New Mexican Black Kingsnake

[Charles8088]

Finally getting my MBK. She'll be here tomorrow by 10:30 morning. She's a month old hatchling.

I have my T8 split in half, going to put her in there, until she gets bigger. Then maybe she'll get the whole T8.

Question... I have 2 hides, one on the cold side (approx. 80 deg) and one on the hot side (approx. 90 deg). Also have a skull hide right in the center, shelf in the back, and a fake leaf vine thrown in the back. Will that be too much space for her?

[Craiga 01453]

Congrats!!! So you officially decided MBK...good choice!!! I think you'll be happy with a King, and the MBKs are beautiful animals.

I'm not too sure of the T8 dimensions, but I believe half would be about 18"x12" floor space right?

[Prognathodon]

craigafrechette, that would be a smidge under 24" x 24" for half of a T8.

My biggest concern with baby colubrids is escape. I'd be very concerned she'd manage to wiggle between the sliding doors or through the ventilation holes.

That's also a lot of space for a baby king. They can be shy as babies, and that's a lot of area to search for a little worm. I'd probably start her in something smaller. I've got a couple enclosures in the 18-20" x 10" neighborhood that I'd start with. You could set a smaller tub in the AP enclosure if space is an issue.

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They don't cost an arm and a leg, almost indestructible, and I can check on occupants without opening the tub. I started my blood python in one, and currently have my problem-eater sand boa and my husband's baby Deckert's rat snake in them.


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[bcr229]

Drop her temps back to 75-85*F, they can run a bit cooler than ball pythons. Also I would keep her in a smaller tub for the first year, even if it's inside the half of a T8.

[Sunnieskys]

Substrate? They burrow. Mine never uses hides only burrows in substrate.

[Zincubus]

I've got my MBK on light coloured beech chippings to emphasise his coloration.
He never burrows but he's got loads of pieces of stripped bark and fake foliage ( poundland ) .

As regards the possible gap between the sliding glass doors - I used to slot a plastic / perspex 30cm ruler inbetween the glass ( cut down to size if required ) .

[Craiga 01453]

I would agree that that is too big, and yeah, escapes with small colubrids like that are always a risk. I would throw a smaller tub right in there.

I run my Kings enclosure in the 80-82 range with a hot spot 88ish

[Prognathodon]

Substrate? They burrow. Mine never uses hides only burrows in substrate.

Our Thayeri-phase and MBK used their hides as youngsters, but any more they hang out and watch what's going on outside their enclosures. I call them our busybody snakes.


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[Charles8088]

Congrats!!! So you officially decided MBK...good choice!!! I think you'll be happy with a King, and the MBKs are beautiful animals.

I'm not too sure of the T8 dimensions, but I believe half would be about 18"x12" floor space right?

Thank you. Yes, I pretty much had my mind set on the MBK, but it has been very hard to find, especially young and female. I am also currently working on getting a ball python.

The AP T8 is 48" long x 24" depth x 12" height. But, with the split, the king's side would be 24"x24"x12" (actual inside dimensions are a tad smaller).

My biggest concern with baby colubrids is escape. I'd be very concerned she'd manage to wiggle between the sliding doors or through the ventilation holes.

That's also a lot of space for a baby king. They can be shy as babies, and that's a lot of area to search for a little worm. I'd probably start her in something smaller. I've got a couple enclosures in the 18-20" x 10" neighborhood that I'd start with. You could set a smaller tub in the AP enclosure if space is an issue.

Drop her temps back to 75-85*F, they can run a bit cooler than ball pythons. Also I would keep her in a smaller tub for the first year, even if it's inside the half of a T8.

When I get her tomorrow, I will check her size against the sliding door gap and the vent holes. If she stays in this T8, I can probably put in a bunch more branches and foliage to pretty much cover her up completely.

If I get a smaller tub and place it inside this bigger enclosure, how would I create a temp variant of 75-85 on one side and 85-95 on the other?

Substrate? They burrow. Mine never uses hides only burrows in substrate.

Its not in there yet... but, I have the Reptichip for substrate.

As regards the possible gap between the sliding glass doors - I used to slot a plastic / perspex 30cm ruler inbetween the glass ( cut down to size if required ).

Good idea. Will keep that in mind, as well as something with vent holes if after comparing snake-to-hole size it looks problematic.

[EL-Ziggy]

I started my hatchling kings in 40g tanks. As long as they have plenty of hides and floor covering the snake should be fine. If it's a baby it may stay hidden quite a bit, which they do anyway, but I don't think the enclosure size will stress her out. The ventilation holes are pretty thin on the T8 but still make sure your girl cant get through them. I started a 31g carpet hatchling in a split T8 and he never escaped but kings are a little smaller. My king hatchlings were like 12g. I do think your hides are too large. They prefer tight fitting hides especially when they're younger. I also think a hot spot of 86-88 is ideal and ambient temps in the mid 70s are fine. Looking forward to oics of your new critter. Kings are fun little snakes.