"Desert Phase" California Kingsnake

Scientific Name : Lampropeltis getula californiae

Sex : Male

Length : 4 Ft (Avg. 3 – 6 Feet)

Weight : 1 lb. (Avg. 1 – 3 lb.)

Lifespan : Captive Born 2000, Age 4 years (Longevity 20+)

Breeding: Egg Layer, up to 30 young

Range: Southern California and Arizona

Habitat : Mojave Desert

Food and Hunting : Like all Kingsnakes they are opportunistic feeders. Small mammals are their primary prey but they will also feed on lizards, snakes, and frogs and also take birds. In captivity they are fed mice and rats appropriate to their age and size.

Conservation : Widely distributed and adapted to varied habitat, their only threat is the increased encroachment of man on their natural habitat. Often crossbreed on the fringes of their range with other Kingsnakes. They naturally occur in a striped pattern as well as the banded pattern. In captivity there is a wide variety of morphs bred including albinos and patternless.

Captive Care : Medium sized, tame and relatively easy to care for these are excellent choices for beginners. Care should be taken to house them individually however due to the possibility of cannibalism. As adults they feed readily on frozen thawed mice and small rats, although as juveniles some specimens may be stubborn starters.