Sunny California is home to a very brightly colored reptile called the California kingsnake (Lat. Lampropeltis getula california). This completely harmless creature from the genus of Royal snakes (Lampropeltis) of the Colubridae family is happily kept in home terrariums by lovers of exotic animals.
The snake does not show aggression towards people and quickly becomes tame and reproduces well in captivity. The only drawback of the scaly beauty is excessive timidity.
At the slightest fright, she spews out a huge amount of foul-smelling feces, the aroma of which can be compared in the strength of its effect, perhaps, only with the famous skunk liquid.
Spreading
In addition to the California Peninsula, small populations of the reptile are found in the states of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. The snake lives in both semi-dry and dry areas at altitudes up to 2.4 thousand meters above sea level.
She has a special passion for swamps, water meadows and the coasts of various bodies of water. In the savannah and on the outskirts of deserts it is much less common. From the summer heat, she hides under the roots of trees, in rock crevices or in abandoned burrows of other animals. During the cooler months, the snake enters a months-long winter hibernation.
Behavior
The reptile leads an active daily lifestyle. Only in very hot weather does it hunt in the early morning or in the evening twilight. The snake moves mainly on the ground, but can crawl onto low trees and bushes. Very young snakes especially love to crawl through trees.
The Californian snake feels excellent in water, so it often hunts amphibians. Other smaller species of snakes, including poisonous ones, also become its victims. They make up the majority of the diet.
Cannibalism is also common among this species. Larger individuals gladly devour their weaker brothers. This phenomenon is most often observed during periods of starvation.
The snake will also not miss the opportunity to feast on rodents, birds and bird eggs. The victim is first strangled and then swallowed with his head.
Reproduction
The species is an oviparous snake. Californian snakes reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years. Mating occurs after hibernation ends, usually between early April and late May. The female lays 4 to 10 eggs in a secluded place.
Sometimes there may be a larger number of eggs in a clutch, which depends on the age of the female and her fatness. Incubation lasts about 50-70 days at ambient temperature.
Young snakes hatch from eggs fully formed and ready for independent life. Their body length is about 30 cm. In the first year of their life, they feed mainly on lizards; in captivity, they can be fed to young rodents.
The California kingsnake occupies an important place in the ecosystem, containing the growth of amphibians, venomous snakes and small mammals. In turn, it itself is food for birds of prey and coyotes.
Description
The length of adult individuals is 150-205 cm. The body is slender, but very strong and muscular. The head is slightly elongated and the muzzle is rounded. Red spots appear clearly on the head.
The body is decorated with black and white rings. There is a bright red stripe running through the black rings. There may be subspecies without red stripes. The tail is relatively short. The eyes are located on the sides of the head. The pupils are round in shape.
The lifespan of the California king snake is about 30 years.
Royal or milk snakes (lat. Lampropeltis triangulum). These bright striped beauties came to us from the Americas, where they live in the territory from Venezuela and Ecuador to southern Canada.
This coloring wildlife Only poisonous and dangerous predators, as well as their imitators, can boast. So, milk snakes are just one of the latter. They pose no danger to people or animals and are suitable even for beginner terrarium keepers. They can be compared to our snakes, which have a colorful outfit. 
Rich red, white and black colors make them stand out and very attractive. One zoo can have several species of milk snakes, and none of them will be repeated. 
Although in the wild the diet of striated snakes usually includes lizards, various rodents, eggs of relatives and even smaller snakes, in captivity they readily feed on ordinary mice. Since they hunt at night, immediately after landing the food animal you need to turn off the lights. Milk snakes swallow small animals alive; larger animals are fixed with vinegar and strangled. 
For a comfortable stay, it is advisable to provide them with good ventilation and a small shelter. Tree branches and cute driftwood are suitable for decoration, and dry shavings, gravel or crushed bark can be laid on the floor. 
Non-thorny cacti and artificial succulent plants look very impressive in terrariums. You can show your imagination and reproduce a piece of prairie for your domestic reptile. The only peculiarity is the separate keeping of individuals of the same species, since king snakes are prone to cannibalism. 
The terrarium does not have to be large: a sufficient volume is 0.3 square meters. m. The optimal humidity for milk snakes is 75%, the air temperature is 25-35 degrees during daylight hours and 22 degrees at night. It is also advisable to provide the snake with the opportunity to swim in a spacious bathing suit, which is best placed in a dark place. 
Interestingly, they got their name “dairy” supposedly because of their love for milk. Of course, if you pour milk instead of water into a snake’s drinking bowl, sooner or later it will drink it, but it won’t get much pleasure. More likely, indigestion will develop. It’s just that a long time ago local residents, noticing poor milk yield from cows, blamed these snakes for everything, believing that they sucked milk at night. How the minke whales could do this without lips was of no concern to anyone, because they had to find the culprits. 
Milk snakes are relatively small, their body length rarely exceeds 1.5 meters. In the wild, they become sexually mature at 2 years old, but in captivity the period of maturation extends to three years. They become active in the late afternoon and hide in shelters during daylight hours. 
Pregnancy in striated snakes lasts from 50 to 70 days, and a clutch usually contains from 4 to 9 eggs. Hatched snakes, 25-27 cm long, grow quickly on food from newborn mice and by the age of seven months they become 2 times larger. Already in one year, the body length of milk snakes reaches one meter. They live on average 10-15 years.
King snake belongs to the family Colubridae and is a prominent representative genus Lampropeltis (which in Greek means “sparkling shield”). It received this name due to its specific dorsal scales.
Royal, in turn, this snake was nicknamed because in the wild its favorite delicacy is other snakes, including poisonous ones. The fact is that the body of king snakes is absolutely not susceptible to the poison of its other relatives. There are reliably known cases where representatives of this genus even ate rattlesnakes, which are considered one of the most dangerous.
Common kingsnake lives mainly in deserts and semi-deserts of North America. It can easily be found in Arizona, Nevada and in the swampy areas of Alabama and Florida.
To date, seven subspecies of these snakes have been quite well studied, which differ from each other not only in color, but also in size, which varies from 80 centimeters to two meters for the largest representatives.
Types of king snakes
California king snake. This variety has a number of differences from other representatives of its species. Firstly, they have a rich dark black or brown color, on which light longitudinal rings clearly stand out.
Pictured is a California king snake
There are even snow-white individuals with a beautiful pearlescent tint and pink eyes. We can safely say about her that this is pet king snake for the reason that it takes root well in captivity.
Therefore, it is very popular among terrarium enthusiasts from all over the world. globe, who sometimes collect entire collections of similar snakes of the most varied colors.
The photo shows a domestic king snake
Under natural conditions, their main habitat is in the state of California, where they got their name. They live not only in desert and mountainous areas, but also near all kinds of agricultural land not far from people.
Keeping at home
Those who decide to keep such a snake in a terrarium should know that they feed mainly on small rodents, and keeping two or more snakes together in one space is unacceptable because they do not disdain eating their relatives.
King milk snake. On this moment Scientists have counted about 25 subspecies of milky king snakes, the sizes of which range from one to one and a half meters. However, they are all extremely similar to each other and are usually black, orange-red or white-yellow in color.
The photo shows a king milk snake hybrid
Since many representatives of these varieties can easily interbreed with each other, all kinds of hybrids can be found on sale. It is recognized as safe for humans because it is classified as non-toxic.
In captivity, their life expectancy often reaches twenty years. They feed mainly on small mammals, snakes and lizards. Mexican king snake. The main color of this variety is rich brown or gray.
On their head they usually have a darkish pattern resembling the letter “U”; their entire body is surrounded by quadrangular spots of different colors with a white border. Dimensions vary from one to two meters. Large external differences not observed between females and males.
Pictured is a Mexican king snake
IN natural conditions Its habitat is concentrated in the region of Texas and in small provinces of Mexico, which is how it got its name. She likes to settle in subtropical mixed forests, in which pine and oak species predominate.
During the day, she usually hides in narrow crevices of rocks, among thickets of bushes and along slopes overgrown with dense vegetation. The peak of activity occurs at night. This species reproduces by eggs, which the female lays from 15 to 20 eggs at a time.
The photo shows the incubation of king snake eggs
For those who want to purchase a similar snake for home use, you can easily find many offers on the Internet by entering the query “ buy king snake».
For feeding when kept in a terrarium, small rodents, frogs and frogs are used, which are the favorite delicacy of milking king snakes. For illumination, lamps emitting ultraviolet spectrum are placed directly in the terrarium.
In summer, they can be taken out in the sun (exclusively in good weather), in winter it is advisable to provide additional heating of the space using household or special appliances.
Vitamin E is added to the diet of king snakes for a period of two to three weeks immediately after hibernation. Mating occurs from mid-spring to early summer.
In one clutch, the female can lay from four to twelve eggs, which are subsequently placed in an incubator, where after about 60-79 days the first babies appear.
Sinaloyan king snake. This snake got its name because its main habitat is in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, where it can be found in river beds, streams and among dry mixed forests.
Pictured is the Sinaloyan king snake
Despite the fact that this species is virtually indistinguishable in color from coral adders, which are the most dangerous to humans, it is non-toxic and safe for people. They are usually small in size and rarely reach more than one meter in length.
Their diet includes not only all kinds of small rodents, frogs and lizards, but also large insects. If the Sinaloyan king snake is purchased to be kept in a terrarium, then it is necessary to install a small tank filled with water in which the snake can swim. It is also advisable to place houses, various shelves and other shelters. The terrarium is sprayed with water once a day, and they are fed about once a week.
Black king snake. This is a relatively small species of king snake, reaching a length of half a meter to a meter. Distributed mainly in Mexico. At the moment, she has been studied very poorly, so the features of her life are still a mystery.
The photo shows a black king snake
Honduran king snake. They live within the tropical rainforests and forests of Nicaragua and Honduras, from where they got their name. They have a bright and unusual color, thanks to which this variety is very popular among breeders. They adapt well to captivity and can live up to twenty years.
Pictured is a Honduran king snake
Striated kingsnake. Distributed in North America from Canada to Colombia. It has medium sizes (the length usually does not exceed one and a half meters) and a bright color, similar to the coral adder, unlike which it is not poisonous. It hibernates for several months, after which it begins to reproduce. The average lifespan of such snakes is about ten years.
Pictured is a striated king snake
Poisonous king snake. King cobra as a snake It is considered the largest venomous snake on the entire planet. Its size ranges from two to four meters, although individuals are known that reach more than five meters in length.
Their lifespan is approximately thirty years, during which it continues to grow and increase in size. They often settle near human settlements, for which their poison is extremely dangerous.
Pictured is a king cobra
Pictured is a royal python
King python snake. It is considered one of the smallest representatives of pythons. It is not poisonous and does not pose any danger to humans. It has a completely peaceful character, which is why it is very popular among snake breeders.
The variety of colors, calm temperament, and size of the Californian king snake, comfortable for keeping in terrarium conditions, have made it a favorite among terrarium keepers.
Description
The non-venomous snake of the colubrid family reaches an average size of 150 cm with an average weight of about 1800 grams. Larger specimens are rarely found, reaching 180 cm in length. Most terrarium snakes are 107-120 cm in size.
The color and pattern of the species Lampropeltis getulus californiae varies depending on the region of its habitat. Thus, snakes that live in the coastal zones of southern California are characterized by alternating white and light yellow stripes in color. Individuals living in the northern San Joaquin Valley and southern Sacramento Valley are characterized by a black belly and dark lateral stripes. California desert kingsnakes are distinguished by wide bands of deep black and bright white that alternate along the entire length of the snake, with almost the entire head being dark, with a white patch between the eyes and the tip of the muzzle being lighter than the base color of the head.
In addition, there is a large number of morphs bred by breeders, among which there are individuals of yellow, coffee, black and yellow color and even albinos. The most common color characteristic of the species Lampropeltis getulus californiae is dark brown or black stripes alternating with light yellow or white stripes.
The scales of individuals of the genus royal snakes are smooth and shiny. It is due to this that they received the name Lampropeltis - a derivative of the Greek words “lampros”, which means shiny, and “peltis” - a smooth shield used by Greek peltasts.
The body of adults is massive. The head is slightly wider than the snake's body, elongated and slightly compressed at the sides.
External distinctive features There is no dimorphism in California king snakes, and therefore only a qualified herpetologist can determine the sex using special tests.
The lifespan of individuals in captivity reaches 15-20 years, subject to necessary conditions content.
Origin and habitats in nature
The subspecies Lampropeltis getulus californiae belongs to the species Lampropeltis getula of the genus Lampropeltis (King snakes) of the family Colubridae (Cornerids)
The species is endemic to the southwest coast of the United States and northern Mexico. The main habitat of Lampropeltis getulus californiae is California, which is reflected in the name of the subspecies. California kingsnakes are also found in southwestern Oregon, Nevada, Utah, southwestern Colorado, most of Arizona, and several islands, primarily Sonora, Mexico. In addition, the subspecies was introduced to the island of Gran Canaria.
The biotope of the subspecies is very diverse. California kingsnakes live on the ground in shrubs, grasslands, deserts, swamps, as well as in agricultural lands and even near settlements. In the mountains, the subspecies is found no higher than 2164 m in the eastern Sierra Nevada and no higher than 1852 m in the southern California mountains.
Lifestyle
California king snakes are predominantly diurnal. However, they can become nocturnal when it gets too hot.
The period of activity of Lampropeltis getulus californiae occurs from March - early April to October - early November. During the winter, they may hibernate in caves, rock cracks, mammal burrows, hollow logs, and old tree stumps. The process of hibernation in this species is called “Brumation” - when during hibernation the reptile wakes up to drink water, but does not eat anything. In the first year of life, young animals may not hibernate, but even in this case, the process of life activity during the period of brumation in adults is slightly slowed down in young animals.
L. californiae hunts mainly on the ground, but can climb bushes and trees. In addition, this species swims well.
If the king snake is alarmed, it begins to wriggle, hiss and rattle its tail in a way that sounds very similar to the sounds made by rattlesnakes. Being non-venomous, king snakes kill their prey through asphyxia (suffocation). In addition, like all king snakes, Lampropeltis getulus californiae is immune to poisonous snakes, which does not stop her from hunting them. The California kingsnake is not dangerous to humans, but if mishandled, it can bite and release a foul-smelling fluid from its cloaca.
California kingsnakes must be kept alone due to their tendency to cannibalism. The exception is during the breeding season, when a group of snakes may consist of one adult male and two or three adult females. At the same time, the group must be constantly monitored, and the snakes must be separated for several hours during feeding. Young California kingsnakes should never be kept together.
Terrarium: For the California king snake, a horizontal type terrarium is suitable. The dimensions of a terrarium for an adult individual can be at least 70x50x40 cm. When choosing a terrarium for a snake, you should focus, first of all, on the size of the individual itself. If the size of the individual does not exceed 2/3 of the perimeter of the terrarium, then it is spacious enough for this snake. The lid of the terrarium must be securely closed to prevent the snake from escaping.
Substrate: Mulch (cypress bark), coconut chips, and crushed corn cobs are suitable as a substrate for an adult California king snake. Such soil will absorb odors well, and it is also easy to partially replace it. If the snake can swallow the substrate while eating, then it is better to place it in a separate terrarium. For newborns it is better to use a mat, paper towels or newspaper to prevent soil from getting into internal organs snakes. In addition, on such a surface it is easier to observe the life activity of young animals.
Lighting: Avoid direct sunlight on the terrarium with the snake, this will create an uncontrollable rise in temperature. For lighting it is enough to use fluorescent lamps. Daylight hours during reptile activity should be 12-14 hours. It is recommended to supplement daylight lighting with lamps with UVB 4-8%.
Content temperature: in the terrarium it is necessary to create a temperature gradient from 25°C in a cold corner to 32°C in a warm one. To maintain this temperature, you can use a warm mat, placing it under the terrarium in the place where there should be a warm corner. Top-type heating as such is not required, so you can install only a fluorescent lamp above the terrarium.
Humidity maintenance: to maintain the Californian king snake high level humidity is not necessary. The substrate must be dry, especially in a cold corner. However, in the terrarium it is necessary to place a container of water close to a warm corner in which the entire snake will fit, provided that the container is only half filled with water to prevent overflowing of water. It is also necessary to organize a so-called “humidity chamber” in the terrarium. This can be done by a ditch with wet moss, where the snake can burrow. And to simulate tropical rains, the terrarium can be sprayed with warm water once a week.
Decor: presence in the terrarium sufficient quantity shelters and snags are a must when keeping a California king snake. In a warm corner you can place live tropical plants and sphagnum moss. In a cold corner, humidity must be avoided so that the snake does not catch a cold from hypothermia, and therefore the shelters here must be dry. Snags and a drinking bowl with water, in turn, will help the snake during molting. To make the reptile feel protected, it is recommended to cover three walls of the terrarium with decoration.
Feeding in captivity
In the wild, the diet of Lampropeltis getulus californiae depends on the habitat, as it is largely an opportunistic reptile and will eat almost anything it can swallow. Thus, the prey of California king snakes are rodents, small mammals, lizards and their eggs, snakes (including rattlesnakes) and their eggs, frogs, salamanders, birds, as well as large invertebrates, as well as eggs of birds and turtles.
In captivity, these snakes can be fed with mice and rats of the appropriate size. It is better to give prey killed or thawed to avoid injury to the reptile. To diversify the diet, you can offer the snake quail eggs. Prey bones and egg shells are a good source of calcium, but it can also be added as part of a special vitamin and mineral complex for reptiles.
Adults should be fed once a week, or when the snake has completely defecated. Young animals can be fed twice a week, so the baby snake will grow faster. At the same time, it is important to prevent obesity in adults and reduce the amount of food if necessary.
Breeding
Before breeding king snakes in captivity, they must be overwintered. To do this, the snake needs to be prepared. You can't feed her for about a week, then turn off the heating and gradually lower the temperature. For king snakes, the minimum temperature for hibernation is about 12 - 15°C. For about a month, the snake should be kept at this temperature, and then in the reverse order - the temperature gradually rises over the course of a week, after turning on the heating, after a week the snake can be fed.
Snakes can be wintered in special wintering boxes or in herpetological bags. There is a high risk that the snake will catch a cold, so it is advisable to prevent the humidity from increasing during wintering. There is no need to put a large drinking bowl; its size should only allow the snake to drink, and not to bathe. All spilled water must be cleaned up immediately, it is better that the drinking bowl is as stable as possible.
After wintering, the female and male are placed in the same terrarium. The female's pregnancy lasts on average about 45 days. The female lays from 2 to 12 eggs. Incubation lasts 45 - 60 days at a temperature of 27 - 29°C.
About a week after hatching, the newborns moult and can be fed. There is no point in feeding them before - they still have a reserve of yolk in their stomach. You can’t put your baby in a large terrarium right away. There it will be difficult for him to find food and hide, it will be stressful for him. Therefore, it is better to make a small terrarium or keep it in a temporary plastic nursery. Otherwise, keeping young animals is similar to keeping adult snakes.
There are all sorts of animals you can see in apartments and houses these days. Moreover, in Lately Exotic pets are becoming increasingly popular, among which the king snake clearly stands out for its spectacular appearance. Let's get acquainted with the main varieties of this reptile and the rules for keeping it at home.
What is a king snake?
These reptiles combine 14 species and belong to the genus non-venomous snakes families of colubrids and live in their natural environment on the American continent. Their size varies from 0.5 to 2 meters and depends on the species.
King snakes have distinctive colors, usually consisting of a large number of rings of different colors. The most common colors are red, black and white.
The king snake earned its name because in its natural environment it likes to hunt other snakes, including poisonous ones. She owes this ability to her immunity to the poisons of her fellow tribesmen.
Main types
Let's look at several main types of these snakes.
California king snake
What it looks like. Slender and muscular body 0.6–1 m long. There are red spots on the slightly elongated head with a blunt muzzle. The body is decorated with a pattern in the form of alternating rings - black and white. Most often, the black rings are divided into two parts by a red stripe, which sometimes closes on the stomach. Some subspecies do not have a red tint in color. The upper part of the head is black with a light transverse stripe or lateral spots. 
Where he lives. Distributed from the north of the California Peninsula (Mexico) to the southern part of Oregon (USA), including all of California. A separate group is observed in the south of the American state of Washington. Prefers mountainous terrain.
What does it eat? Rodents, lizards, snakes, birds, eggs.
Did you know? According to the Guinness Book of Records, the world's largest reptile - an 18-year-old python named Fluffy - lives in the Ohio State Zoo (USA). This record holder is more than 7 meters long and weighs as much as 136 kg!
What it looks like. The length reaches 1.3 meters. The coloration is reminiscent of poisonous coral adders and is a combination of rich shades of red, black and white. 
Where he lives. North America (from Colombia to Canada).
What does it eat? Small lizards, various amphibians and large insects.
Common kingsnake
What it looks like. The average length is 1–1.4 m, the maximum reaches 2 m. A triangular head is located on the slender body. It is painted brown or black with light transverse stripes in the form of an elongated chain. The abdomen has dark shade with a pattern of several light stripes. 
Where he lives. Starting from southern New Jersey to northern Florida (USA). Prefers to settle in deciduous and coniferous plantations, meadows, and swampy areas.
What does it eat? Small lizards, snakes.
Mexican black
What it looks like. The average length is 0.9–1 m, but can reach up to 2 m. The slightly elongated head is flattened on both sides. The muscular gray or brown body is decorated with irregular patches of red or black and red with a light border. The head is marked with a dark pattern resembling the letter "U". Gray belly, sometimes red coloring at the bottom of the tail. 
Where he lives. Northwestern Mexico and the US state of Texas. Likes to settle in dry rocky places.
What does it eat? Small lizards, rodents and snakes.
What it looks like. The length ranges from 50 to 100 cm. Slender body with a compact and slightly rounded head. The top of the head is almost black, the tip of the nose is light, and there are red areas above the eye sockets. The body is covered with a pattern of red, black and light stripes. The back is black, on the stomach there is a pattern in the form of uneven areas of red, black and yellow. 
Where he lives. Central and southeastern Arizona (USA), through northern Mexico to Chihuahua and Sonora. More often it lives in the mountains, among coniferous plantations, and loves rocky soil.
What does it eat? Lizards and rodents.
Important! The king snake quickly gets used to its owner, becomes almost tame and does not show any aggression. At the same time, you should accustom your pet to handling hands gradually, starting with 5–10 minutes of communication a day.
Campbell's king milk snake
What it looks like. The length reaches 0.9 m. The color looks like alternating red, black and white stripes. The head is dark, the first light stripe extends to the temple and sometimes reaches almost to the tip of the muzzle. The dark stripes are much thinner than the red and white ones; in some representatives of the species the red color is almost absent. 
Where he lives. Mexico. Settles in mountain valleys, forests, and floodplains.
What does it eat? Small rodents, lizards, snakes.
What it looks like. The average length is 0.8–0.9 m, the maximum length is 1.5 m. A strong muscular body is crowned with a pointed head. Its shade is black, steel or gray. The snake's coloration is a dark gray background with wide, saddle-shaped orange areas. 
Where he lives. Southern territories of Texas and New Mexico (USA), Mexican province of Chihuahua. Settles in rocks and forests.
What does it eat? Lizards, mice, amphibians.
Beautiful king snake
What it looks like. The length reaches 0.75–1 m. The strong body ends with a slightly elongated head, flattened on both sides. Background color - from fawn to brown. The pattern is red or brown rectangular spots located across the body. The abdomen has a beige or yellowish tint with dark areas. There are specimens of red and pink color without dark colors.
Where he lives. Central and southeastern United States from Texas to Florida and North Carolina. Settles in prairies, open forests, and forest clearings.
What does it eat? Rodents, frogs, birds, snakes.
Did you know? Despite its small head measuring only 1 centimeter, the African snake can swallow an egg 5-6 times larger. This is helped by the special structure of the snake’s lower jaw, which can diverge to accommodate big catch. As soon as the egg is inside, special vertebrae open the shell, and the reptile regurgitates its pieces out.
Small and medium-sized reptiles are better suited for a home terrarium, since they are less demanding and easier to get used to. different conditions. Before purchasing a snake, you need to buy a set of equipment for its maintenance. 
Terrarium
When choosing a home for your pet, you should focus on maximum dimensions, to which a certain type of king snake can grow. And keep in mind that at home, reptiles are usually somewhat larger than their wild relatives.
The terrarium should be such as not to restrict the snake’s movements and allow it to maintain its physical activity. The minimum housing parameters for an adult king snake are usually 80x55x55 cm.
A hygrometer and thermometer should be placed in your pet’s home to monitor the microclimate.
It should be within the following limits:
- daytime temperature - +25...+32 °C;
- night temperature - +20...+25 °C;
- air humidity - 50–60%.
It is also necessary to organize artificial lighting with dim fluorescent lamps. The terrarium can be heated using several incandescent lamps, but a thermal mat placed in one of the corners of the home is more suitable for this purpose. You also need to provide a special container for bathing your pet.
This pool, as well as daily spraying of the walls, will help maintain the required humidity in the terrarium. 
The bottom of the dwelling is covered with a special artificial mat and filled with coconut soil or coarse sand. Not the most suitable option, but possible as a temporary replacement, may be to use blank paper.
Snakes are very fond of different shelters, so small grottoes should be built in the terrarium, branches, snags and large pieces of tree bark should be placed. These items will also allow you to decorate your pet’s home in an original way.
Important! If you create a king snake good conditions, then its average life expectancy in a home terrarium will be about ten years. But individual specimens can live 15 years or even longer.
Feeding
The frequency of feeding reptiles depends on their age. Young pets, whose bodies are still actively growing and developing, are fed once a week. Their diet includes newborn mice and runner mice.
Adults no longer require such frequent feeding; 2–3 times a month is sufficient. They are given adult gerbil mice, dwarf hamsters and other small rodents. 
At the same time, there must always be fresh water in the terrarium. About once a month, you can add vitamin complexes for reptiles to the water, after reading their instructions.
During feeding, a young snake, not yet accustomed to its owner, may show aggression and try to bite, but over time this goes away. You should also know that after feeding for 3-4 days you should not pick up your pet.
Home cleaning
Usually, 2-3 days after feeding, the snake leaves feces, which must be removed immediately to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria in it.
In addition, to ensure cleanliness in the terrarium, general cleaning should be done 1-2 times a month, during which the bedding or soil should be completely changed or cleaned, and equipment and decorative items should be cleaned and disinfected.
Step-by-step instruction for cleaning the terrarium:
- Move the snake to a separate, clean terrarium.
- Wash all decorative items, food and water containers with hot soapy water, and then rinse well with clean running water.
- Remove the disposable substrate from the terrarium. Clean reusable with hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly.
- Wash the floor and walls of the home and rinse well.
- Dry the terrarium and all accessories well to avoid mold.
- Assemble the terrarium and install decorative items.
So now you know that keeping a king snake is not the most difficult task. Caring for it does not take much time, and the pleasure of observing this bright miracle of nature is enormous!