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This is a generalised care sheet for King Snakes, a genus titled (Lampropeltis). For more in this femily see Category:Colubridae, or for a more detailed species care sheet see Category:Lampropeltis.

King Snake care sheet Lampropeltis Adult King Snake Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Subclass: Diapsida Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Colubrinae Genus: Lampropeltis Species   Lampropeltis   Lampropeltis getula   Lampropeltis getula californiae   Lampropeltis getula floridana   Lampropeltis getula getula   Lampropeltis getula holbrooki   Lampropeltis getula meansi   Lampropeltis getula nigra   Lampropeltis getula nigrita   Lampropeltis getula splendida   Lampropeltis mexicana greeri   Lampropeltis triangulum   Lampropeltis triangulum abnorma   Lampropeltis triangulum amaura   Lampropeltis triangulum andesiana   Lampropeltis triangulum annulata   Lampropeltis triangulum arcifera   Lampropeltis triangulum blanchardi   Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli   Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops   Lampropeltis triangulum conanti   Lampropeltis triangulum dixoni   Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides   Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae   Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis   Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis   Lampropeltis triangulum micropholis   Lampropeltis triangulum multistrata   Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni   Lampropeltis triangulum oligozona   Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae   Lampropeltis triangulum smithi   Lampropeltis triangulum stuarti   Lampropeltis triangulum syspila   Lampropeltis triangulum taylori   Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum

King Snakes belong to the genus Lampropeltis containing 9 species and a total of 45 sub-species.

King snakes are a very popular choice as a pet for their beautiful colourations, calm and tolerant behaviour and resilient, hardy nature appealing to both the beginner and the experienced herpetoculturist. Widely available around the world through your local pet shop, large breeding programmes have produced multitudes of colour and pattern morphs so there should never be a reason to buy a wild-caught specimen.

Choosing a Kingsnake

A black and white morph King snake

You should always check the health of a snake before you consider keeping it as a pet. Here are some things to consider:

• Firm rounded body.
• Clear eyes (may be a little cloudy if about to shed). There should be no sign of discharge.
• No evidence of mites - check especially around the head and eyes, check for faint specks on body and check your hands after handling the snake
• The snake should not have to open its mouth to breathe and should not appear as if it is gasping for breath.
• The inside of the mouth should be a uniform pink - reddened areas or cheesy looking matter may indicate mouth rot.
• Shiny smooth skin with no scabs or sores.
• Clean vent with no swelling in area
• Should move smoothly with no tremors

If you are unsure about the health of a snake, you can ask the vendor for a demonstration feeding, usually on pre-killed mice. If your new snake appears distressed or overly active, be patient but not ignorant, snakes will be agitated until they settle in to their new environments but if the problem persists it may be necessary to seek veterinary advice.

There are 45 defined subspecies of Kingsnake:

[−] L. getula‎ (8)

  Lampropeltis getula californiae

  Lampropeltis getula floridana

  Lampropeltis getula getula

  Lampropeltis getula holbrooki

  Lampropeltis getula meansi

  Lampropeltis getula nigra

  Lampropeltis getula nigrita

  Lampropeltis getula splendida

[−] L. triangulum‎ (24)

  Lampropeltis triangulum abnorma

  Lampropeltis triangulum amaura

  Lampropeltis triangulum andesiana

  Lampropeltis triangulum annulata

  Lampropeltis triangulum arcifera

  Lampropeltis triangulum blanchardi

  Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli

  Lampropeltis triangulum celaenops

  Lampropeltis triangulum conanti

  Lampropeltis triangulum dixoni

  Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides

  Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae

  Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis

  Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis

  Lampropeltis triangulum micropholis

  Lampropeltis triangulum multistrata

  Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni

  Lampropeltis triangulum oligozona

  Lampropeltis triangulum sinaloae

  Lampropeltis triangulum smithi

  Lampropeltis triangulum stuarti

  Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

  Lampropeltis triangulum taylori

  Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum

Description

Healthy adult King snakes range in size from three to seven feet depending on the individual sub-species. There are many morphs all varying in colourations and patterns, however, most follow their most famous attribitute of mimicing the much more dangerous Coral snake. Both snakes have red, black and yellow bands of colour, however, the King snake has its black bands touching the red bands whereas the coral snake has the yellow bands touching the red. King snakes have been known to live upto 25 years of age in captivity.