Description:
Scientific name: Lampropeltis ruthveni
Life span: 15-18 years
The kingsnake species Lampropeltis ruthveni, often known as the Ruthven’s kingsnake, belongs to the Colubridae family. L. ruthveni has very uniform coloring, consisting of white stripes on red with a black border, unlike many other Mexican kingsnakes. The black banding is relatively thick in comparison to that of the other Mexican kingsnakes, and the red is consistently highly brilliant. The body’s ventral scale count ranges from 182-195, and its maximum length is 127 cm. The eyes are separate from the head, and the head is separate from the neck. The eyes are golden-brown in hue.
Native Region/Habitat
The Mexico states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Querétaro are home to L. ruthveni. Both semi-humid and arid habitats, including pine-oak forest and mesquite grassland, support its occurrence. The species is also known to be common in rocky regions close to agricultural fields.
Behavior:
They are easily domesticated and have a generally calm temperament. They make fascinating pets since they are lively and inquisitive. They grow to a reasonable size, are safe to handle, and are a wonderful choice for those who are new to keeping snakes.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Ruthven’s kingsnake is an unusual species by itself, with no subspecies. With no subspecies, Ruthven’s kingsnake is a unique species all by itself. Escape-proof cages should have a hiding spot and water. Because they are cannibalistic, kingsnakes and milk snakes must be housed separately (unless during the breeding season). If ventilation holes are made in the sidewalls of inexpensive enclosures like plastic shoe or sweater boxes, they function well. If you want to display the snake, aquariums or homemade cages also work nicely. To keep the animals clean, warm, and dry, a variety of substrates (such as aspen shavings, rodent bedding made from corn cobs, or newspaper) may be utilized. Any kind of food will be enough for king snakes to eat. They will eat both warm-blooded and cold-blooded species, such as lizards and frogs, as well as warm-blooded prey like rodents and birds (in addition to other snakes). If kept between 80 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a five to ten degree dip at night, many species adapt well in captivity. The ability to regulate temperature is crucial for digestion and the response to eating.
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