| Have you been considering purchasing a snake as a | | | | be certain to make a meal out of the other. |
| pet? There are many different types of snakes | | | | Housing a King Snake or a Milk Snake |
| available at specialty pet stores. But, if this is your | | | | Since king snakes and milk snakes can reach six to |
| first pet snake, you might want to consider | | | | seven feet in length, it is important to select a |
| purchasing a king snake or a milk snake. There are | | | | terrarium that is large enough for them to grow and |
| numerous sub-species that fall into these two | | | | to rest comfortably inside. When they are young, a |
| closely-related snakes; this means you will have a | | | | 10 gallon tank may be sufficient. A full grown snake, |
| variety of different colors and patterns to choose | | | | however, should be provided a 60 gallon tank in |
| from. In addition, these snakes are generally | | | | which it can stretch and move about, as king snakes |
| non-aggressive and easy to care for. | | | | and milk snakes tend to be quite active. |
| Getting to Know the King Snake and the Milk Snake | | | | When selecting a terrarium for a king snake or a milk |
| King snakes and milk snakes are interesting creatures | | | | snake, it is also very important to select one that can |
| for a number of different reasons. For starters, the | | | | be secured tightly. These snakes have a reputation |
| colors and patterns found on some of these snakes | | | | for getting out of their cages and for squeezing |
| can look very similar coral snakes, which are very | | | | through even the smallest places. So, spend a little |
| venomous snakes with yellow and red bands of color. | | | | extra on a terrarium with a top that can be latched. |
| In fact, the only real difference in appearance | | | | Maintaining the proper temperature is also important |
| between a coral snake and a king or milk snake with | | | | when it comes to keeping your snake healthy. Milk |
| the same coloring is the act that king and milk snakes | | | | snakes and king snakes generally like their cages to |
| have a line of black touching the red bands. | | | | be around 76 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit during the |
| Another interesting characteristic of king snakes and | | | | day, but the temperature should drop down to about |
| milk snakes is the fact that they actually eat other | | | | 70 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit at night. At the same |
| snakes as well as lizards, rodents, amphibians and | | | | time, you should take measures to provide differing |
| birds. Of course, as the owner of a king snake or | | | | temperatures within the cage so your snake can |
| milk snake, you would not feed other snakes to your | | | | move from one area to the next in order to regulate |
| pet. Not only would this be quite expensive for you, | | | | its temperature. |
| it would be potentially dangerous to your snake as | | | | It is important to note that the needs of various |
| well. Nonetheless, when surviving in the wild, king | | | | varieties of milk snakes and king snakes can differ. |
| snakes and milk snakes can actually eat snakes that | | | | Therefore, you should be certain to research the |
| are larger than they are. In fact, it is not uncommon | | | | specific type of snake you are considering purchasing |
| for some to regularly eat rattlesnakes in the wild. | | | | in order to make certain you set its home up |
| Therefore, you should never put more than one king | | | | properly and give it the best chance of living a long |
| snake or milk snake in the same aquarium, as one will | | | | and healthy life. |