King Cobra — Care Sheet & Morphs

Husbandry requirements

King Cobra — origin: South and Southeast Asia: India, southern China, mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and the Philippines. Occupies dense forests, wooded edges, plantations and mangroves, often near water, from sea level up to about 2000 m altitude..

Terrarium temperature gradient

Night min22 °C

Cool side24–26 °C

Warm side28–30 °C

Basking spot30–33 °C

A tropical, diurnal species: maintain a horizontal thermal gradient. A moderate warm spot of 30-33 °C provided by a protected source (out of reach, with no risk of burns), a cool zone at 24-26 °C, and a reasonable nighttime drop without going below 22 °C. Avoid any thermal runaway in such a large volume.

Enclosure (adult)

300 × 150 × 120 cm

Very large, sturdy terrarium, perfectly escape-proof, with double-safety locking, a sliding hide box and a service airlock

A powerful, active snake and good climber (especially as a juvenile): provide sturdy branches, large hides at both ends and a water basin. Any enclosure must be lockable and flawless, as a king cobra actively tests exits. PROTECTED species (CITES Appendix II; IUCN Vulnerable): keeping and transfer are subject to authorisation, marking and a certificate of competence according to local regulations.

Humidity

60–80 %

Tropical humidity of 60 to 80%, with regular misting and good ventilation to avoid stagnation. Poorly managed humidity (too dry or stagnant) promotes incomplete sheds and infections.

Substrate

Cypress mulchOrchid barkCoco fibreForest-type topsoil/bark that retains moisture

Favour a moisture-retaining, absorbent substrate that is easy to sanitise; avoid dusty or overly dry substrates. Sufficient depth to allow slight burrowing and to maintain humidity.

UVB

Recommended

Low to medium-index UVB lighting (T5 tube ~5-6%, placed at a proper distance with a shaded zone) is beneficial for this diurnal snake and supports its metabolism, without being strictly essential if the diet is balanced.

Water source

Always available

A large, heavy and stable water container, big enough to allow drinking and partial immersion; the king cobra drinks heavily and bathes readily. Renew the water frequently (it soils quickly) and disinfect regularly.

Origin

Elapidae

South and Southeast Asia: India, southern China, mainland Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and the Philippines. Occupies dense forests, wooded edges, plantations and mangroves, often near water, from sea level up to about 2000 m altitude.

Feeding & health

Diet

Ophiophagous (strict snake specialist) — Other snakes (colubrids, rat snakes, pythons, even other cobras); occasionally monitor lizards/lizards

A natural diet dominated by other snakes, which complicates captivity. Some individuals accept substitute prey after conditioning (rodents or meat sausages scented with snake odour), but the transition is difficult and uncertain. Feed IMPERATIVELY at a distance with long tongs, the animal restrained, following the venom safety protocol.

Breeding

Oviparous

Clutch 20–40 eggs/young. A unique case among snakes: the female builds a nest of dead leaves and actively guards her clutch. Incubation of about 60 to 90 days, around 27-28 °C. The guarding female is particularly defensive: increased caution during this period.

Health watch points

Respiratory infections (often linked to keeping too cold, too dry or poorly ventilated)
Stomatitis (mouth rot)
Internal and external parasites, very common in wild-caught specimens
Dermatitis / scale necrosis (unsuitable hygiene or humidity)
Food refusal, regurgitation and weight loss (stress, difficulty transitioning diet)

Morphs & genetics

Registry of 3 documented genes for King Cobra.

Leucistic (Legend/Hoax) white king cobraRec
Albino (Hypothetical)Rec
Axanthic (Hypothetical)Rec

Pairing calculator

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

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King Cobra × King Cobra

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 king cobra.

Is the king cobra dangerous to humans?▾

Yes, extremely: it is a venomous species whose neurotoxic venom is injected in large quantities and can be fatal to humans. Its keeping is reserved exclusively for expert keepers with a strict safety protocol, an antivenom identified in advance and the required legal permits; no bare-handed handling is conceivable, only hooks, restraint tubes and a sliding shift box.

Can a king cobra be kept freely?▾

No: it is a protected species, listed on CITES Appendix II and classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. Its keeping and transfer require a permit, marking and a certificate of competence in accordance with the regulations in force, in addition to the skills of an experienced keeper.

How large can an adult king cobra get?▾

It is the longest venomous snake in the world: the average adult length is between 300 and 400 cm, and the documented record exceeds 550 cm. Such a size demands an enclosure to match the animal.

What terrarium is needed for such a large animal?▾

A very large enclosure is required, at least 300 x 150 x 120 cm for an adult, perfectly escape-proof, with double-safety locking, a sliding shift box and a service airlock. A good climber especially when young, it needs sturdy branches and voluminous hides at both ends, as it actively tests the exits.

What does the king cobra eat?▾

Its scientific name says it all: it is an ophiophagous specialist that feeds mainly on other snakes (colubrids, ratsnakes, pythons, even other cobras), and occasionally on monitor lizards. Some individuals accept, after conditioning, substitute prey scented with snake odour, but the transition remains difficult, and feeding must imperatively be done at a distance with long tongs, following the venom safety protocol.

What temperatures and humidity suit it?▾

This tropical species needs a horizontal gradient with a protected hot spot of 30 to 33 °C, a cool zone at 24-26 °C and a night-time temperature not dropping below 22 °C. Humidity must stay high, between 60 and 80%, with regular misting and good ventilation to avoid stagnation.

Does it need a large water source?▾

Yes, a heavy, stable water container, large enough to drink and partially immerse, is essential: the king cobra drinks abundantly and readily bathes. The water gets dirty quickly and must be refreshed frequently.

What is its lifespan in captivity?▾

A well-kept king cobra commonly lives 15 to 20 years, sometimes more, while wild-caught specimens generally have a shorter life expectancy.

How does the king cobra reproduce?▾

It is the only snake known to build a nest: the female gathers dead leaves and actively guards her clutch of 20 to 40 eggs during incubation, which lasts about 60 to 90 days at around 27-28 °C. This guarding period makes the female particularly defensive, calling for heightened caution.

Does the king cobra behave like a classic cobra (Naja)?▾

Not quite: it is an intelligent, very alert snake, able to rear up over nearly a third of its length, but it deploys only a narrow, elongated hood, far more discreet than that of Naja species, and emits a deep growl rather than a high-pitched hiss.

What health problems are seen in the king cobra?▾

Respiratory infections often appear when the animal is kept too cold, too dry or poorly ventilated, while stomatitis and internal or external parasites mainly affect wild-caught specimens. Stress and the difficulty of the dietary transition can also lead to food refusal, regurgitation and weight loss.

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