''Lampropeltis getula floridana'' or the Florida kingsnake is a
snake
Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
native to southern
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
. On average, they grow between 3.5–5 ft but 6 ft individuals have been recorded.
Care
Like other
kingsnakes
Kingsnakes are colubrid New World members of the genus ''Lampropeltis'', which includes 26 species. Among these, about 45 subspecies are recognized. They are nonvenomous and ophiophagous in diet.
Description
Kingsnakes vary widely in size an ...
, this species is relatively easy to care for. They should be housed in a 20-40 gallon
aquarium
An aquarium (plural: ''aquariums'' or ''aquaria'') is a vivarium of any size having at least one transparent side in which aquatic plants or animals are kept and displayed. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, aq ...
with
aspen
Aspen is a common name for certain tree species; some, but not all, are classified by botanists in the section ''Populus'', of the ''Populus'' genus.
Species
These species are called aspens:
*'' Populus adenopoda'' – Chinese aspen (China ...
shavings for them to burrow in. Pine shavings are toxic to reptiles. The temperature should be around 84F-90F degrees during the day and Nighttime temperatures should range between 68F and 75F degrees. Like other snakes, they should feed on pinkie or fuzzie
mice
A mouse ( : mice) is a small rodent. Characteristically, mice are known to have a pointed snout, small rounded ears, a body-length scaly tail, and a high breeding rate. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse (''Mus musculus' ...
as babies, then gradually increase in size until the snake reaches adulthood, which by then they should be eating large mice.
Gallery
File:Lampropeltis getula floridana, Adult-South Florida.jpg, Adult male from South Florida
File:Florida Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula floridana.jpg
References
https://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/fl-snakes/list/lampropeltis-getula-floridana/
http://projectsimusflorida.synthasite.com/fl-kingsnake.php
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6482595
Lampropeltis