Eastern kingsnake

Kingsnake · 0 live listings

The eastern kingsnake is the chain kingsnake of the eastern US, glossy black with narrow white or yellow chain-like bands. It is a powerful, heavy-bodied snake that eats other snakes in the wild, including venomous ones.

At a glance

Origin
Eastern United States
Adult size
3–5 ft
Lifespan
15–25 years
Housing
4×2×2 ft or larger, locked lid
Diet
Frozen-thawed mice
Best fit
Keepers wanting a big king
Species
Kingsnake
Category
Reptiles & exotics
Registries
Clutch identifier
Papers
5 categories
HandlingNippy and musky when young
Setup complexityLocked lid, house singly
Feeding easeStrong feeding response
Beginner fitGood first snake

Scales follow breed-club and veterinary consensus; individual animals vary. Listings show what each seller has on file.

The tradeoffs, honestly

It grows larger and stronger than most kingsnakes and needs a bigger enclosure. Wild populations have declined in parts of the range, so buy captive-bred with a hatch record.

Common questions

How big does it get?

Most adults are 3 to 5 feet and heavy-bodied. Plan an enclosure of at least 4×2×2 ft with a locked lid.

Can it live with another snake?

No. Kingsnakes eat other snakes, including their own kind, so house every kingsnake on its own and feed it alone.

What should I ask for before buying?

Ask for a clear fecal and a negative crypto PCR, and a dated feeding log showing several meals on frozen-thawed mice. A hatch record with the parents and clutch date shows the snake is captive-bred.

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Health tests to ask for
Fecal exam clearCryptosporidium PCR negativeExotics vet exam on fileGenetics report for het claimsHatch or birth record on filePhoto ID on file

Ask the seller for these. Documents on Everybarn are on file for your own checks; we don't check them with the issuer.

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Eastern kingsnake · Everybarn