The scarlet kingsnake is a small, secretive coral-snake mimic with vivid red, black and yellow banding. A non-venomous Batesian mimic, it is a beautiful display animal but its tiny size, secretive nature and tricky feeding make it best for keepers with some experience.
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Small, slender colubrid; typically 14-20 in, rarely to 27 in.
Lifespan
12–20 years
Social needs
solo
Native region
Southeastern United States, from the coastal plain of the Carolinas and Florida west to the Mississippi River
Origin
New World
Climate
⛅ Subtropical
Family
Colubridae
Genus
Lampropeltis
Part of the Colubrid snakes
Colubrids are the largest and most diverse snake family, encompassing most popular non-constricting and mildly constricting pet snakes. They range from hardy beginner species to specialized insectivores, and are generally non-venomous and manageable in captivity.
From the minimum an animal needs to be kept humanely, up to the ideal setup. Bigger is almost always better — minimums are floors, not targets.
Photo coming soon
Minimum
Adult enclosure
3 × 1 × 1 ft (≈ 20 gal)
Lampropeltis elapsoides is a small (1.5–2 ft) secretive kingsnake. Minimum is a 3×1 with deep substrate for burrowing, multiple tight hides, and a thermal gradient (basking 28 °C).
Photo coming soon
Recommended
Front-opening vivarium
4 × 1.5 × 1 ft, naturalistic
A 4×1.5 with deep substrate, leaf litter, scattered cork hides, and clutter. Scarlets are reclusive — heavy cover, not large open space, reduces stress.
Photo coming soon
Ideal
Bioactive woodland
4 × 2 × 1.5 ft, bioactive
Bioactive southeastern US woodland enclosure with deep substrate, leaf litter, live plants, and cleanup crew. Provides natural foraging and burrowing.
Life & growth stages
How this animal changes through its life — each stage often has its own care, diet and space needs.
Photo coming soon
Egg / Neonate
Most reptiles lay leathery- or hard-shelled eggs incubated by ambient warmth, though some snakes and lizards give live birth. Incubation temperature can influence sex and development in many species.
Photo coming soon
Hatchling
Hatchlings emerge as fully formed miniatures of the adult, often using an egg tooth to slit the shell. They are independent from birth but small and vulnerable, and may show brighter or different juvenile patterning.
Photo coming soon
Juvenile
Juveniles grow steadily, shedding their skin periodically as they enlarge. Coloration and proportions shift toward the adult form, and growth rate depends heavily on temperature, diet, and basking/UVB access.
Adult
Adults reach the species' full length and mass and become sexually mature. Many reptiles show sex differences in size, coloration, or features (such as larger heads, hemipenal bulges, or femoral pores), and continue to shed throughout life.
Habitat & enclosure
A modest enclosure suits this small species: a 10-20 gallon (roughly 20 x 12 in) setup with ample cover is plenty, as oversized or sparse enclosures stress them. Maintain a warm side around 82-85 F and a cool side near 72-76 F. Keep humidity moderate at 40-60% with a humid hide. These snakes are highly secretive fossorial burrowers, so provide deep substrate and many tight hides; a secure escape-proof lid is critical because small snakes find tiny gaps.
Substrate
Provide several inches of a burrowable substrate such as aspen, coconut fiber, or a soil mix so they can tunnel. Avoid cedar and pine. Include abundant cork bark, leaf litter and tight hides; a humid hide with damp sphagnum supports clean sheds.
Equipment & setup
A low-wattage under-tank heater on a thermostat provides the gentle warm spot needed; avoid intense basking heat. UVB is optional. Use a small secure water dish, multiple hides, and digital thermometer/hygrometer. The lid must be very secure given the snake's small, probing size.
Diet
Carnivorous but small-prey specialists. Wild scarlet kingsnakes prefer small lizards (especially skinks), so captive-bred animals often need scenting (rubbing pinkies on a lizard) to begin feeding on appropriately tiny pinky mice. Adults take a single small pink every 5-7 days. Reliable feeding can be the main husbandry hurdle; buy established, captive-bred feeders.
Behavior & temperament
Shy, secretive and largely nocturnal; they spend most time hidden or burrowing and are not display-active. They are non-venomous and generally docile, rarely biting, though they may musk or wriggle when handled. The famous red-black-yellow banding mimics the venomous coral snake ('red touches yellow' in coral snakes), but the scarlet kingsnake is harmless. Keep handling brief and infrequent to limit stress.
Health
Generally healthy when feeding is established, but failure to thrive in non-feeding juveniles is the chief concern. Watch for retained shed in dry conditions, respiratory infection in cold/damp setups, mites, and dehydration. Their small size means problems escalate quickly, so monitor weight and shedding closely.
Tips, DIY & hacks
Acquire only established, captive-bred feeders to skip the difficult feeding-startup phase. Scenting pinkies with skink can coax stubborn eaters. Pack the enclosure with cover so the snake feels secure and eats reliably. Resist over-handling this secretive species. Note this is a harmless mimic, not a coral snake.
