Buyer question
Is a Desert kingsnake good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Desert kingsnake 4 out of 5 for beginners (good first snake).
Source: the Desert kingsnake page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Desert kingsnake in the Animal Library
The detail
The desert kingsnake comes from the arid Southwest and northern Mexico and is black or dark brown with yellow speckling and pale crossbands. It is a sturdy, adaptable kingsnake with a strong feeding response.
- Best fit
- First snake
- Handling
- 3 out of 5 (Nippy and musky when young)
- Setup complexity
- 2 out of 5 (Locked lid, house singly)
- Feeding ease
- 5 out of 5 (Strong feeding response)
What to weigh
Must live alone like every kingsnake, and young ones can musk and nip. Pattern varies a lot, so a hatchling may not look like the adult you pictured.