From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

California Kingsnake
Young California Kingsnake
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Genus: Lampropeltis Species: L. getulus Subspecies: L. g. californiae
Trinomial name
Lampropeltis getulus californiae Blainville, 1835

The California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getulus californiae) originates in the desert yet can live in many other places such as: woodland, farm land, forests and riversides. They are very common pets. They usually grow between four to six feet which at this point they are considered fully grown. They usually live from 15 to 20 years in captivity but have been known to live longer. The California Kingsnake is most commonly black and white banded, however yellow bands are recorded in some subspecies, with a checkered stomach and black eyes. Kingsnakes usually shed 4 to 6 times a year at which point they go "opaque". Opaque here means their skin will dull and their eyes will turn a milky color. They usually shed in one long piece including shedding their eye scales. Adolescent snakes will shed more than adult snakes as they grow faster. When a kingsnake is preparing to shed it needs a humid environment to help shed the old skin. While this process is occurring, the snake should be handled as little as possible as the new skin is not yet mature and could be injured.

This snake is found primarily in California, and gets the name 'king' because in the wild it eats other snakes, including venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes. The venom has no effect on the kingsnake as it can tolerate the toxins in venom, however if the snake is bitten many times by venomous snakes the venom will have harmful effects. It also eats rats, mice, lizards and frogs.

Kingsnakes are primarily active at dawn and dusk, but mainly are nocturnal.This is when their main predators are sleeping, and their prey is awake. This is not to say though, that they never see the sun, or any form of lighting for that matter. They will often bask in the sun during the day in the wild.

Californian Kingsnakes are generally not exposed to a high humidity range in the wild, and in captivity you should not worry about controlling this. A fairly dry environment should be provided, although raising the humidity when the snake is coming up to a slough may aid in shedding it's skin properly.

Hatchlings should be offered pinky mice, and as they grow the mice should become larger. An adult kingsnake should be fed on large size mice or small weaner rats. Hatchlings should be fed on a regular basis, every 4-5 days is ideal. Their metabolic rate is very high and as they are growing, they need a lot more food to keep them going. Adult kingsnakes need feeding once every 2 weeks on 2 large mice. The only exception when they should be fed more is bringing them out of hibernation, getting them into condition for breeding and then, fattening up females for egg production. An egg-laying female should be fed more often than normal, once a week on 2 large mice.

• Californian Kingsnake Care Article, PetClub UK

This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

This snake article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.