California Kingsnake — Care Sheet & Morphs

Q: How big does an adult California Kingsnake get?

An adult California Kingsnake typically measures 0.9–1.2 m.

Husbandry requirements

California Kingsnake — origin: Western United States and Mexico.

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min20 °C

Cool side22–24 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot29–31 °C

Enclosure (adult)

90 × 45 × 45 cm

Highly secure terrarium

Strong escape artist; hides on both sides

Humidity

40–50 %

Substrate

AspenCypress

UVB

Optional

Optional; low-level UVB beneficial

Water source

Always available

Water bowl available at all times

Origin

Colubridae

Western United States and Mexico

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore — rodents — Appropriately sized mice/rats

Ophiophagous species (eats other snakes) — ALWAYS keep singly

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 5–12 eggs/young. Incubation ~60 days

Health watch points

Respiratory infections
Mites
Obesity
Incomplete shed
Cannibalism if co-housed

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 18 documented genes and 49 named combos for California Kingsnake.

Albino (T−) amelanisticRec
Aztec / Zigzag zigzagInc.d
Lavender Albino (T+) lavenderRec
Blue-eyed Blonde bebRec
Palomar Ghost ghost (palomar)Rec
Hypomelanistic hypoRec
Axanthic (Coastal/Black&White) axanthicRec
Mosaic mosaic patternRec
Chocolate / Nitida (hypermelanistic) nitidaRec
Newport (Long Beach) newporterInc.d
Newport Mud newport-mudInc.d
Long Beach hypermelanistic (Grease king) lb hyperInc.d
San Diego striped sd stripedInc.d
High White osborn line high whiteDom
Banana (Line) banana lineInc.d
WhittierRec
Whittier Mud striped mud (historic)Rec
Whittier Unicolor whittier uniRec

Named combos — 49 documented combined morphs

Albino StripedAlbino AberrantAlbino MosaicCasperHybinoHigh White Albino (Banana Phenotype)Albino ChocolateSnow (T-)PlatinumPlatinum StripedPink Pastel StripedGhost (Double Recessive)Ghost Striped (Double Recessive)Albino AztecLavender AztecHypo AztecSnow StripedAvalanche (ou Hypo Snow)Lavender StripedLavender AberrantLavender MosaicHigh White LavenderHypo LavenderLavender ChocolateHypo StripedHypo MosaicGhost HypoHypo ChocolateGhost StripedGhost AberrantGhost MosaicChocolate StripedChocolate AberrantChocolate MosaicAxanthic StripedGhost (Axanthic Line)Reverse Wide StripeHigh White ChocolateHigh White MosaicDouble Het (Normal Phenotype)Casper StripedHigh White Albino StripedBanana StripedBanana MosaicAlbino NewportHypermel NewportWhittier StripedBlonde StripedHypo Blonde

Pairing calculator

Pick each parent's genotype — clutch probabilities update live. Free, no sign-up.

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California Kingsnake × California Kingsnake

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the california kingsnake.

How big does an adult California Kingsnake get?▾

An adult California Kingsnake typically measures 0.9–1.2 m.

What temperature and humidity does a California Kingsnake need?▾

A gradient of roughly 22–24 °C on the cool side to 28–30 °C on the warm side, with a basking spot of 29–31 °C. Humidity 40–50 %.

What does a California Kingsnake eat?▾

Carnivore — rodents: Appropriately sized mice/rats.

Is the California Kingsnake a good reptile for beginners?▾

Beginner level. Hardy and rugged; sometimes lively when young, calms down as an adult Plan ahead: a lifespan of 15–20 yrs.

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