Advice Please!

[SavannahSnake]

I have a ball python and have not cared for any other breed. I have been presented with the opportunity to adopt a 7 mo old king snake (it seems so sweet and is a pink and orange-I have no Ida what that is) I want to be sure I can properly care for this snake for all the years to come. Unlike balls, I don't see a ton of info online. Please give me any brain dump of information to help me to decide and how to properly care for a king snake. Anything you can think of....especially common mistakes people make. Thank you!!

Jenny


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[bcr229]

If you can care for a BP then a king is a breeze. Maintain similar hot/cool side temps as for your BP, they don't need the high humidity, and feed prey no larger than their girth. I keep mine in 40-breeder tanks bedded on aspen and they make tunnels in it when young. They tend to be less likely to want to hide all the time as they get older.

Like boas, kings are voracious feeders and will eat whenever possible. Females in particular get very aggressive about eating in the spring - mine has done the bite/wrap/try to eat on my hands a few times. My kings are the "clean-up crew" when my younger BP's decide they're not eating that day...

Unlike my boas and balls, mine weren't initially very tolerant of being handled, so I made sure to handle them daily (except for feeding day and the day after) but only for a few minutes. If the one you saw is ok then I would snap him up.

[SavannahSnake]

This one was very agreeable to being handled. So they require more bedding than a ball and not hides? Unfortunately my ball eats larger pray so I can't use as a clean up crew. That would have been nice though.


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[Pyrate81]

<< agrees with bcr.


King snakes are very hearty.

Two hides are fine with the thicker aspen added. Depending on the type of king snake, it will eventually be big enough to be your clean up crew or only need a 20L(or equivalent) if it's a small species. My cali king can and will eat small rats. He'd probably try eating an elephant if I let him.

Do you know species of snake or have pics so we can help identify it? :prays for pics:

[SavannahSnake]

I wish in had taken a pic. It is albino. I use a shaved aspen for my ball. Looks like chipped aspen is better for the king. I just ordered new hides for my ball because she has hit capacity with her current ones. I had to dig her extra space so she could get in. Do king's need that tight fit as well or just a quiet place to hang out? Can I use my ball's current ones - medium exoterra ones?


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[SavannahSnake]

I know I'll end up adopting in the morning. You know when you just get that connection with an animal it just weighs on you and I don't want someone to just get her and take care of her improperly. I'm going to read a book on king's to get as much info as I can.

Chiming in with feeding and husbandry would be awesome.


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[Daybreaker]

^ None of my Cali kings used hides if they were provided aspen to burrow in: if you have burrow-able substrate I wouldn't worry too much about the sizes of the hides, just use what you have.

[CptJack]

My King DOES use his hides, but burrows a whole lot more. He does CLIMB his hides, though and occasionally hangs out in them. Definitely don't worry about size.

I'll also say that while Kings have a bit of a rep, my CalKing has bitten me exactly once and that was the day he was shipped to me and it wasn't a snap/defensive bite, it was an attempt to eat my thumb. Their feeding response is FANTASTIC, and I can honestly say they're 900% easier than balls. I love my two BP, but I really, really get a kick out of Roger, the King Snake. He eats well, he sheds well, he's very low stress and he's really super duper interactive in a way the BP aren't. My BP are docile and puppy dog tame but Roger actively interacts with me.

[SavannahSnake]

So....definitely feed outside the enclosure. I feed my ball in, but we have a system that works. I'm never afraid she will strike me. Looks like I may not want to put as much trust in a king. Correct? The biting thing gives me pause. Just one authors opinions but never worry about my ball biting and not letting go, etc.


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[SavannahSnake]

Hmmm. Interact. I guess I don't know what that means exactly. I feel like my ball interacts but have no comparison. Peeks the curiosity.


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