A yellow-bellied kingsnake is a moderately-sized, non-venomous snake that looks a bit like a rattlesnake because of their markings. If you want to keep a yellow-bellied rattlesnake as a pet, it’s crucial to understand their care requirements.
Caring for your yellow-bellied kingsnake includes feeding it every 10 to 14 days, placing a large bowl in its enclosure so that it can bathe, and providing it with places to hide as these kingsnakes like to burrow and isolate themselves.
In this article, I’ll explore everything to know about a yellow-bellied kingsnake and how to keep it as a pet. I’ll also share advice regarding its diet and other tips to ensure your snake is happy and healthy.
All About the Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake
The yellow-bellied kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster), like all types of kingsnakes, can’t be affected by venom from other snakes, such as pit vipers because they’re immune to the toxins.
This kingsnake is sometimes called a prairie kingsnake. Although yellow-bellied kingsnakes can rattle their tails and even release musk when they feel threatened, this behavior is harmless to humans.
In the wild, yellow-bellied kingsnakes like to spend a lot of time hiding, so they’re likely to spend time burrowing underground. They’re usually found in grasslands and brushy fields.
Although these snakes resemble rattlesnakes, since they are non-venomous they’re safe for beginners to keep as pets.
Appearance, Size, and Morphs
One of the most intriguing features of the yellow-bellied kingsnakes is their coloring. They typically have light brown skin with grey and dark-brown markings on their body.
These snakes also have dark stripes from their necks all the way to their tails. Their bellies are either yellow-gray or cream in color with pale markings. Young yellow-bellied kingsnakes have bolder markings on them.
Yellow-bellied kingsnakes are of medium size and can grow between 30 and 42 inches (76 and 107 cm). They have smooth and glossy scales.
There are morphs you can find for yellow-bellied kingsnakes. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Pearl Prairie Kingsnake: This kingsnake morph gets its name because of how it’s paler in color than regular prairie kingsnakes. It has a base color of white and tan/pale orange markings.
- Hypo Prairie Kingsnake: This morph has more contrast in its coloring. It has very pale, almost white, colors on it and darker markings on top in brown tones.
- Albino Prairie Kingsnake: These are similar to the pearl morph but they are much paler with striking colors. You can find some that have orange/coral markings that make them quite unique.
Lifespan
In the wild, a yellow-bellied kingsnake can live for between 12 and 16 years. In captivity, however, these snakes can live for much longer, usually between 20 and 30 years.
This is mainly because they’re not threatened by their predators, which primarily consist of birds like hawks. Other predators include raccoons and skunks.
Behavior and Temperament
These snakes are nocturnal and solitary. They like to spend their time alone or in hiding. From the months of November to March, they like to hibernate under burrows or rock ledges. When not spending time underground or in hiding, these snakes like to climb trees or swim in the water.
How To Care for a Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake
If you have a yellow-bellied kingsnake as a pet, you will need to ensure the proper caring and handling of this solitary snake. Here are some important tips to help you when it comes to their:
- Diet
- Handling
- Enclosure
- Hibernation
- Shedding
- Health issues
Diet
Yellow-bellied kingsnakes are carnivores. In the wild, they like to feed on the following:
- Mice
- Voles
- Lizards
- Smaller snakes
In captivity, these snakes can thrive on foods, such as:
- Frogs
- Lizards
- Rodents
- Mice
Food aside, ensure that your snake has a deep bowl that’s always filled with fresh water. You should keep a separate bowl for the snake to dip its body into, as some kingsnakes like to bathe.
How Often To Feed Your Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake
If you have an adult yellow-bellied kingsnake, you should feed it every 10 to 14 days. Young snakes need to be fed every six days. If you have snake hatchlings, you should start by feeding them pinky mice and gradually let them feed on larger animals like lizards and adult mice.
When feeding your snake, always avoid feeding them live mice. Not only is this cruel to the mice, but they could try to scratch your snake in self-defense.
Handling
Handling your yellow-bellied kingsnake comes with some risks, even though these snakes are usually even-tempered.
They can release an unpleasant-smelling secretion if they feel threatened and they can also bite you. Although they don’t contain venom, the bites can hurt because these snakes have sharp teeth.
Tips for Picking Up Your Kingsnake
- Wear thick gloves. This is an essential safety precaution in case the snake feels highly threatened and tries to bite you.
- Start slowly. Lift the snake from below and try to support their body with your hands. Do this by keeping one hand under their tail and the other near their head. Hold the snake for a maximum of five minutes so that they will get used to being handled by you.
- Use slow movements. Don’t walk around a lot when holding your snake, as this could make them feel anxious or uneasy.
Housing and Enclosure
Make sure you give your yellow-bellied kingsnake a large vivarium to give your snake enough room to move around comfortably.
Average-sized yellow-bellied kingsnakes are comfortable in a tank that’s approximately 34 inches (87 cm) in length. Larger snakes will need a tank 2–3 inches (5–7.5 cm) longer than them. The width should be at least one-third of your snake’s length.
Here are other tips for keeping your snake’s enclosure healthy.
- Set up a basking area. This area allows the snake to relax and feel warm. It should be kept at a temperature of about 84–88 °F (29–31 °C).
- There should be a cooler section in the enclosure. This area should maintain a temperature of about 70–75°F (21–24°C).
- Keep it at moderate humidity. Your kingsnake needs humidity levels of about 40–55%.
- Place a large, deep bowl in the corner. This should be large enough for the snake to submerge its body when it wants to cool down. It should also be non-tippable to avoid messes.
- Add a substrate. Cypress mulch makes a good substrate because it resembles what the snakes would find in the wild. Make sure that the substrate is dry and can be dug so that the snake can burrow. It should be about two inches (5 cm) thick. Avoid humid-rich substrates that will make the enclosure too full of moisture.
- Give them eight hours of light per day. In nature, kingsnakes need about eight hours of daylight per day. While they don’t require any special lighting, if your house has insufficient light, you should install a halogen heat lamp over the lid of the tank to give your snake enough light and warmth.
Hibernation
Yellow-bellied kingsnakes like to hibernate during the colder months. However, they will sometimes move around during winter as long as the weather is good. So, if you provide the right amount of heat and warmth in your snake’s enclosure, they might be encouraged to venture out. This type of kingsnake also exits hibernation earlier than other snakes do.
Shedding
Just like other snakes, yellow-bellied kingsnakes shed their skins. The younger ones will shed their skin more regularly because they’re growing.
During the shedding process, your snake’s eyes could look a bit cloudy. Some snakes struggle to shed their skin on their own, and this could be the case if there’s not enough humidity in their enclosure.
To remedy this issue, you should mist the enclosure a few times per day when they’re about to shed. Signs your snake is about to shed include the following:
- Their skin looks dull.
- They hide a bit more than they usually do.
- They don’t have much of an appetite.
- They are spending more time in the water. They do this to try to encourage their skin to shed.
Health Issues
Although yellow-bellied kingsnakes are generally healthy, there are some health issues that can affect them. These include:
Mites
Mites suck blood from snakes, and they tend to be noticed around the eyes and mouth of a snake. If your snake has mites, they might show symptoms, such as lethargy and loss of appetite.
To remove mites from your snake’s enclosure, make sure you follow these steps:
- Empty the enclosure. Put your snake in another enclosure to keep them safe.
- Fill the enclosure with water and a few drops of dish detergent. This will drown the mites.
- Mix hot water with 3% bleach and scrub the entire enclosure.
- Rinse it thoroughly so that any bleach residue is removed.
- Allow the enclosure to dry properly.
Respiratory Infections
These commonly affect snakes if their enclosure is too humid. Check your snake for these symptoms:
- Drooling
- Wheezing
- Nasal discharge
Yellow-Bellied Kingsnake Pricing
If you want to purchase a yellow-bellied kingsnake, it will cost you approximately $100 to $200, but the amount depends on various factors, such as:
- Location: The further away you live, the costlier it will be to get the snake to you.
- Morph: More unique-looking snakes will cost more than ones with less coloring.
To ensure you find a reputable breeder, make sure you check the company or website for reviews and ask them questions about where they source the snakes.
If you can see the snake personally before purchase, look for any of these signs below as they can indicate that the snake is of poor health:
- Difficulty breathing
- Lethargy
- Unhealthy skin
Final Thoughts
Kingsnakes get their name because they’re the king of snakes, immune to snake venom, and capable of eating smaller snakes. Yellow-bellied kingsnakes are medium-sized, non-venomous snakes that make great pets without requiring complicated care.
However, they need a large enough enclosure to accommodate their size that can reach up to 42 inches (107 cm) long. Moreover, they require warm and cold spots in the tank and at least 8 hours of light per day.
After meeting these initial requirements, it’ll be easy to care for and maintain your yellow-bellied kingsnakes.
