarium should be such as not to restrict the snake’s movements and allow it to maintain its physical activity. Minimum housing parameters for adult king snakes are usually 80x55x55 cm.

A hygrometer and thermometer should be placed in your pet’s home to monitor the microclimate.

It should be within the following limits:

• daytime temperature - +25...+32 °C;
• night temperature - +20...+25 °C;
• air humidity - 50–60%.

It is also necessary to organize artificial lighting with dim lamps daylight. The terrarium can be heated using several incandescent lamps, but a thermal mat placed in one of the corners of the home is more suitable for this purpose. You also need to provide a special container for bathing your pet.

This pool, as well as daily spraying of the walls, will help maintain the required humidity in the terrarium.
The bottom of the dwelling is covered with a special artificial mat and filled with coconut soil or coarse sand. Not the most suitable option, but possible as a temporary replacement, may be to use blank paper.

Snakes are very fond of different shelters, so small grottoes should be built in the terrarium, branches, snags and large pieces of tree bark should be placed. These items will also allow you to decorate your pet’s home in an original way.

Important! If good conditions are created for a king snake, its average lifespan in a home terrarium will be about ten years. But some specimens can live 15 years or even longer.

Feeding

The frequency of feeding reptiles depends on their age. Young pets, whose bodies are still actively growing and developing, are fed once a week. Their diet includes newborn mice and runner mice.

Adults no longer require such frequent feeding; 2–3 times a month is sufficient. They are given adult gerbil mice, dwarf hamsters and other small rodents.
At the same time, there must always be fresh water in the terrarium. About once a month, you can add vitamin complexes for reptiles to the water, after reading their instructions.

During feeding, a young snake, not yet accustomed to its owner, may show aggression and try to bite, but over time this goes away. You should also know that after feeding for 3-4 days you should not pick up your pet.

Home cleaning

Usually, 2-3 days after feeding, the snake leaves feces, which must be removed immediately to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in it.

In addition, to ensure cleanliness in the terrarium, general cleaning should be done 1-2 times a month, during which the bedding or soil should be completely changed or cleaned, and equipment and decorative items should be cleaned and disinfected.

Step-by-step instruction for cleaning the terrarium:

1. Move the snake to a separate, clean terrarium.
2. Wash all decorative items, food and water containers with hot soapy water, and then rinse well with clean running water.
3. Remove the disposable substrate from the terrarium. Clean reusable with hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
4. Wash the floor and walls of the home and rinse well.
5. Dry the terrarium and all accessories well to avoid mold.
6. Assemble the terrarium and install decorative items.

The variety of colors, calm temperament, and size of the Californian king snake, comfortable for keeping in terrarium conditions, have made it a favorite among terrarium keepers.

Description

The non-venomous snake of the colubrid family reaches an average size of 150 cm with an average weight of about 1800 grams. Rarely found individuals bigger size which reach 180 cm in length. Most terrarium snakes are 107-120 cm in size.

The color and pattern of the species Lampropeltis getulus californiae varies depending on the region of its habitat. Thus, snakes that live in the coastal zones of southern California are characterized by alternating white and light yellow stripes in color. Individuals living in the northern San Joaquin Valley and southern Sacramento Valley are characterized by a black belly and dark lateral stripes. California desert kingsnakes are distinguished by wide bands of deep black and bright white that alternate along the entire length of the snake, with almost the entire head being dark and visible between the eyes White spot, and the tip of the muzzle is lighter than the main color of the head.

In addition, there are a large number of morphs bred by breeders, among which there are individuals of yellow, coffee, black and yellow color and even albinos. The most common color characteristic of the species Lampropeltis getulus californiae is dark brown or black stripes alternating with light yellow or white stripes.

The scales of individuals of the genus royal snakes are smooth and shiny. It is because of this that they received the name Lampropeltis - a derivative of Greek words"lampros" meaning shiny, and "peltis" a smooth shield used by Greek peltasts.

The body of adults is massive. The head is slightly wider than the snake's body, elongated and slightly compressed at the sides.
External distinctive features There is no dimorphism in California king snakes, and therefore only a qualified herpetologist can determine the sex using special tests.

The lifespan of individuals in captivity reaches 15-20 years, subject to necessary conditions content.

Origin and habitats in nature

The subspecies Lampropeltis getulus californiae belongs to the species Lampropeltis getula of the genus Lampropeltis (King snakes) of the family Colubridae (Cornerids)

The species is endemic to the southwest coast of the United States and northern Mexico. The main habitat of Lampropeltis getulus californiae is California, which is reflected in the name of the subspecies. California kingsnakes are also found in southwestern Oregon, Nevada, Utah, southwestern Colorado, most of Arizona, and several islands, primarily Sonora, Mexico. In addition, the subspecies was introduced to the island of Gran Canaria.

The biotope of the subspecies is very diverse. California kingsnakes live on the ground in shrubs, grasslands, deserts, swamps, as well as in agricultural lands and even near settlements. In the mountains, the subspecies is found no higher than 2164 m in the eastern Sierra Nevada and no higher than 1852 m in the southern California mountains.

Lifestyle

California king snakes are predominantly diurnal. However, they can become nocturnal when it gets too hot.

The period of activity of Lampropeltis getulus californiae occurs from March - early April to October - early November. IN winter time they can hibernate in caves, rock crevices, mammal burrows, hollow logs, and old tree stumps. The process of hibernation in this species is called “Brumation” - when during hibernation the reptile wakes up to drink water, but does not eat anything. In the first year of life, young animals may not hibernate, but even in this case, the process of life activity during the period of brumation in adults is slightly slowed down in young animals.

L. californiae hunts mainly on the ground, but can climb bushes and trees. In addition, this species swims well.

If the king snake is alarmed, it begins to wriggle, hiss and rattle its tail in a way that sounds very similar to the sounds made by rattlesnakes. Being non-venomous, king snakes kill their prey through asphyxia (suffocation). In addition, like all king snakes, Lampropeltis getulus californiae is immune to poisonous snakes, which does not prevent it from hunting them. The California kingsnake is not dangerous to humans, but if mishandled, it can bite and release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca.

California kingsnakes must be kept alone due to their tendency to cannibalism. The exception is during the breeding season, when a group of snakes may consist of one adult male and two or three adult females. At the same time, the group must be constantly monitored, and the snakes must be separated for several hours during feeding. Young California kingsnakes should never be kept together.

Terrarium: For the California king snake, a horizontal type terrarium is suitable. The dimensions of a terrarium for an adult individual can be at least 70x50x40 cm. When choosing a terrarium for a snake, you should focus, first of all, on the size of the individual itself. If the size of the individual does not exceed 2/3 of the perimeter of the terrarium, then it is spacious enough for this snake. The lid of the terrarium must be securely closed to prevent the snake from escaping.

Substrate: Mulch (cypress bark), coconut chips, and crushed corn cobs are suitable as a substrate for an adult California king snake. Such soil will absorb odors well, and it is also easy to partially replace it. If the snake can swallow the substrate while eating, then it is better to place it in a separate terrarium. For newborns, it is better to use a mat, paper towels or newspaper to prevent soil from getting into the internal organs snakes. In addition, on such a surface it is easier to observe the life activity of young animals.

Lighting: Avoid direct sunlight on the terrarium with the snake, this will create an uncontrollable rise in temperature. For lighting it is enough to use fluorescent lamps. Daylight hours during reptile activity should be 12-14 hours. It is recommended to supplement daylight lighting with lamps with UVB 4-8%.

Content temperature: in the terrarium it is necessary to create a temperature gradient from 25°C in a cold corner to 32°C in a warm one. To maintain this temperature, you can use a warm mat, placing it under the terrarium in the place where there should be a warm corner. Top-type heating as such is not required, so you can install only a fluorescent lamp above the terrarium.

Humidity maintenance: to maintain the Californian king snake high level humidity is not necessary. The substrate must be dry, especially in a cold corner. However, in the terrarium it is necessary to place a container of water close to a warm corner in which the entire snake will fit, provided that the container is only half filled with water to prevent overflowing of water. It is also necessary to organize a so-called “humidity chamber” in the terrarium. This can be done by a ditch with wet moss, where the snake can burrow. And to simulate tropical rains, the terrarium can be sprayed with warm water once a week.

Decor: the presence of a sufficient number of shelters and snags in the terrarium is prerequisite when keeping the Californian king snake. You can place live animals in a warm corner tropical plants and sphagnum moss. In a cold corner, humidity must be avoided so that the snake does not catch a cold from hypothermia, and therefore the shelters here must be dry. Snags and a drinking bowl with water, in turn, will help the snake during molting. To make the reptile feel protected, it is recommended to cover three walls of the terrarium with decoration.

Feeding in captivity

IN wildlife The diet of Lampropeltis getulus californiae depends on the habitat, since it is to a greater extent It is an opportunistic reptile and will eat almost anything it can swallow. Thus, rodents, small mammals, lizards and their eggs, snakes (including rattlesnakes) and their eggs, frogs, salamanders, birds, and large invertebrates, as well as bird and turtle eggs.

In captivity, these snakes can be fed with mice and rats of the appropriate size. It is better to give prey killed or thawed to avoid injury to the reptile. To diversify the diet, you can offer the snake quail eggs. Prey bones and egg shells are a good source of calcium, but it can also be added as part of a special vitamin and mineral supplement for reptiles.
Adults should be fed once a week, or when the snake has completely defecated. Young animals can be fed twice a week, so the baby snake will grow faster. At the same time, it is important to prevent obesity in adults and reduce the amount of food if necessary.

Breeding

Before breeding king snakes in captivity, they must be overwintered. To do this, the snake needs to be prepared. You can't feed her for about a week, then turn off the heating and gradually lower the temperature. For king snakes, the minimum temperature for hibernation is about 12 - 15°C. For about a month, the snake should be kept at this temperature, and then in the reverse order - the temperature gradually rises over the course of a week, after turning on the heating, after a week the snake can be fed.

Snakes can be wintered in special wintering boxes or in herpetological bags. There is a high risk that the snake will catch a cold, so it is advisable to prevent the humidity from increasing during wintering. There is no need to put a large drinking bowl; its size should only allow the snake to drink, and not to bathe. All spilled water It is necessary to remove it immediately, it is better that the drinker is as stable as possible.

After wintering, the female and male are placed in the same terrarium. The female's pregnancy lasts on average about 45 days. The female lays from 2 to 12 eggs. Incubation lasts 45 - 60 days at a temperature of 27 - 29°C.

About a week after hatching, the newborns moult and can be fed. There is no point in feeding them before - they still have a reserve of yolk in their stomach. You can’t put your baby in a large terrarium right away. There it will be difficult for him to find food and hide, it will be stressful for him. Therefore, it is better to make a small terrarium or keep it in a temporary plastic nursery. Otherwise, keeping young animals is similar to keeping adult snakes.

In this article I want to tell you about such a pet as Honduran king snake. I will tell you about the character of this snake, how to tame it, how to choose a terrarium for it and how to arrange it, what conditions need to be maintained in the terrarium, as well as what to feed Royal Honduran snake.

So, let's begin. In nature, this snake is distributed quite widely, from the southwest of Canada to the north South America. They are harmless to humans; on the contrary, they help fight harmful rodents. King snakes are not poisonous; if you are suddenly bitten by such a snake, there will be no health consequences.

The Royal Honduran snake grows up to two meters in length. The body, compared to its length, is very thin. Life expectancy at good conditions maintenance for about 20 years. It is better not to keep these snakes in colonies, as cannibalism is quite common.

Keeping a King Snake is not at all difficult, but you will need to buy a minimum set of equipment. Let's start with the terrarium. The terrarium should be horizontal with minimum sizes 80x55x55 centimeters for an adult snake. Of course, while your snake is small, it does not need such a large terrarium. For a small snake, 60x30x30 centimeters is quite enough. You can put an artificial mat on the bottom of the terrarium, you can sprinkle coconut shavings or coconut sawdust, or in extreme cases you can put newspaper.

The best decorative items would be to place a small cave, a piece of bark in the shape of a hole and small driftwood. In one corner of the terrarium you need to place a small pool. The snake loves to swim.

Next, you need to attach a dial or digital thermometer and hydrometer to the walls of the terrarium. The temperature for keeping the King Snake should be 25-32 degrees during the day, and 20-25 degrees at night. Humidity should be maintained at 60-35 percent. In order to maintain such humidity, it will be enough to spray the terrarium once every three days.

To illuminate the terrarium you need a fluorescent lamp. Do not install a lamp that is too bright. To heat the terrarium, you can install several incandescent light bulbs. Thermal mats are also very suitable for heating. It should be placed under one corner of the terrarium and turned on when heating is needed. All reptiles require a UV lamp to be healthy. Turn it on every day for at least 30 minutes. Special vitamins for reptiles can be added to the water in the drinking bowl.

Of the equipment, all of the above is the required minimum. Now about feeding the King Snake. While the snake is small, it needs to be fed every week and under no circumstances allowed to go hungry, otherwise this may affect its development. Newborn mice and runner mice are suitable food for a small snake. Adult snakes need to be fed once every 10-14 days with one or two adult mice. If you cannot find ordinary mice, then gerbils, dwarfs and other rodents of a suitable size will do.