Ruthven's kingsnake (Lampropeltis ruthveni)

Short answers

Ruthven's kingsnake: How big does the enclosure need to be?

From 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, kingsnakes).

Ruthven's kingsnake: What temperature does it need?

Daytime 24–29 °C, basking spot 31 °C, at night 18–21 °C.

Ruthven's kingsnake: Does it need UVB lighting?

UVB: Not essential.

Ruthven's kingsnake: How long do they live?

Life expectancy: 15–20 years.

Ruthven's kingsnake: Is it suitable for beginners?

Yes – it is considered suitable for beginners (difficulty: Beginner).

Climate

Daytime temperature

24–29 °C

Night temperature

18–21 °C

Basking spot

31 °C

Humidity

50–65 %

UVB

Not essential

Enclosure

Minimum size

from 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, kingsnakes)

Substrate

Coco humus or beech granulate, hides, climbing branches

Feeding

Food

Frozen-thawed mice

Feeding interval

adults every 7–10 days

Key facts

Adult size

80–110 cm (record up to 127 cm)

Life expectancy

15–20 years

Origin

Mexico (Michoacán, Jalisco, Querétaro)

Protection status

Not listed under CITES

Brumation

A winter rest of 8–10 weeks at 12–15 °C

Cohabitation

Keep them singly. Snakes are solitary and do not seek company — a shared hide is competition for the best spot, not social behaviour. The concrete reason is the feeding accident: if two animals grab the same food item, one can swallow the other along with it. On top of that, once they are kept together you can no longer tell which animal has eaten and which is losing weight. For breeding, put them together under supervision and separate them again afterwards.

Notes

A quiet, even-tempered milk snake with strong red, black and white markings. Like all Lampropeltis, do not house it with its own kind.

Do you keep this species?

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Related species

• Andean milk snake (Lampropeltis micropholis) – Intermediate
• Sonoran mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis pyromelana) – Intermediate
• Isla Todos Santos kingsnake (Lampropeltis herrerae) – Expert
• California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) – Intermediate
• Chihuahuan mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis knoblochi) – Intermediate
• Desert kingsnake (Lampropeltis splendida) – Beginner
• Florida kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula floridana) – Beginner
• Eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula getula) – Beginner

All species in the care wiki →

What you need to start

To keep Ruthven's kingsnake (Lampropeltis ruthveni) you typically need: a suitable enclosure (from 110×55×55 cm (minimum size according to the 1997 expert report, kingsnakes)), substrate (Coco humus or beech granulate, hides, climbing branches), a heat source with a thermostat, UVB lighting, thermometer and hygrometer, a water dish and hides. You will find equipment in the Reptoria marketplace.