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| Aquariums And Aquatics, Fishing Tackle and Reptile Supplies Superstore. Including the best Reef One BiOrb & BiUbe Aquarium Tank range around |
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King Snakes
Includes Californian, Florida, Eastern, Blotched, Baja, Black, Mexican Black, Speckled and Desert Kingsnakes.
A good choice of snake for the beginner. Grows to a maximum length of 180cm (6ft). Native to most of USA and Northern Mexico, they are found in a wide variety of habitats.
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Housing
Common Kingsnakes may be housed in a vivarium approximately 100x50x50cm. Substrate can be bark chippings, woodshavings or newspaper (see our range of substrates). Recommended products from Aquamania are Aspen Reptile Bedding or T-Rex Sani Chips which are available online or in store.
The provision of a hidebox is useful and this can be as simple as an empty cereal box. The vivarium should be heated to 25-30 C in summer and lower in winter if breeding is intended.
Humidity should be minimal. Artificial and UV light is not required.
Feeding
Pre killed rodents of the appropriate size (mice are available in store at Aquamania). The snakes should always be fed separately due to their cannibalistic tendencies. A bowl of fresh water should be provided at all times. The bowl should be heavy to stop the snake tipping it over, such as the Exo-Terra Water Dishes.
Breeding
Many Kingsnakes will not breed unless a cooling period is provided. The snakes should be cooled to 8-10 degrees Centigrade for 2-3 months usually November or December. This temperature should be reached gradually to reduce thermal shock, so use a set of reptile thermometers to monitor the vivarium temperature. Only healthy snakes should be used for breeding.
They should be feed intensively during late summer to provide a fat reserve for hibernation and calcium and protein for egg production. Before cooling, the snake should be fasted for up to one month to allow the passage of food through the snakes body.
In the Spring, usually late February or March the temperature of the snakes should gradually be raised and feeding can commence. After several good feeds the snakes can be paired. Mating is more successful if the female has just sloughed. Copulation can take place from 10 minutes to several hours and may be repeated several times.
Due to their cannibalistic tendencies it is a good idea to supervise the matings.
If mating has been successful, the female will stop eating a couple of weeks after mating. From mating to egg laying takes around 60 days. At between 10 - 15 days prior to laying the female will under go a pre laying slough. At this point a nest box should be placed in the vivarium. A plastic container such as a ice cream tub lined with sphagnum moss is most suitable. The female can spend several days in the box prior to laying.
Once the eggs have been laid they should be removed as soon as possible to a plastic box with 100% humidity with a substrate of vermiculite and kept somewhere at a constant temperature of 20-30C, such as an incubator or airing cupboard. The average number of eggs laid is 10, they are about 42-50mm long and 20- 22mm diameter.
There is no need to separate the eggs, and unlike birds eggs they must not be turned. The eggs are normally ivory white do not worry if they discolour slightly, however if they appear to collapse and go mouldy they should if possible be removed to avoid infecting the other eggs.
When the juveniles arrive they should be placed into separate containers. The will slough after about 7 days and will accept food. If kept together there is a good chance that cannibalism will occur. Sexual maturity can be reached at 2.5 years.
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Aquamania recommends you take a look at:
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Snake Starter Kit
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Please only take the information given in any of our caresheets as general advice. They may not provide an exact answer to your particular reptiles problem and are to act as a general guide and 'heads-up' to keeping reptiles.
We cannot be held responsible for any problems your reptile encounters following the reading of these pages.
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Normal Opening Hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 9:15am - 6:00pm
Thursday - Friday: 9:15am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 9:15am - 6:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am - 4:30pm
(6:00pm closing on Fridays during winter opening hours)
Address: Aquamania Ltd, Kent Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB1 1DE
To ensure quality service and training procedures are upheld, all correspondence
concerning website orders, complaints and other queries must be directed through
email only. This is to enable us to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Telephone Order Placement Line: 01254 665662
General Store Enquiries: 01254 663399
Email: info@aquamania.co.uk
Terms, Conditions & Policies
Indoor Aquatics | Outdoor Aquatics | Biorbs & Biubes | Birds & Small Animals
Cats & Dogs | Fishing Tackle | Live Plants | Live Tropical Fish | Live Fish Food
Reptile Supply | Juwel Aquariums | Reptile Care Sheets | Animal Care Sheets
VAT No. 674 5118 25 | Incorporated in England No. 3959731
Reg. Office 22-28 Willow Street, Accrington, BB5 1LP
© 2005-2007 Aquamania - Aquariums, Reptiles, Pet Supplies, Fishing Tackle
and Aquatics Supply Superstore |
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