ReptiNode Species › Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
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Species profile · Colubridae

Lampropeltis pyromelana

Complete care sheet and morph genetics registry for the arizona mountain kingsnake — husbandry parameters, diet, breeding and pairing calculator.

Sonoran Mountain KingsnakePyroArizona-KönigsnatterSerpent roi des montagnesWoodin's Kingsnake
Adult size
60–90 cm
Lifespan
15–20 yrs
Difficulty
Intermediate
Temperament
Docile
Activity
Diurnal
Reproduction
Oviparous
01

Husbandry requirements

Arizona Mountain Kingsnake — origin: Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, southern Nevada/Colorado) and northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua). Montane forests and 'sky islands' (isolated ranges surrounded by desert), between 1,000 and 2,700 m in elevation..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min15 °C
Cool side20–23 °C
Warm side25–28 °C

A COOL-CLIMATE montane species: the main risk is OVERHEATING. Do not exceed ~28-29 °C at the warm spot; no true intense basking spot. A simple gentle gradient (heat mat/cable under a thermostat) is enough. A marked nighttime drop (down to 13-15 °C) is beneficial. A winter brumation of 6-10 weeks at about 10-13 °C is recommended for health and essential for breeding.

Enclosure (adult)
90 × 45 × 45 cm

Secure terrestrial terrarium with a lockable lid (an expert, discreet escape artist)

A 90x45x45 cm terrarium suits an adult; larger is beneficial. Favour floor area over height. Provide numerous hides on both sides of the gradient, stable flat rocks and areas to dig in. Every opening must be perfectly sealed.

Humidity
40–60 %

A dry to moderate environment with good ventilation. Add a humid hide (moss/sphagnum) to aid shedding; avoid stagnant humidity, which promotes scale rot and infections.

Substrate
Aspen shavingsCoco fibreSlightly moistenable soil/sand mix

A dry substrate that allows digging and burrowing. Provide plenty of hides and flat rocks (a secretive rock-dwelling species); wedge any rock stack firmly to prevent crushing. Avoid dusty or resinous substrates (pine/cedar).

UVB
Optional

Not strictly necessary (a nocturnal/secretive species for thermoregulation), but low-level UVB lighting (Ferguson zone 1, ~2-5% UVB) is beneficial for a diurnal species and supports the day/night cycle. Always pair it with a shaded area.

Water source
Always available

A bowl of clean water renewed at all times, large enough to let the snake soak, especially during shedding.

Origin
Colubridae

Southwestern United States (Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, southern Nevada/Colorado) and northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua). Montane forests and 'sky islands' (isolated ranges surrounded by desert), between 1,000 and 2,700 m in elevation.

02

Feeding & health

Diet

Carnivore (whole-prey eater) — Rodents suited to the snake's size (mice, pinky mice, rat pups); in the wild, lizards of the genus Sceloporus.

Adults are easy to feed with thawed mice every 7-10 days. HATCHLINGS are notoriously fussy and often refuse rodents: you frequently have to 'scent' the prey (rubbed on a lizard) or offer small lizards at first, then gradually wean onto rodents. Favour captive-bred specimens: wild individuals are fragile, often parasitized, and some 'sky island' populations are locally protected or subject to collection quotas.

Breeding
Oviparous

Clutch 3–8 eggs/young. Small clutches but relatively large hatchlings. Breeding requires a winter brumation (6-10 weeks at ~10-13 °C). Incubation of roughly 55-70 days at 25-27 °C. Avoid brumating specimens that are too young, sick or too thin.

Health watch points
  • Hyperthermia / heat stress (a species very sensitive to heat — a frequent cause of death if the warm spot is too hot)
  • Respiratory infections (unsuitable gradient, too cold and damp an environment, poor ventilation)
  • Anorexia and food refusal, especially in juveniles (stress, unsuitable prey)
  • Dysecdysis / difficult sheds (humidity too low, no humid hide)
  • Internal parasites and mites, particularly in wild-caught individuals
03

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 2 documented genes for Arizona Mountain Kingsnake.

  • Hybrid Albino albino ruthveni crossRec
  • Hypomelanistic hypoRec
04

Pairing calculator

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

🧬

Arizona Mountain Kingsnake × Arizona Mountain Kingsnake

Probabilities per gene (independent loci).

GeneParent AParent B
Expected clutchSelect at least one gene on a parent.
05

Frequently asked questions

Answers to the most common questions about keeping the arizona mountain kingsnake.

With its red, black and white bands, is this snake dangerous or venomous?▾
Not in the slightest: it is completely non-venomous and harmless to humans. Its livery simply mimics that of the coral snake through Batesian mimicry, a visual bluff that comes with no real danger.
Is experience needed before taking on this Arizona mountain kingsnake?▾
A minimum, yes: it is rated intermediate, partly because it is secretive and sometimes nervous when young, but above all because it is very sensitive to overheating, unlike most other kingsnakes.
How large is an adult?▾
It is a modestly sized, slender kingsnake, between 60 and 90 cm on average, with a few individuals reaching 105 cm.
What terrarium suits it?▾
A minimum of 90 x 45 x 45 cm is enough, always prioritising floor area. It is a secretive species and an expert escape artist: provide numerous hides on both sides of the gradient and well-wedged flat stones, and lock the lid carefully.
Why is heat management particularly delicate with this species?▾
Unlike most kingsnakes, it is a mountain species that needs a cool environment: the main risk is overheating. Do not exceed 28-29 °C on the warm side and keep the cool side between 20 and 23 °C, without an intense bright hot spot.
What humidity and substrate should it be given?▾
A humidity of 40 to 60% with good ventilation is enough, on a dry substrate that allows digging such as aspen or coco fibre. Add a humid hide at shedding time, without ever letting stagnant moisture set in.
Why do the young have a reputation for being difficult to feed?▾
In the wild they mainly hunt Sceloporus lizards, so newborns often refuse the rodents offered in captivity. You then have to scent the prey on a lizard, or even offer a small lizard, before gradually weaning them onto mice.
Once converted to rodents, how often should an adult be fed?▾
A thawed mouse of appropriate size every 7 to 10 days is enough for an established adult.
What is its life expectancy and everyday temperament?▾
Count on 15 to 20 years, often more with good care and an annual winter brumation. The temperament is generally docile once acclimated, but the animal remains secretive, sometimes nervous and a burrower, especially when young.
Where does this species come from and why is it so secretive?▾
It inhabits the mountain forests and "sky islands" of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, between 1000 and 2700 m of altitude. It spends most of its time hidden under stones and in crevices, which explains its shy temperament.
What is the main health risk for this snake?▾
Hyperthermia is by far the most serious risk and a frequent cause of death if the hot spot is poorly set. Respiratory infections, anorexia in juveniles and difficult sheds are the other concerns to watch for.
Does breeding require a brumation?▾
Yes, a winter brumation of 6 to 10 weeks around 10-13 °C is essential to trigger breeding. Clutches are small, 3 to 8 eggs, but produce relatively large newborns, incubated for about 55 to 70 days.

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