How to Care for a Captive Baby California King Snake

A California Kingsnake, as the name implies, is native to California but can be found as far north as Oregon and east in Nevada and Arizona. There are two different color variations of the species; the coastal phase is striped with white or yellow and brownish-red bands, and the desert phase is banded with black and white stripes. In order to keep your juvenile snake healthy, you must replicate its natural habitat and diet.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Heat source
  • Frozen mice (pinkies)
  • Feeding tongs
  • Substrate
  • Branches
  • Water bowl
  • Cardboard box
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the aquarium in an area where you can the control lighting and temperature and have easy access to an electrical outlet. Do not place it near a window or an air vent. Provide a paper-based substrate or aspen shavings; these substrates allow your Kingsnake to burrow. Give the snake ample hiding spots by providing branches and rocks. You also need to provide a water bowl to keep your snake hydrated. It will probably use the bowl to hide under as well.

    • 2

      Adjust your snake’s environment to a temperature ranging between 72 and 88 degrees. Provide a heat source for your snake, such as a heat lamp if you are using a screen top. Ceramic elements also function like heat lamps but instead of giving off light and heat, these just emit heat. Underground heating pads stick to the bottom of the cage and allow heat to rise up from the ground. Use full spectrum fluorescent lighting (UVA and UVB rays) to provide 10 hours of light per day.

    • 3

      Feed your baby California Kingsnake pre-killed prey if possible. A captive California Kingsnake’s diet usually consists of store-bought mice. A young snake’s food source will be baby mice, called pinkies. Pinkies are sold usually frozen at your local pet store.

    • 4

      Construct an alternative habitat, such as a cardboard box or another aquarium, to feed your snake. Provide enough space so that the snake can strike yet is not escapable. Place a frozen pinkie in a plastic bag and thaw it in a cup of lukewarm water for 3 to 5 hours. Using feeding tongs, dangle the prey in front of the snake and if the snake is hungry, it will strike. A juvenile California king snake should eat every 5 to 7 days.

    • 5

      Pick up any excretions or uneaten prey in the cage at least once a week. On a monthly basis, give the cage a more detailed cleaning by replacing the substrate, removing branches, rocks and the water bowl from the cage and wipe it down with a 1 oz. bleach/1 qt. water solution. Make sure to wipe down each side of the tank inside and out.