Mountain King Snake (Lampropeltis ssp.) in a dry vivarium setup

Snakes · Care guide

Mountain King Snake Care Guide

Lampropeltis ssp.

Many species of mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis ssp.) from Mexico northward through North America — a manageable 3–5 ft with striking red, grey and silver colouration. Dry vivarium heat with a probe target of 78 °F, T5 6% UV (day-active habits), wet box for shed humidity, and a rodent diet sized to girth. Straightforward keepers once settled.

At a glance

Quick facts

Key parameters for day-to-day husbandry. Full detail is in the sections below.

  • Daytime probe

    78 °F

    26 °C · thermostat sensor

  • Night drop

    ~10 °F

    ~68 °F · ~20 °C

  • Adult vivarium

    30×18×18

    Or larger · inches

  • UVB

    T5 6%

    Day-active mountain spp.

01 · Housing

Enclosure & housing

Terrestrial dry-species setup with floor cover — hides on both ends, branches and tunnels, wet box with damp moss, artificial plants, dry substrate, and a clear temperature gradient. Adult minimum is 30″ × 18″ × 18″ or larger (they range about 3–5 ft).

Adult minimum size

30″ W × 18″ D × 18″ H

Wooden vivarium minimum (or larger). Heat bulb, T5 6% UV, dry pelleted straw, wet box, tunnels, and cool-side water bowl.

Decor

  • Minimum two hides (cool and hot) — fill the ground with hides, branches and tunnels for security and enrichment
  • Wet box with damp moss — slight humidity choice, especially when shedding
  • Artificial plants for natural aesthetic appeal
  • Water bowl on the cool side

Substrate

  • Dry species — pelleted straw bedding or any substrate meant for drier species
  • They are a dry species; substrate should stay dry (humidity choice via wet box)
  • Avoid fine mineral sands that can cause impaction

Cleaning

  • Daily: spot clean to limit bacteria and odours
  • About every six weeks: full clean if kept relatively clean — replace substrate, disinfect decor and vivarium

Housing diagram

Enclosure example

Front view 30″ wide × 18″ tall (depth 18″) · hides · branches · tunnels · wet box · foliage · cool water bowl

Example Mountain King Snake vivarium front view at 30 inches wide by 18 inches tall Front elevation of an adult Mountain King Snake vivarium at 30 by 18 inch proportions (5:3 front). Heat dome on the warm left about one-quarter of the way in, T5 6% UV on the ceiling, climbing branches under the heat, hides on warm and cool ends, an open arched tunnel, a wet box with damp moss for humid choice, artificial plants, a water bowl on the cool-end floor, and dry pelleted straw substrate. Depth is 18 inches. Adult minimum wooden vivarium 30 by 18 by 18 inches. ADULT MINIMUM · FRONT 5:3 30″ W × 18″ D × 18″ H 18″ tall 30″ wide · depth 18″ · height 18″ Branches Foliage Hides Tunnel Wet box Water bowl Pelleted straw WARM COOL
  • Front proportions — 30″ wide × 18″ tall (5:3); depth 18″ — adult minimum
  • Branches & tunnels — low-level climbing and floor enrichment
  • Hides — minimum two: one cool side, one hot side
  • Wet box — damp moss so the snake can choose humid areas in a dry setup
  • Water bowl — cool side; replace daily with de-chlorinated or bottled water
  • Substrate — dry pelleted straw or other dry-species bedding; daily spot clean, full clean about every six weeks

Setup diagram · 1 of 2

Top-down view

Heat bulb & probe left–right positions · Recommended temps need this layout

Vivarium top-down: heat bulb and thermostat probe positions Rectangular vivarium viewed from above. Heat bulb one-quarter of the way from the left side, halfway between front and back. Thermostat sensor one-quarter of the way from the right side, along the back wall. BACK FRONT Heat bulb ¼ from side · mid depth Thermostat probe ¼ opposite · back wall hangs to near floor WARM COOL ≈ ¼ ≈ ¼

Setup diagram · 2 of 2

Front view

Looking into the vivarium · bulb on the ceiling · probe hangs down the back

Vivarium front view: heat bulb and thermostat probe heights and side positions Front elevation of the vivarium. Heat bulb sits on the ceiling about one-quarter from the left. Thermostat probe hangs down the back wall about one-quarter from the right, with the sensor tip a few inches above the floor. CEILING FLOOR / SUBSTRATE back wall (behind) Heat bulb on ceiling · ≈ ¼ from side few inches Thermostat probe hangs down the back ≈ ¼ from opposite side WARM COOL ≈ ¼ ≈ ¼
  • Heat bulb — about one-quarter from one side, halfway front to back (on / through the ceiling)
  • Probe — one-quarter from the opposite side, hanging down the back, resting a few inches from the floor

02 · Climate

Temperature & UVB

Cooler dry heat with a clear cool-to-warm gradient and T5 6% UV — many mountain kingsnakes are day-active. A wet box adds optional humidity for shed.

Daytime temperature gradient

When the heat bulb and thermostat sensor are placed as instructed, a probe target of 78 °F (26 °C) creates this spread. The probe point is not the basking spot.

Daytime temperature gradient by zone, plus night drop
Zone Temperature
Cool side ~75 °F (~24 °C)
Probe point (thermostat probe target) 78 °F (26 °C)
Middle ~80 °F (~27 °C)
Warm side ~82 °F (~28 °C)
Basking spot ~85 °F (~29 °C)
Night drop Reduce thermostat by ~68 °F (~20 °C) at night · ~10 °F drop

Photoperiod & night

  • Winter: about 12 hours light/heat
  • Summer: up to 16 hours when days are longer
  • Night: reduce thermostat by ~10 °F (~6 °C) to approx. 68 °F (~20 °C)
  • Night drop lets metabolism slow — essential for the snake

UVB lighting

  • T5 6% — strongly recommended (many mountain kingsnakes are day-active)
  • Although snakes are often nocturnal, mountain species commonly use daylight hours — provide UV during the light period
  • Mount on the ceiling of the vivarium
  • Heat about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer

Climate diagram

Lighting setup

T5 6% on the ceiling · heat dome on the warm side · match UV to heat

Vivarium lighting: T5 6% on ceiling and heat dome on warm side Front view of a Mountain King Snake vivarium. A T5 6% UV tube sits on the ceiling. A heat bulb in a dome sits on the warm side, about one-quarter from the left. Daytime heat is about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer. CEILING FLOOR T5 6% Ceiling · strongly recommended Heat bulb / dome Warm side · ≈ ¼ from end WARM COOL PHOTOPERIOD (UV HOURS) Winter ~12 h Summer up to 16 h
  • T5 6% — ceiling-mounted; strongly recommended for day-active beauty rats
  • Heat dome — warm side (~¼ from end); cool-end probe opposite
  • Day length — about 12 hours in winter, up to 16 hours in summer
  • Night drop — reduce thermostat ~10 °F to about 68 °F

Humidity & water

  • Dry species — keep the main substrate dry
  • Wet box with damp moss — slight humidity when needed, especially during shed
  • Cool-side water bowl; replace daily with de-chlorinated water (e.g. Reptisafe) or bottled water
First power-up tip

Always have the thermostat dial turned down before you plug it into the mains for the first time. Set the probe to 78 °F (26 °C) for daytime once the heat bulb and sensor are in place.

03 · Nutrition

Diet & feeding

Rodent feeders sized to girth. They almost invariably feed well when kept correctly. Settle first, then build a steady schedule — evening or overnight feeds suit most snakes.

At a glance

Feeding cheat sheet

Prey
Frozen prey – always feed thawed prey (rodent feeders)
Schedule
Young 2×/week · sub-adults every 5 days · adults 1×/week
Food size
Match girth of the snake (not head size) — roughly as thick as the body
When
Evening / overnight preferred · allow overnight to eat · remove uneaten by morning

Prey size stages

Guide as the snake grows — size relative to girth

Prey Frequency
1 pinkie 2× per week
2 pinkies 2× per week
1 fluff 2× per week
2 fluffs Every 5 days
1 hop Every 5 days
1 small mouse Every 7 days
1 medium mouse Every 7–10 days
1 large mouse Every 10–12 days
1 extra-large mouse Every 14 days

Feeding routine

  • Allow the snake to settle before offering food — new arrivals often will not eat well the first week
  • Some take food from tweezers; others prefer floor and overnight — give ample overnight time
  • If uneaten by morning, throw the mouse away and try again on the next scheduled feed
  • Do not offer more frequently than usual — that can stress the snake
  • Missing the occasional meal is fine — they do not feed to a strict wild regime

Water

  • Drink from water bowls — place one on the cool side
  • Replace water daily
  • Treat with a de-chlorinator such as Reptisafe, or use bottled water
Shedding & natural fasts When not to feed · breeding · slough cycle

Snakes may naturally refuse food at times — breeding season (males especially can go off feed for many months), and during shed (slough). The shed process can take 1–2 weeks; you may not notice the very beginning.

  • Skin looks dull, belly creamy, then eyes go blue — height of shed; they usually will not feed
  • Eyes clear and colour looks a little clearer — old skin lifting; about 2–3 days until the actual shed
  • Do not feed during this period; wait until you find a shed, then feed on the next due date

Speak to a member of staff if feeding concerns continue after settlement and shed cycles.

04 · Behaviour

Handling & behaviour

Patience first. Settling and regular feeding come before handling.

  1. Step 1

    Settle first

    Allow the snake to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — we recommend at least two successful feeds first. Adapting is stressful; early handling can make it worse.

  2. Step 2

    Short sessions

    Initial sessions: 5–10 minutes only. Lengthen as the snake becomes more comfortable.

  3. Hygiene

    Wash hands

    Always wash or disinfect hands before and after handling to prevent bacteria transfer both ways.

  4. Warning

    No aerosols

    Do not use aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure — the chemicals can harm reptiles.

05 · Welfare

Health & welfare

Prevention starts with correct husbandry — heat, UV, hydration, and safe substrate working together.

Best prevention: good husbandry

Correct temperatures, hydration, and UV where used keep the immune system and gut working well — supporting essential physiological processes.

Inert substrates Paper, lino, carpet — pros & cons

Pros

  • Lower impaction risk

Cons

  • Limit natural behaviours such as digging
  • Remove natural digging behaviour
  • Can increase faecal contamination (waste less absorbed than traditional substrates)

Questions

FAQ

What size vivarium does a Mountain King Snake need?

Adult minimum is a vivarium 30″ × 18″ × 18″ or larger. They range from about 3–5 ft depending on species. Use dry pelleted straw or other dry-species bedding, at least two hides (cool and hot), branches and tunnels for enrichment, a wet box with damp moss (especially for shed), artificial plants, and a cool-side water bowl. Heat bulb with the ¼/¼ probe method and a T5 6% UV system.

What temperatures does a Mountain King Snake need?

Set the thermostat probe to 78 °F (26 °C) by day with the heat bulb about one-quarter from one side and the probe one-quarter from the opposite side, hanging down the back a few inches from the floor. That creates a gradient of about 75 °F cool, 80 °F middle, around 82 °F warm, and around 85 °F under the basking bulb. At night reduce the thermostat by about 10 °F to around 68 °F (20 °C). Daytime heat about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer.

What UV and photoperiod do they need?

Although snakes are generally nocturnal, many mountain kingsnakes are active during the day, so a T5 6% UV system is strongly recommended. Mount on the ceiling. Daytime heat about 12 hours in winter and up to 16 hours in summer when days are longer.

How large do Mountain King Snakes get?

They are a manageable 3–5 ft depending on species. Many have striking red, grey and silver colouration. They are popular pets and usually very tolerant of handling once accustomed to you.

When can I start handling my Mountain King Snake?

Allow the snake to settle and begin eating regularly before handling — at least two successful feeds first. Early sessions 5–10 minutes only; lengthen as they become more comfortable. Wait about 24 hours after feeding before handling so digestion is not interrupted. Always wash or disinfect hands before and after. No aerosols or plug-in air fresheners near the enclosure.

How often should I feed a Mountain King Snake?

Young snakes twice a week while growing; sub-adults about every five days; adults about once a week. Prey size should match the snake’s girth (not head size) — aim for a mouse roughly as thick as the body. Move up a size if a meal leaves no noticeable bulge a few hours after eating. Feed in the evening or overnight; remove uneaten food by morning. Do not feed during shed — wait until after the shed is complete.

Next steps

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