Snake enthusiasts often take the gray-banded kingsnake compared to its other kingsnake relatives. Nonetheless, this snake species can make an excellent pet even for novice collectors. 

The gray-banded kingsnake may initially seem dangerous, mainly because of its striking color and pattern. However, this docile snake is harmless to people because it’s nonvenomous. It’s also elusive and mostly nocturnal. 

If you’re interested to learn more about this friendly snake, you’ve come to the right place. Among other things, I will share how to recognize, handle, and properly care for the gray-banded kingsnake.

All About the Gray-Banded Kingsnake

The gray-banded kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna) is native to the southwest of the United States and New Mexico. They belong to the largest snake family Colubridae. Like the other members of the Lampropeltis genus, they have the following characteristics:

• medium size
• non-venomous constrictor
• a wide head and large protuberant eyes
• smooth and shiny body scales (hence the name Lampropeltis meaning ‘shiny little shield’)
• striking color pattern with bands that don’t encircle the entire body

Appearance & Morphs  

The gray-banded kingsnake is a medium-sized snake that can grow up to 91 cm (3 feet) in length. You can recognize them by their highly variable pattern of gray and reddish-orange bands. They make for a good pet because of their size, appetite, and friendly nature. 

They have a characteristic wide head, especially when compared to the neck. The eyes are relatively large with rounded pupils.

The scales are smooth and glossy in 25 rows. They have a single anal scale. It is also polymorphic, meaning there are two morphs of the same species that we can roughly recognize by their banding and location.

• Lampropeltis alterna alterna, also known as ‘alterna,’ has a narrow orange-red banding on a gray background. 
• Lampropeltis alterna blairi, also known as ‘blairi,’ has a wide red-orange banding on a gray background.

The patterns vary largely among snakes of the same species or subspecies. It’s difficult to divide them based on their appearance only. 

We can also employ information regarding their location to further classify them. Based on some specimens, only the “alterna” likely occurs in New Mexico. 

Lifespan 

On average, the gray-banded kingsnake lives for about 15 years. When held in captivity with proper care, it can live up to 20 years. This is the typical life expectancy for most snakes. The longer lifespan in captivity is due to the absence of predators and the steady supply of food.

Behavior & Temperament

The gray-banded kingsnake is tame and non-aggressive. Their peaceful nature and small size make them great pets. They won’t bite, especially once they get used to your presence.

In the wild, they can be rarely seen by people primarily because their habitat is inaccessible. They only come out at night to hunt lizards and small rodents. During the day, the kingsnake stays underground.

Threat

The gray-banded kingsnake is a non-venomous serpent. In addition to having a harmless bite, the snake is also not aggressive, which means you can rarely see them attack humans. Nonetheless, be sure to wash the wound with running water and dress it appropriately in case you’re bitten. 

It’s interesting how their color mimics the appearance of venomous vipers while being one of the friendliest snakes.

Pricing

If you wish to buy the gray-banded kingsnake, get ready to pay a few hundred dollars. The most expensive snakes are purchased by registered breeders. This will guarantee that the snake was born or raised in captivity, making it accustomed to people and checked for parasites and other health issues.

Proper Care for Gray-Banded Kingsnakes

Gray-banded kingsnakes are low-maintenance. They don’t require extra care besides being regularly fed and kept at the right temperature. Their physical activity includes coiling around objects and occasionally being held in someone’s hands. 

The snake will be able to thrive if you:

• Clean their enclosure every other month
• Feed them twice a week
• Hold them once a day

Shedding

Kingsnakes, as species, have thin skin. This creates a shedding problem. The skin of the gray-banded kingsnakes sometimes gets stuck, and the snake is unable to remove old skin. Don’t hesitate to take your snake to the vet in such cases. Often what is required is additional lubrication of the skin.

Hibernation

Hibernation is crucial for the kingsnake’s health. Adult gray-banded kingsnakes hibernate for at least 2 months a year, mainly during the winter. To create the perfect conditions for hibernation, you should take the needed steps a couple of weeks in advance. 

• Reduce the snake’s food intake gradually.
• Stop feeding the snake two weeks prior to the start of the hibernation.
• Lower the temperature for two weeks to the desired 5–10 °C (41–50 °F). 
• Keep the low temperature for two months and then slowly start increasing it to room temperature
• Restore the original feeding schedule and turn on the heating when the snake becomes active again.

Housing and Enclosure

This medium-sized snake doesn’t require a large enclosure. However, the minimum size of the tank should have a length, height, and width of 90 x 45 x 45 cm (3 x 1.5 x 1.5 ft). When choosing an enclosure, ensure that it allows the snakes to stretch.

The enclosure or vivarium should be tightly secured. This sneaky snake can escape through the tiniest of openings. This is especially important to have in mind if you have other pets or small children.

Provide the snake with a place to have privacy, to coil around, and some substrate to feel at home. The vivarium should imitate the snake’s natural habitat. Considering that the gray-banded kingsnake lives in high deserts, you can mimic the environment by placing sterile sand in the enclosure.

Heating

It’s a common practice to use a heating pad to maintain the living temperature of the snakes. The gray-banded kingsnake will need a cool side and a hot side. You can also provide an artificial tunnel for the snake to hide in during hibernation or when trying to cool down. 

Although they can be found in rather hot and humid places in the wild, they don’t like extreme temperatures. Make sure to keep the temperature between 21 – 31°C (70 – 87.8°F).

Lighting

Snakes like to bask in the sun. Providing them with lightning that imitates the sun will benefit the snake. Set up a UVB lamp on the hot side of the enclosure. It will simulate daylight and act as an additional heat source.

There should also be a makeshift log for the snake to coil around or bask in the light.

Humidity

The gray-banded kingsnake doesn’t require high-humidity enclosures. The water dish is enough to keep the space humid. They should reside in 40-60% humidity which is also the ideal humidity for humans. 

You can also place a humidifier next to the tank to maintain suitable humidity levels around your snake.

Diet

The gray-banded king snake usually feeds on lizards. They’re nocturnal, meaning they hunt for food during the night. They can also survive by eating small rodents. 

What is peculiar about this type of snake is that they feed on other snakes. They can also be cannibalistic, occasionally feeding on smaller snakes of their own species.

When in captivity, the snake needs to be fed once every other week, depending on their age. The younger the snake, the more often they need to be fed but in smaller quantities. Older snakes can easily be fed once every two weeks.

Water

A water dish is essential for the snake’s enclosure. It should be wide and shallow. The snake will use it for cooling down, soaking, and even shedding. Snakes drink water through their scales. Therefore, they should be able to submerge into the water container to get adequately hydrated.

Health Issues

The gray-banded kingsnake is known for their inability to shed easily. If you notice them struggling, you can put some lukewarm water in the enclosure, which might help them shed. If the skin gets stuck, especially around the eyes, seek immediate help from a vet.

Like other snakes, the gray-banded kingsnake may have parasite issues or get scratched by random objects. If you notice changes in temperament, fussiness, or inability to eat or hold food, go to the nearest vet for a checkup.

Handling Gray-Banded Kingsnake

Most snakes don’t enjoy being held frequently. This applies to the gray-banded kingsnake as well. Although you wouldn’t pet it often, remember to hold the snake in your hands at least once every day. This will help them become accustomed to your hands and put them at ease around you.

Before handling the snake, ensure that you have established a feeding and handling routine. You shouldn’t handle them during feeding time. Otherwise, you might get bitten, as the snake might feel agitated and hungry.

How To Pick Up the Gray-Banded Kingsnake

You should approach the kingsnake calmly and steadily. Hold them with both hands. Place one hand near the head and the other near the tail to support its length. Don’t leave it dangling, and don’t make sudden aggressive moves.

Hold them confidently but not tightly to allow the snake to enjoy being held. Keep their head from wandering around since they can escape easily. Always be aware of their movements. If you sense that they’re nervous, put them back in their enclosure no matter how short the interaction has been.

Can You Train the Gray-Banded Kingsnake?

Training snakes is different from training dogs, for example. You can’t teach snakes any tricks, but you can teach them to expect different things from you throughout the day. 

You should create and stick to a strict feeding schedule. To keep the snake in a good mood, always keep them full and let them know when to expect food. 

The training also involves not associating your hands with food. The snake should be able to see and feel your hand without entering predator feeding mode. You can accomplish this by holding them daily at times not allotted to feeding.