Gray Back Kingsnake?
- Thread starter m1ndless
- Start date
Will Hayward
New Member
KingSnakes are fine pets. In general they musk slightly more than some other popular species, but nothing to worry about.
m1ndless
New Member
It looks just like this.. http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/5367graybandedkingsnake-web.jpg
It seems really friendly, not sure if it bites or not, I held it today, it just wrapped around my hand, its really small still.
It seems really friendly, not sure if it bites or not, I held it today, it just wrapped around my hand, its really small still.
Will Hayward
New Member
Most animals bite, you just have to give them a reason to do so...
Watch for the warning signals and you'll be fine.
Most snake species are decent pets. Kingsnakes are among the best ones.
Watch for the warning signals and you'll be fine.
Most snake species are decent pets. Kingsnakes are among the best ones.
Will Hayward
New Member
How wide around is the snake in the middle of the body? Pencil, dime, nickle?
I prefer live feeding if it is monitored. Most snakes respond better to live than Frozen-Thawed and pre-killed.
I prefer live feeding if it is monitored. Most snakes respond better to live than Frozen-Thawed and pre-killed.
Will Hayward
New Member
Pinky mice should be able to run. They don't have eyes open, not fur.
Fuzzy mice have a thin fur coat, open eyes, and are active.
Pinky mice should be fine to feed, or smaller fuzzy mice. The snake will be save taking food that is slightly smaller than a quarter around- or about 1.5X its girth in the middle of the body.
A newly homed snake likely wont eat for the first week while it becomes accustomed. Leave it for this period to rest and don't bother it much. If It doesn't take the feeder before tonight, I'd whack it, bag it, and keep it for later to thaw as a meal.
Fuzzy mice have a thin fur coat, open eyes, and are active.
Pinky mice should be fine to feed, or smaller fuzzy mice. The snake will be save taking food that is slightly smaller than a quarter around- or about 1.5X its girth in the middle of the body.
A newly homed snake likely wont eat for the first week while it becomes accustomed. Leave it for this period to rest and don't bother it much. If It doesn't take the feeder before tonight, I'd whack it, bag it, and keep it for later to thaw as a meal.
Will Hayward
New Member
Good to hear.
DarkRapture
New Member
it sounds like the first mouse was too big! good to hear that he ate the pinky right away! pinkies do not need to be pre killed unless they are too squirmy and you are feeding a hatchling snake.
has your roomate done a lot of research yet? i have kept snakes for about 10 years and have a few basic tips for your roomate's kingsnake. sounds like the snake is maybe a couple months old. it will need to be fed a couple pinkies each week to 10 days, offered fresh water everyday and have at least one heat source - best if provided by way of an under tank heating pad, a basking lamp may be an option for the future (but just a regular light is ok for now). the snake should be provided with substrate that it can burrow into once it is a few months as they are a burrowing snake (when it is eating fuzzy mice), paper or reptile carpet is fine for now (you don't want impaction from eating substrate!). people say that one hiding spot is sufficient but i think that a snake needs a hide box/container half over the heat pad, and one hide on the cool side of the tank also. kingsnakes will enjoy climbing too, so some nice sticks will provide cover and a place to hang out. fake plants liven up the tank but live will also make it nicer to look at, either is fine. a 10 gallon is good for youngsters and a 20 gallon is minimum (in my opinoin) for adults. they don't mind daily handling, but keep it short while they are young (5-10 min), and when they get older they can become quite sociable.
once your snake is old enough for substrate, feeding should be done in a seperate container. this is also beneficial in the long run so that your snake is not used to eating things in his home - and not hunting your fingers when you put them in there!!
kingsnakes are wonderful pets and easy to care for. if i had a place for another tank i think that i would already have one by now! haha, i think that my hubby would give me trouble if i got another snake!! 5 is enough, right? lol...
has your roomate done a lot of research yet? i have kept snakes for about 10 years and have a few basic tips for your roomate's kingsnake. sounds like the snake is maybe a couple months old. it will need to be fed a couple pinkies each week to 10 days, offered fresh water everyday and have at least one heat source - best if provided by way of an under tank heating pad, a basking lamp may be an option for the future (but just a regular light is ok for now). the snake should be provided with substrate that it can burrow into once it is a few months as they are a burrowing snake (when it is eating fuzzy mice), paper or reptile carpet is fine for now (you don't want impaction from eating substrate!). people say that one hiding spot is sufficient but i think that a snake needs a hide box/container half over the heat pad, and one hide on the cool side of the tank also. kingsnakes will enjoy climbing too, so some nice sticks will provide cover and a place to hang out. fake plants liven up the tank but live will also make it nicer to look at, either is fine. a 10 gallon is good for youngsters and a 20 gallon is minimum (in my opinoin) for adults. they don't mind daily handling, but keep it short while they are young (5-10 min), and when they get older they can become quite sociable.
once your snake is old enough for substrate, feeding should be done in a seperate container. this is also beneficial in the long run so that your snake is not used to eating things in his home - and not hunting your fingers when you put them in there!!
kingsnakes are wonderful pets and easy to care for. if i had a place for another tank i think that i would already have one by now! haha, i think that my hubby would give me trouble if i got another snake!! 5 is enough, right? lol...
m1ndless
New Member
He is going to try to feed it every saturday, is that alright?
He did some research, talked to the store, got alot of info, I think he will be alright. `
I am not sure how, but the snake was at the top of the cage last night, like at the top screen lid, somehow hanging from up there, it was weird.
For heat, he is using a red hear bulb from the per store, its like 12" over the cage, keeps it at 90-100 degrees I beleive.
