Baby California kingsnake HELP PLEASE!!!?

Question

Ok I have a baby Cali kingsnake and he is lets say about 15-19 inches is he large enough to eat pinkies or is it somthing else i should give him. Also for starting out I need to know if a 20 gallon long tank will work for him while he is small. 3rd, I need to know how hot to keep the tank on both sides, how high the humidity should be, how much water he needs, what type of bedding, does he need somthing to climb, bacically EVERYTHING you need to know about cali kingsnakes, expecially babys. Please only experienced answers, I do not have a book or anything on them and he is in a very temporary home for just tonight (it is almost 11 here). Thank you very very much!!!!

Answer 1

hes definalety big  to eat smallest pinkies encorage him to eat by wiggling the pinky with a per of tweezers n try to give him some warmth in his temp house tonight put it beside a radiator through the night is the only thing i can suggest. ive been in that situation myself with a wee corn snake good luck he should be alright :)

this a caresheet i found on reptile forums it has the basics

If you are a soon to be a California Kingsnake owner just thinking about getting a California Kingsnake here are some basics.

First of California Kingsnakes make great pets but you have to know what you are getting into and be willing to commit for 15 years or more and provide adequate husbandry, food, and vet care when necessary.

Average Size: Hatchlings 20 to 25 cm, adults 0.9 to 1.2 meter

Temperature

You will need to provide your Kingsnake with a warm side between 28-29.5 C degrees and a cool side between 22-24 C degrees.

Humidity

Normal ambient humidity is sufficient for this species, you can however increase the humidity during the shedding period.

Feeding

Feed your California Kingsnake once a week a prey slightly smaller than the girth (widest part of the body).

California Kingsnakes can eat mice their entire life, starting with small pinkie mice as hatchling.

Remember if you chose to feed live you must always supervise feeding and never let a prey unattended with your snake.

Do not handle your Kingsnake for the next 48 hours following feeding. If handle to soon after a meal this could lead to regurgitation.

Supply Check list

1 Enclosure

Remember that young California Kingsnakes can be subject to stress if the enclosure is too big.

You can use a glass tank.

If you get a baby you will only need to start small and upgrade as your Kingsnake grows. Use the rule of thumb the enclosure should be 2/3 of the length of your Kingsnake.

You can also use plastic tubs.

When it comes to plastic tubs here are the sizes you will need according to your Kingsnake's size (Remember you will need a drill or solder wand to make holes for airflow).

Baby – 37 x 20 x 12 cm

Sub-Adult – 43 x 28 x 15.75 cm

Adult – 60 x 41 x 15.75 cm

No matter which enclosure you chose remember to secure the lid as California Kingsnakes are real escape artists.

1 UTH (Under Tank Heater)

Here are some products that will allow you to provide belly heat and achieve the required gradient temperatures in your enclosure: Ultratherm Heat Pads, T Rex Cobra Pads and Flexwatt Heat Tape (Unlike some other they do not stick permanently to the enclosure).

1 Thermostat

Regardless of the device you chose to provide heat you will need a thermostat, this will allow you to maintain proper temperatures and avoid over-heating.

I would highly recommend you to invest in a quality thermostat. Keep in mind that if you get a cheap thermostat you will get what you paid for, considering how long your Kingsnake will live you will want to invest in something durable, reliable and safe.

2 Hides

Provide your Kingsnake with at least 2 hiding places, something cozy and easy to clean.

1 Water Dish

Contrary to what many believe the water dish does not have to be big enough for your California Kingsnake to soak.

1 Thermometer

When it comes to temperatures you cannot guess you MUST know. (Avoid stick and dial devices as they are not accurate). To get an accurate reading I would recommend a digital thermometer.

Substrate

Here are some substrates that can be used in the enclosure: Newspaper - Paper Towel or Aspen, work great with California Kingsnakes. DO NOT use pine or cedar bedding, as they contain phenols that can be toxic to your snake.

Answer 2

The tank and everything sounds great. If it's closer to 19 inches, it may be big enough to take fuzzy mice. I breed Cali kings and I give them a mouse about the same thickness as the thickest part of the snake. And they have no problem taking frozen/thawed mice. They tend to be nippier than a baby corn snake, so don't be surprised if it bites or pees on you. Gentle handling should calm it down quickly (if it isn't already tame)

For temperature, I go with 85 on the hot side and 75 on the cool side. The heat can turn off at night allowing the temperature to drop into the low to mid 70's. I never have any shedding problems, so humidity doesn't need to be real high. You can mist it during shedding time to help with the shed. Alot of people use aspen bedding and there are other reptile type substrates available at pet stores, but I just use paper towels for juveniles and newspaper for my adults. They aren't a big climbing snake like cornsnakes, so I'd just decorate the cage how you like it, just provide a water dish and a hide or two. I find California kings to be one of the easiest snakes to care for. However, I find them to also be the Houdini of the snake world. In my opinion, there is no snake that is a better escape artist, so make sure your cage is very secure. Good luck!

Answer 3

kingsnakes don't eat fish. I don't know what thay guy is talkin about. and i hate it when people just copy and paste an answer

Answer 4

a 20 gallon tank will be perfect for a while until he grows till adult size which he will be needed to moved to a 40 minumun. aspen shavings or carpet are good terrains sand is hazardous and can be digested and harm ur snake. it should be about 80-85 degress and the basking spot should be about 90 degress. and water bowl big enough to soak in because they do soak. they need at least one hide spot two would be preferable to decrease stress. you can feed them a mixed diet of fish, lizards, birds and rodents. i do and my king snakes are at an avergae of about 4 and half feet and are thick. also a rock and climbing branch can be provided for climbing and to aid shedding and humidity should be about 10-20 humidity. most people will dissagree with my feeding diet but it seems to balance thier diet and decrease chances of liver problems.

hope this helps =)