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The royal snake is a representative of the family Already, has no poison. It is found in North and Central America and Mexico. To date, there are only 14 varieties of the Royal Snake all over the planet.
A distinctive feature of this species is the bright colors of the scales. It is she who attracts lovers of reptiles. Some start a snake like a pet.
Interesting! The royal snake is also called a sparkling shield for its specific scales on its back.
Description of appearance
Smooth scales of bright color. Typically, a pattern consists of alternating multi-colored rings. The most common set of shades: red, white and black. The length of the snake can vary from 50 to 200 cm.
The color of the scales can be different for subspecies. Each individual has its own individual appearance. There is no gender difference in the color of the scales. The only way to distinguish the male from the female: in the male, the tail is thicker and longer than in the female.
Life expectancy is from 9 to 15 years.
Where can I meet a snake
Demeanor
The main feature of the Royal species is that it can include other snakes, even poisonous ones, in its diet. In biological studies, a case was recorded when the King snake ate a rattlesnake, which is much more dangerous. The body of this species produces immunity to poisons and toxins. Thanks to this fact, she got her name.
The snake does not tolerate extreme heat. Because of this, she can very rarely go out hunting. In hot weather, it can show signs of life only at night, early in the morning and at dusk. In the usual conditions, she leads a daily lifestyle.
Nutrition
The royal snake loves to eat small rodents (mice, jungariks, etc.) and small lizards. They are also able to eat other snakes that are poisonous. The body of this species produces immunity to poisons. Adult reptiles can engage in cannibalism.
Subspecies and their features
At the moment, there are 14 varieties of the Royal Snake in the world, but only 7 of them are fully studied.
The most common subspecies include:
- Mountain royal. In length, individuals do not exceed 1.5 m. The triangular head is black, gray or steel in color. The body is very massive. The color is an alternation of grayish and bright orange rings.
- Beautiful royal. The average length is a meter. The head is elongated, slightly flattened on the sides. Big eyes, slim, massive body. The body is brown in color with red or brownish rectangles.
- Mexican royal. The average length of an individual can reach up to two meters. Head elongated, flattened laterally. The body is gray or brown in color, decorated with rectangular red or black and white spots.
- Arizona Royal. It is one of the smallest subspecies. As a rule, individuals do not exceed a meter in length. The black head has a rounded shape. The coloring of the body is represented by a set of rings of red, black and yellow (sometimes white) colors.
Other subspecies are currently being studied.Information and facts about the varieties are constantly updated.
Foes in the wild
In most cases, large birds of prey prey on the Royal snake: eagle, stork, heron, and others. Among mammals, such animals as the jaguar, leopard, wild boar, and mongoose feed most on the snake. Snake is also included in the diet of crocodiles.
Snake as a pet
In today's world, it is increasingly possible to meet a situation where people start domestic snakes. Many are attracted to the bright color of the Royal. However, before acquiring a person is obliged to buy some equipment so that the content of the reptile is as comfortable as possible.
For home conditions, medium-sized individuals are better suited. Each animal must be in an individual terrarium, since the Royal Snake has a predisposition to eat its own relatives.
Terrarium and its additions
The minimum size for the average individual is 80x55x55 cm. For small representatives, 60x30x30 cm is enough. An artificial rug is spread on the bottom or coconut flakes are covered. Paper for living a snake is not suitable. In one of the corners you need to place a small pool so that the Royal can wash in it. A thermometer and a hydrometer are mounted on the walls of the terrarium. It is necessary to constantly monitor the microclimate. The best temperature during the day is 25-30 ° C, and night temperature is 20-25 ° C. Humidity should be between 50-60%. Periodically you need to spray the terrarium, but do not overdo it.
Reptiles need good, dim lighting. Daylight lamps are best suited. Incandescent lamps can serve as a source of heat, although a thermo-mat, which is installed in the corner of the terrarium, is better suited for this function. Every day for 30 minutes it is necessary to turn on ultraviolet lamps. This procedure supports the health of the snake.
Nutrition
Cubs and young individuals need to be fed 1 time per week. At this age, they prefer newborn mice. Malnutrition must not be allowed, otherwise there will be disturbances in the process of growth and development of the body. An adult eats a maximum of 3 times per month. Her diet includes gerbil mice, dzhungariki and other medium-sized rodents. After eating, you can not touch the snake for 3 days, otherwise it may burp eaten. Also, you can not disturb the reptile while eating. Instincts wake up, and a snake attacks a person. Young individuals can be aggressive in the early days, but then contact with the host is established.
Water should be in the public domain. It is recommended to add vitamin preparations for reptiles to it, which will help the snake to develop well.
In addition to the usual meal, the Royal Snake needs nutrients that are not found in food. You can give her chopped eggshell and a preparation with calcium. You can add mineral water to the water, but not often. Once a month, vitamins and minerals should be added to the feed. Follow the dosage according to the instructions. It is necessary to consult a specialist.
Safety precautions
The king snake has a weakly acting poison. He can only paralyze the bitten. However, the reptile does not pose a particular danger to humans. Even in adults, fangs are so short that they, in most cases, do not injure a person. After taming, the Royal Snake becomes a devoted and affectionate pet. It is only necessary to have patience to make friends with the animal. Taming should take 15-20 minutes every day.
Age
If all the conditions of the Royal snake are observed, then its life expectancy will be 10 years. However, there are often cases when a single individual survived to 15 years.
Home breeding
At home, the Royal Snake reproduces well. Reptiles become capable of producing offspring at the age of 3 years. In winter, slightly reduce the air temperature.In spring, the male and female can be brought together. 2 weeks before crossing, you need to give individuals preparations with vitamin E. 7 days before wintering, you need to interrupt the nutrition of the snake and turn off the heating devices. The air temperature in the terrarium gradually decreases to 12-15 ° C. After a month, the temperature returns to normal, and feeding of the individual is restored.
The female lays from 2 eggs to a dozen. Incubation lasts about two months. The temperature required during this period is 28-29 ° C. When the age of the hatched individuals reaches 7 days, they begin to feed them 2 times a week. Young snakes need a separate terrarium. Adults need individual housing, as the Royal view has a tendency to cannibalism.
Snake Buying Tips
Immediately after acquiring a reptile, it must be placed in a quarantine terrarium for some time. This is necessary to find out the state of health of the snake. The best solution is to provide the Royal Snake with a separate room where there will be no other pets, as they can become infected by airborne droplets.
The individual should be carefully examined for parasites and damage. During the quarantine period, it is necessary to observe the stool and the diet of the snake. If a person does not have experience in keeping a reptile, it is best to check the pet’s health status in a veterinary clinic immediately after purchase. It is recommended to purchase the Royal Snake in professional stores, nurseries or from a specialist who has proven himself in divorcing reptiles.
When buying, you need to find out if the individual has a normal weight and does not suffer from anorexia. Staphylococcus can affect the oral cavity, so when examined, you need to pay attention to this. It is necessary to check the reptile on ticks that provoke skin diseases. The buyer should ask the seller when the snake last time dropped its skin and how it went.
Recently, such a procedure as implanting a microchip in a pet’s body is gaining popularity. Thus, the owners track the location of the snake and better control its behavior. This operation is carried out in veterinary clinics and is painless for the animal.
Video: King Snake (Lampropeltis)
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