Description:
Scientific name: Lampropeltis elapsoides
Life span: 22 years
The United States is home to non-venomous scarlet kingsnakes. Of all the species of their genus, they are the tiniest. White, black, and red bands are seen at birth on scarlet snakes. Throughout the regions where this is displayed, they grow different colors of yellow, as they get older. Furthermore, the yellowing is not uniform; rather, the pigmentation advances from lighter to darker from the lowest scales up to the dorsum, or “back,” exhibiting a number of yellowish bands. The yellow pigmentation ranges from lemon to apricot to orange to school bus yellow, and it gets darker as people get older.
Native Region/Habitat
Eastern and southeastern parts of the United States are home to scarlet kingsnakes. They can be found in a range of suburban habitats, including prairies, cultivated fields, mesic pine-oak forests, pine savannas, hydric hammocks, pine Flatwoods, and pine savannas. It’s not rare for homeowners to find scarlet kingsnakes in their swimming pools, especially in the spring.
Behavior:
Scarlet kingsnakes are solitary, fossorial (dwelling underground), and secretive snakes that are rarely observed by humans. They can climb very well. They typically conceal themselves in decaying wood, below loose bark on dead or dying pines, and on pine stumps. Scarlet snakes emerge from their hiding spots to hunt at night. They don’t pose a threat to people and would rather avoid conflict. These snakes will attempt to flee rather than strike out if they perceive any threat.
Care As a pet/In captivity:
Scarlet kingsnakes are renowned escape artists and are among the hardest kingsnakes to retain due to their small size and the difficulty in locating suitable food. A 10-gallon terrarium with a locking, extremely secure lid is required, as well as a substrate made of anything from aspen to indoor/outdoor carpeting. A 20-gallon vertical terrarium with the cover on top, according to some keepers, may be required to stop escapes. Provide water in a big, shallow basin because the terrarium has to be damp. These shy snakes require a number of hiding spots in the terrarium because they do not appreciate strong lights. With a slight decrease at night, room temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit are suitable.
It’s not required to use an under tank heating pad, and basking lights might be detrimental. Young anoles and skinks are popular prey items for scarlet kingsnakes, which specialize in eating elongated lizards. Several species won’t eat anything other than live lizards and will starve rather than eat pinky or hopper mice, frozen lizards, or even frozen and thawed lizards. Before turning out the lights for the evening, add food to the terrarium. Some examples can be persuaded to eat mice by rubbing them with lizard excrement or by hiding them within the carcass of a deceased lizard. Only experienced keepers should take into consideration newly hatched babies. Seldom is this adorable tiny snake born in captivity.
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