''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