Rescued a California Kingsnake Tonight...

[Andromeda]

So I was looking in the Craigslist pet section, and came across an ad saying FREE ALBINO CALIFORNIA KINGSNAKE, so of course it caught my eye, so I clicked it. She said the snake was super aggressive, and that if someone didn't come get it right away she was going to let it loose in the woods...so of course I rushed up there. I met her in a parking lot, she's like "Here, take this demon", hands me the terrarium, gets in her car and leaves. I'm appalled by what I see...there's several inches of water in the terrarium. She was sloshing around amongst various hides that are several times too small for her size. She looked absolutely miserable.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get her before pet stores closed, so I was unable to go and buy the things she needs. I had another terrarium, a smaller one, at the house which I've put her in until tomorrow. I put an extra half-log hide in there for her to use, and hooked up a moonglow heat lamp to bring her temperature up. I covered the terrarium in a towel to help hold in heat and so she'll feel more secure.

Now to where I need help...any suggestions for what I should do tonight to make her more comfortable? Also, I'm just now researching Kingsnakes now that I'm home, so any tips for when I go and pick up stuff tomorrow? I'm not sure of her length but she's very big. The neglectful owner said she thinks she's 2 1/2 years old. She barely fits in the half-log hide I put in there with her. I'd take a picture but she's all curled up in the hide and I don't want to disturb her anymore.

[shelliebear]

first off, I'd get her warm. If you have a space heater, that'll do--turn it up and use a thermometer if you have one, keep the temps around 85.
Do you have any large tupperware containers? You could possibly make a hide out of those.
I think getting her warm is the most important right now. She'll be fine till morning with a small hide, but she could die without enough heat very quickly.
Someone more knowledgeable one kings will come along soon. Closest I own to a king is a corn.

[blushingball419]

That's horrible! I seriously don't understand some people. I'm glad she found someone willing to give her a good home.

I also agree that the most important thing right now is to get her warm and dry. The moonglow lamp is good, but you should pick up an under tank heater asap, along with a couple of dark opaque bowls from the dollar store or someplace similar, and cut entrance holes in the sides. Or you could buy the hides that they sell at the pet store, but the dollar store ones work great and are a lot cheaper. I also highly recommend aspen bedding for kings. I'm sure they don't mind newspaper, but my little guy absolutely LOVES burrowing in the stuff.

Oh, and if you need another, larger enclosure for her, I would suggest a 20 gallon tank or a 41 quart tub, depending on how large she is.

But that's pretty much all you need to keep a king happy and healthy, besides maybe a branch if you feel like going all out, but they don't really need one. I personally adore my king, a lot of them have great personalities! I'm glad you could take her in, and I hope she's not sick from being kept in those conditions for god knows how long.