The “King” of California Snakes
The California Kingsnake has earned its name as the “king” of California snakes! A non-venomous snake, the Kingsnake is not only a highly popular pet, it is also one of the most breathtaking California snakes due to its array of rainbow colors and patterns that occur both naturally and that have been humanly bred. The California Kingsnake is a subspecies of the Common Kingsnake, and can be found in a wide range of habitats: from deserts to wetlands, from valleys to mountains, and from coastal to suburban areas. California Kingsnakes are usually found near the ground, but they can also swim in ponds and streams.
Among the most beautiful serpents in the world, Kingsnakes are patterned with bands or stripes that vary according to natural region. Kingsnakes in the desert region usually have black and white bands; coastal and inland valley Kingsnakes are often brown and yellow The common Kingsnake of California typically has thick dark bands separated by cream-colored bands, but some of these California snakes have a plain yellow or an all-dark belly. Furthermore, these popular California snakes are increasingly raised in captivity and bred into even more wonderous combinations of colors and patterns, such as “reverse stripe” and “high white.”
However, while these California snakes may be a feast on the eyes, if you were a vertebrate, they might be feasting on you! Indeed, California Kingsnakes are predators who usually suffocate their prey and eat anything they can overpower. In fact, they are named “king” because of their ability to eat other snakes, including venomous rattlesnakes! In turn, Kingsnakes can be the victim of birds and animals such as hawks and raccoons.
Although these California snakes are considered harmless to human beings, if disturbed, Kingsnakes will bite or excrete nasty-smelling musk and fecal matter upon their intended target, and they may hiss and rattle like a rattlesnake. However, in general, California Kingsnakes are one of the most popular collected species of snakes!
If you would like to keep one of these stunning California snakes as your pet, they are easy to tame and easily available, but you will still need to do some simple snake research to learn how to care for them properly. Briefly, California Kingsnakes must be kept in a proper enclosure at the right temperature and humidity, and need to be fed rodents such as mice or rats. The good news is these loveable Califorina snakes learn to tolerate being handled by humans very easily, so you and your pet can be well on your way to bonding in the near future!
