Kingsnake vs Ball Python?

[Crowley136]

So I want a Ball Python but I don't wanna worry about keeping the humidity up constantly cause I tend to obsess over things like that. Would a kingsnake be a better option? If so, I've don't TONS of research on both. I love research! Is it tue you don't need to worry about humidity at all with kingsnakes? And I'm wondering what the smallest kingsnake is that's commonly kept? California? How big do they get? Can they be fed large mice their whole life? It would be cheaper too. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Last thing, what kingsnake has the best temperament/handling?

[distaff]

So I want a Ball Python but I don't wanna worry about keeping the humidity up constantly cause I tend to obsess over things like that. Would a kingsnake be a better option? If so, I've don't TONS of research on both. I love research! Is it tue you don't need to worry about humidity at all with kingsnakes? And I'm wondering what the smallest kingsnake is that's commonly kept? California? How big do they get? Can they be fed large mice their whole life? It would be cheaper too. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Last thing, what kingsnake has the best temperament/handling?

Even my "Desert" King needed higher humidity than we have in the house. His sheds improved when I switched him to a planted tank. He does not care to be held, but I keep because he is beautiful. Going on three? years old, and about 34" long. Slender. He eats a mouse or small rat weekly, but refuses meals most of the winter.

[Dragoon]

I used a rack and tubs and never worried about humidity. Caging takes care of that. Personally find ball pythons more mellow but just pick the species you really want and set up the caging for it. Investing in the enclosure saves a lot of time and effort later.

[enginee837]

Get a woma, they are like a kingsnake trapped in a pythons body.

[dylan815]

It all comes down to which ever one you're more interested in taking car of for 20+ years. The Humidity thing really isn't that big of a deal to do for the ball pythons. I just mist mine once, sometimes twice a day when in shed and keep his terrarium covered most the way. That takes care of the humidity "problem". I know ball pythons are great first or second time snakes because they are very laid back and slow moving. California kings i believe are a little more crazy and squirmy?

[Zincubus]

Get a woma, they are like a kingsnake trapped in a pythons body.

What a great description of a Woma .. I once said mine was Retic in a Corn snake body..


There's really nothing similar about these two apart from being snakes !

If you want something placid , docile , slow moving and great to handle it's gotta be a Royal / Ball python - they are nocturnal and so you won't see them during the day ... Kings are basically the opposite .

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[Ax01]

i don't often worry about humidity for my Colubrids. i have 2 Milks, 1 King and 2 Corns (and an African House Snake). i live in Seattle where the weather is mild and it rains often. my natural household temps and humidity works for them. the natural temps/humidity where u live may differ. except for one time, they've always had perfect 1 piece sheds and i keep them on shredded aspen. my Anerythristic Milksnake had a multipiece shed once where the lower third was stuck. it was quickly fixed with extra misting.


Not sure which King is the smallest, but males will be smaller than females when full grown. my big ones are about 2years old, a lil over 2feet long currently and probably as thick as a good size thumb. they eat adult mice currently. they're garbage disposals so they will eat hoppers, adults mice and rats when they're big enough. i will have to weigh which will be more cost efficient when they get big enough. Interesting note on feeding: i can put prey right up to my Corns and they will swallow it directly from my tongs. My King will snatch and yank the mouse. My Milks will snatch and wrap.


my King and Corns were all very bitey as babies. my King is a year younger and she stills rattles her tail, hisses and occasionally strike. my Milks never acted this way. Anyway my biggest Corn has grown out of this behavior and i expect my King to do the same. Colubrids are not like Pythons. they are always on the move and squirmy while handling. also u have to keep an eye on them and be close by if u leave them on the floor. they can quickly slither away and get lost. in their cages, they are more active than Pythons but actually pretty chill in the cages. they will not be like BP's that u can chill and watch TV with. u will have your hands full. Anyway these are my experience. Hope u find it helpful.



if u wanna read more details, check out the Cali King care sheet here: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...a-californiae)
(or Corn one here: https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...ttata-guttata)

[EL-Ziggy]

Humidity isn't really a factor for kings and most can feed on jumbo mice their entire lives. My kings usually topped out at 4-5 ft long and they're a lot more slender than BPs. As others have said some kings can be a little nippy as babies but most calm down pretty quickly.

[MasonC2K]

If the Kingsnake is bigger and hungry, the Kingsnake wins.

[John1982]

Is it tue you don't need to worry about humidity at all with kingsnakes? And I'm wondering what the smallest kingsnake is that's commonly kept?

Not true. If your house is very dry, you're going to at least need to offer a damp retreat during sheds. The smallest depends on what you consider a king snake. There are generally more options in the Lampropeltis genus if you don't mind tapping into "milk snake" faction. Barring that, a couple of smaller common name "kings" are the scarlet(L. elapsoides) and grey banded(L. alterna). Between those two, I'd recommend alterna for the easier keeper and better handler in general.