The snake pictured is the EXACT animal for sale!

Defining Characteristics:

• Generally docile, calm, and active during the day.
• Distinctive, attractive appearance
• Snake eaters

Name: Florida Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula floridana

Recommended Enclosure Size & Setup: The guideline for enclosure size for kingsnakes is snake length x half snake length = enclosure length and width (footprint). As such, a single adult Florida Kingsnake should be kept in a 4’x2’x2’ front-opening enclosure at minimum, but bigger is better as they are active snakes and love to explore. Kingsnakes are not social animals and should be housed individually, especially since they are known snake-eaters.

A tropical bioactive setup is strongly recommended for this species. A mixture of about 80% topsoil (such as Zoo Med ReptiSoil) and 20% sand (such as Exo Terra Desert Sand) works well to closely mimic their natural habitat. Mix in sphagnum moss, cypress, and add a thick layer of leaf litter, as this species loves to hide amongst the leaves and helps provide nutrients that plants and microfauna need to thrive. Substrate should be 4-6 inches deep. 

Isopods (such as dwarf whites, Florida fasts, and powder oranges), springtails, and live tropical plants can be used to create a beautiful bioactive arid enclosure!

Florida Kingsnakes are intelligent, versatile, and active animals, so various types of décor and enrichment should be provided to stimulate their natural instincts. Cork flats, live tropical plants, and leaf litter work well as hides and will help your snake feel safe and secure. Climbing materials like manzanita wood and driftwood will encourage your snake to climb and explore as well as promote their overall health and well being. Any climbing materials should be supported by the bottom of the enclosure instead of the substrate.

Temperature (°F): Because kingsnakes are reptiles, they need a range of temperatures within their enclosure so they can regulate their own body temperature as needed. Areas of heat speed up their metabolism and promote activities like digestion and healing. Cool areas slow the metabolism and promote activities like rest and energy conservation.

Florida Kingsnakes should be kept at ambient temperatures of 75-85°. A basking spot of 90° should be maintained during the day. This can be created by placing a piece of slate/stone or a branch below the heat lamps. Using an overhead heat source such as the Zoo Med Repti Tuff Splashproof Halogen Lamp used in conjunction with the Zoo Med Deep Dome Lamp Fixture works well to mimic the sun. Two heat bulbs should be enough to create a large enough basking area for your kingsnake. Heat rocks should not be used as they run the risk of burning your snake. Ambient temperatures should be monitored with two digital thermometers placed on either end of the enclosure, and the basking spot should be monitored with an infrared temperature monitor. Heat sources should be turned off at night to facilitate natural nighttime temperature drops and benefit your snake’s overall health and well being.

UVB lighting is strongly recommended. Florida Kingsnakes are diurnal and require UV exposure to stimulate activity and natural behaviors, and they will also use the UVA wavelengths visible to all reptiles to properly inform basking behavior and circadian rhythm. UV lighting should be focused on their basking site and feature Ferguson Zone 2 levels of UV radiation. Animals should also be provided opportunities to escape from UV exposure throughout the rest of their enclosure.

Humidity: Florida kingsnakes thrive in 50-70% humidity, with levels often higher at night and on the cool side of the enclosure. To achieve this, mist the enclosure regularly, provide a humid hide with moistened sphagnum moss, and use substrates like cypress mulch or ABG that retain moisture. Monitor humidity with a hygrometer and adjust based on your snake's needs, especially during shedding.

Size: Florida kingsnake hatchlings are typically 8 to 12 inches long, while adult Florida Kingsnakes typically reach lengths of 3.5 to 5 feet (about 1 to 1.5 meters), with some individuals growing larger. They are considered a larger species of kingsnake, and the maximum recorded length for a Florida kingsnake is about 69.5 inches (5.8 feet). 

Age: Florida kingsnake can live for 15–20+ years in the wild and even longer, up to 20+ years, in captivity with good care. 

Our Florida kingsnakes are over a month old at time of sale.

Feeding: Kingsnakes are obligate carnivores, which means they need a diet of whole animal prey to get the nutrition that their bodies need. Juveniles should be fed every 7-10 days, and adults should be fed every 10-14 days. The size of your snake’s prey should be no more than 1.5 times the width of your kingsnake at its widest point, or roughly 10% of its body weight. If the snake seems to be getting fat, reduce the frequency of feedings or the size of the feeders.

Always feed your snake inside its enclosure, not outside. Contrary to the myth, feeding inside does not make snakes more aggressive. However, use feeding tongs to offer the prey, not your hand, in order to prevent accidental strikes.

Kingsnakes are opportunistic feeders, so variety is essential to complete nutrition. Prey items for Kingsnakes include mice, young rats, hamsters, gerbils, quail hatchlings and quail eggs, chicks, reptile eggs, green anoles, and house geckos. If you have the opportunity to offer your king snake an appropriately-sized, captive-bred snake as a feeder, do it! However, do not offer live prey if it can be avoided. Frozen feeders should be completely thawed to 75-100°F before offering.

Sexing: Males have longer and thicker tails than females.

Color/Pattern: Florida kingsnakes have variable coloration, typically appearing as brown to yellowish with yellowish crossbands and a checkerboard or speckled belly. While hatchlings are often darker, the light bands on adults become more pronounced as the light-colored scales between them lighten with age.

Social Behavior: Kingsnakes are not social animals and they are known to be ophiophagus (snake-eaters), so it is highly recommended to only house one snake per enclosure.

Once your kingsnake is ready for handling, take it slow at first. Start with brief handling sessions (no longer than 5 minutes), and don’t return the snake until it is calm. This teaches your snake how to behave during handling by using rudimentary positive reinforcement. Once this has been accomplished, you can work up to longer sessions. Handling should occur at least weekly, but no more than once daily. While handling your snake, be gentle. Rather than grabbing it, let it crawl onto your hand. Lift it from below rather than above, and support as much of its body as possible. Use slow movements and don’t walk around too much.

Breeding: Florida king snakes breed in the spring, with females laying 3 to 24 eggs (average 10) after a gestation period of about 60 days. 

Natural Range: The natural range of the Florida kingsnake is throughout the Florida peninsula, south of a line connecting Taylor and Duval counties, and extends to Key Largo. It is endemic to Florida and does not occur naturally outside the state. Within this range, it inhabits a variety of habitats, including pinelands, hardwood hammocks, prairies, marshes, estuaries, and sugarcane fields. 

History in the Hobby: The Florida kingsnake has been a staple in the reptile hobby for decades due to its striking appearance, manageable size, and generally docile temperament.  

Links of Interest: 

• The BioDude’s Care Sheet for a Florida Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula floridana)
• Reptifiles Kingsnake Care Sheet