Appearance

Of the many species of snakes native to North America, the Eastern kingsnake is a popular choice because it is completely harmless to humans. Their color scheme consists of 23-52 white chain-like rings superimposed on a glossy black, blue-black, or dark brown base color. In contrast to kingsnakes located in the mountains, which typically have narrower bands or are even solid black, those found on the coastal plain have larger bands.

Habits and Lifestyle

The eastern kingsnake for sale is a solitary, daytime creature. They may be seen foraging, migrating, sunbathing, or hiding out in leaf litter throughout the day. When temperatures rise throughout the summer, they may become nocturnal. Though they prefer the ground, these snakes are capable of tree climbing and even swimming if threatened.

They will find a safe place to hibernate, such as a cave, a rock crevice, an abandoned mammal burrow, or a hollow log, and stay there until spring. Venomous snakes are fair game for Eastern kingsnakes. They’ve figured out a way to hunt without getting bitten by clamping down on the prey’s jaws, but even if they do get bitten, they can handle the venom just fine.

Many predators pose a threat to eastern kingsnakes, therefore these snakes have learned to adapt. If they feel threatened, they hiss and shake their tails like a rattlesnake. They can also generate an offensive scent, strike, or play dead by rolling into a ball and burying their head in the coils.

Diet and Nutrition

These reptiles eat meat. Venomous snakes are among their favorite prey, but they also enjoy a varied diet that includes amphibians, turtle eggs, lizards, and even small mammals.