The Grey Banded Kingsnake is a species of Kingsnake that is native to only a small region of Texas, Mexico and New Mexico. They are rarely encountered in the wild as their natural habitat is very remote and difficult to access.
This snake was considered a sub-species of the Mexicana Kingsnake until recently but has since been elevated to full species status. Its scientific name is Lampropeltis alterna.
Grey Banded Kingsnake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Grey Banded Kingsnake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Corn Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans. However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The Grey Banded Kingsnake belongs to the Lampropeltis genus. This genus contains the New World Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes. Its scientific name is Lampropeltis alterna.
Some other species in the Lampropeltis genus include the Mexican Milk Snake, the Nuevo Leone Kingsnake, the Prairie Kingsnake, the Scarlet Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake.
The Kingsnake gets its name from the fact that they often eat other snakes, including Rattlesnakes. Similarly, the King Cobra gets its name from its tendency to also eat other snakes.
The scientific name ‘Lampropeltis’ comes from the Greek words ‘lampro’ and ‘pelte’ which loosely translates to ‘shiny shield’. This is a reference to these snake’s smooth, enamel-like dorsal scales.
Species
This Grey Banded Kingsnake was considered a sub-species of the Mexicana Kingsnake until recently but has since been elevated to full species status.
There are currently no recognised sub-species of Grey Banded Kingsnake. However, some literature identifies two sub-species, Lampropeltis alterna alterna and Lampropeltis alterna blairi, but it is under debate as to whether these are actually the same.
Grey Banded Kingsnake Description
The Grey Banded Kingsnake is a medium sized snake that typically grows up to 4ft in length but around 3ft would be more common. Females of this species are usually larger than males.
As its name suggests, the Grey Banded Kingsnake has beautiful bands of Grey, Black and Orange. The grey and orange bands are larger and are typically separated by a smaller black band.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Grey Banded Kingsnake is native to only a small ecological range in the Southern United States and Northern Mexico. These snakes are rarely encountered in the wild due to the remoteness of their habitat.
They are only found in a small region of South West Texas, South East New Mexico and Northern Mexico. Their habitat consists of rocky, mountainous desert covered with steep cliffs and sharp canyon walls.
Grey Banded Kingsnakes as Pets
The Grey Banded Kingsnake makes a great pet. They are a hardy, docile snake that doesn’t need a high level of maintenance. The colorful banded appearance of the snake make them a visually stunning species.
Growing to an average length of only 3-4ft, they are very easy to manage and handle. They do not require an excessively large enclosure and can be fed a diet consisting exclusively of rodents.
The Grey Banded Kingsnake is not as common in the pet trade as species such as the California Kingsnake or Mexican Black Kingsnake but they are available and bred in captivity. They are also very cheap to purchase so there is no reason to take one of these from the wild or purchase a wild caught animal. Wild populations play an important role within their ecosystem.
Feeding a Grey Banded Kingsnake
In the wild, the Grey Banded Kingsnake feeds primarily on rodents, snakes, lizards and eggs. This diet does not need to be replicated in captivity and your snake can be fed exclusively on rodents.
In captivity, you can feed your Grey Banded Kingsnake a diet consisting exclusively of frozen thawed mice or rats. The size of the prey item should be no larger than the girth of the snake at the snake’s largest point.
If you want to add variety into your snake’s diet, you can offer them the occasional feeder Anole or baby chicks. If you have access to fresh quail eggs in your area, these could also be offered on occasion.
You should feed hatchlings every 5-7 days while adults can be fed less frequently, unless you are bringing them back up to weight after breeding. Generally, adults can be fed an appropriately sized meal every 7-10 days.
Like many species of snake, the Grey Banded Kingsnake can go off their food during the colder months. This is completely normal. Simply continue to offer them a meal every two weeks or so until they start eating again.
Grey Banded Kingsnake Enclosure
An adult Grey Banded Kingsnake can be housed in an enclosure measuring 3ft x 2ft x 2ft. You can however, offer them a larger enclosure. This is an active species that will happily utilise the space that you give it.
Juveniles and hatchlings should be given a smaller enclosure to help them. A setup measuring 2ft x 1ft x 1ft works well for juveniles. Hatchlings can be housed in plastic tubs as these enclosures offer them security and help to reduce stress.
The Grey Banded Kingsnake is an active species that enjoys space to mive around so we don’t recommend tubs for older specimens. Tubs simply don’t offer the snake the opportunity for them to keep active.
As with all snakes, the Grey Banded Kingsnake needs to feel secure. This can be achieved by including at least one hiding place at either end of the enclosure. One at the warm end and one at the cool end. A freshwater bowl must also be present at all times.
Light and Heat
The Grey Banded Kingsnake likes a hot spot of around 85F. The ambient temperature in the enclosure can drop to around 75F. You can allow the ambient temperature to drop to around 70F at night, providing it is brought back up again the following morning.
There are several different ways that you can heat a Grey Banded Kingsnake enclosure. The two most common methods used are under-tank heat mats or a heat/ceramic bulb.
A heat mat can be placed under the tank to provide belly heat for your snake. This mat should cover about one third of the floor space of the enclosure. This will allow for a thermal gradient as the snake moves away from the source of the heat.
Heat mats can get excessively hot. Therefore, it is necessary to connect them to an on/off thermostat. These thermostats work by turning off the heat mat when it exceeds the desired temperature. It will turn back on then when the temperature falls below the desired temperature.
If you have a deep layer of substrate, a heat mat will not pass enough heat through to your snake. In this case, you will need to use overhead heat. This will come in the form of a heat lamp or ceramic heat emitter.
Overhead heat works by raising the temperature of the air in the enclosure. As you move away from the source of the heat, the temperature will decrease. This will provide a thermal gradient for your snake.
Bulbs should always be connected to a pulse proportional thermostat. This is a different kind of stat that adjusts the amount of current supplied to the bulb. If it is too hot, less current will be supplied, reducing the temperature of the bulb and vice versa.
Grey Banded Kingsnake Substrate
Juveniles can be kept on newspaper or paper towel. If keeping your babies in a tub, this is the best substrate to use as it makes it easier to monitor your snake’s health which will ultimately ensure that you can provide the appropriate level of Grey Banded Kingsnake care.
As the snake grows, you may want to put them into a more elaborate display enclosure. This should include a deep layer of loose substrate to allow the snake the opportunity to burrow.
Grey Banded Kingsnakes do great when provided about 4 inches of substrate. Aspen is great for this as it is relatively cheap and easy for your snake to burrow in. If you cannot provide a deep layer of substrate, ensure that you have enough hiding places for the snake to feel secure.
Grey Banded Kingsnake Humidity
The Grey Banded Kingsnake lives in a dry arid climate so humidity should be kept low. Keep the water bowl away from the source of heat in the enclosure and ensure there is plenty of ventilation. This is usually enough to keep the humidity low enough.
If the humidity is extremely high where you live, you can buy a dehumidifier to keep the humidity in the room low. You can buy a cheap hydrometer in any pet store which will give you a good indication of the humidity levels in the enclosure.
Handling a Grey Banded Kingsnake
A Grey Banded Kingsnake should be handled regularly in captivity from a young age for them to build up a trusting relationship with you. As with any snake, they can be a bit nippy as babies, but this will usually fade with regular handling.
You need to take precautions when taking a Grey Banded Kingsnake out. They are a quick snake and will try to flee if they feel threatened. Make sure you support the snake at all times during handling to prevent injury to the snake.
