The king snake can eat a variety of foods. They eat rodents, birds, other snakes, and even eggs, although in captivity they will only eat eggs. The eggs provide the snake with essential nutrients during its growth period and help it thrive. In the wild, kingsnakes hunt rodents by tightly constricting them and then pin them to the ground with their body weight. Depending on their species, king snakes will also eat amphibians and other reptiles.
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Rats
Rats and mice are the staple diet of California king snakes. The snakes are also able to eat frozen mice. The live prey, like mice, is a hazard to the snakes, so feeding them frozen mice is safer. But it’s also important to keep in mind that rats and mice can actually fight back.
Rats and mice can be purchased from pet stores. They should be thawed in warm water, but don’t leave them out too long, or else harmful bacteria may form on them. Baby California Kingsnakes can easily eat one pinky mouse, but as they grow, you should increase their diet to bigger rodents. Don’t feed them large amounts of food right away, since they’ll regurgitate it.
Rats and mice are the main diet of kingsnakes, but they won’t exclude other prey, like birds’ eggs. Providing a good diet for captive king snakes will keep them healthy and able to survive in captivity.
Mice
King snakes are crepuscular animals that are most active at dusk and dawn. Because of this, you should feed your king snakes at these times to ensure that they are getting the proper amount of nutrients and water. While they can live on mice alone, they should also be treated to treats every now and then.
California Kings are omnivorous and will eat lizards, small birds and other snakes, but in captivity, rodents make the best diet. Unlike rattlesnakes, California Kings will not pick their prey, so make sure you use tongs when feeding them. In addition, never feed them live mice or thawed mice because these will injure them. Freshly killed mice are the best choice.
Other snakes
King snakes do not set up ambushes to catch prey, but they often stalk their prey through the forest, using their strong sense of smell to lock on. As they hunt silently, they are not likely to be seen by humans, and unlike other snakes, they do not use venom or sharp fangs to kill their prey. Instead, king snakes kill through constriction, wrapping themselves around their prey and squeezing out their life.
While king snakes do not usually eat other snakes, they will feed on their own species. Some species specialize in eating snakes, such as eastern worm snakes and rat snakes. Others eat other animals, including birds, mice, fish, and insects.
Birds
Many people believe that snakes are omnivorous, but that’s not the case. Many species of snakes are predators, and some even prey on birds. Snakes like the King Cobra are known for their predation of birds. These predators tend to prey on birds of all sizes, including water and land birds. They also eat domestic birds.
In captivity, king snakes commonly feed on mice, and these are a relatively inexpensive and nutritious meal for a snake. Frozen mice are another good food source for kingsnakes. They also eat chicken eggs, which are very easy to steal from a nest.
Lizards
Snakes often feed on lizards for various reasons, including as a source of food. While most snakes only prey on warm-blooded animals, some can be deadly. For example, the Thorny Dragon lizard has sharp scales and is not a favorite meal for snakes. Some snakes also feed on monitor lizards and blue-tongued lizards.
California king snakes are opportunistic feeders and often chase after rattlesnakes, rodents, and smaller reptiles. In one famous photograph, taken by Bryan Snyder, a California king snake was filmed eating an alligator lizard. The snake’s jaws were clamped shut, while the lizard struggled to get free.
King snakes also eat eggs. They don’t crush the eggs. They also use their teeth to pull food back up into their mouths, rather than chewing it. This type of eating behavior differs from other snakes, who usually inject venom into their prey before dispatching them. King snakes also eat eggs, unlike other snakes, which tend to feed exclusively on dead prey.