Find mountain kingsnakes for sale from dedicated breeders and keepers. These red, black and white banded kings from the highlands of Arizona, New Mexico and Mexico reward keepers who enjoy a naturalistic setup.
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The mountain kingsnake, Lampropeltis pyromelana, is a tricolor kingsnake from the sky islands and rocky canyons of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Bright red, black and white bands and a slim, agile build give it a very different feel from its lowland relatives. Keepers who enjoy a naturalistic, slightly cooler setup often find it one of the most satisfying colubrids to work with.
Mountain kingsnakes are found in Arizona, New Mexico and into Mexico, mostly in rugged, rocky terrain at elevations of roughly 3,000 to 8,000 feet. They favor pine-oak woodland, canyon bottoms and talus slopes where they can shelter under rocks and logs.
That highland origin shapes their care. They experience cooler nights and a real winter, and they are most active on mild days rather than in intense heat. Different mountain ranges have produced distinct looking populations, which is why locality names such as Huachuca and Chiricahua come up so often among breeders.
Most adults fall between about 2 and 4 feet in length, with a lean, fine-scaled body. Their modest size means an adult can be housed comfortably without a very large enclosure, although they appreciate room to explore and climb over rock work.
With good care, a lifespan of around 15 to 20 years is typical, so buying a mountain king is a long-term decision.
Wild mountain kings eat lizards and small rodents, along with other small reptiles on occasion. In captivity most are raised on mice, moving up in size as they grow. Some hatchlings are reluctant to take a pinky mouse on their first few meals, and breeders sometimes scent the prey to get them started.
Once established, most feed well on frozen-thawed mice. Logging each meal, refusal and shed makes patterns much easier to spot, and Husbandry.Pro is a convenient way to keep feeding and weight records organized over the years.
A secure terrarium with a locking lid, a few inches of burrowing substrate and several tight hides will make a mountain king feel at home. Stacked slate or cork gives them the rocky cover they instinctively seek. Provide a warm spot at one end and let the rest of the enclosure stay cooler, keeping air fairly dry with a humid hide available around shed time.
Many keepers give adults a winter cooling period, especially if they plan to breed. Specific temperatures, timing and precautions are covered in the ReptileAds kingsnake care guide.
Look for a snake that is feeding consistently on unassisted meals, has a clean recent shed and shows a rounded, well-muscled body in photos. Ask the seller about locality records if lineage matters to you, and whether the animal has been through a cooling period.
Chatting with the seller on ReptileAds before you buy lets you confirm feeding details and shipping timing, and reading their reviews helps you shop with more confidence. Have your enclosure running before the snake arrives.
AI-assisted guide reviewed by the ReptileAds team. General information about these animals — not care, veterinary or legal advice, and not a description of any individual listing above.
This category covers Lampropeltis pyromelana, often called the Arizona mountain kingsnake or Sonoran mountain kingsnake. Listings here come from breeders and hobbyists who work with this tricolor species, and many note the locality or bloodline their animals descend from, which is something mountain king enthusiasts pay close attention to.
Compare listings by age, size, feeding status and pattern, then message sellers through built-in chat to ask about hatch dates, locality records and whether the snake takes frozen-thawed prey. Seller profiles and reviews help you learn more about who you are buying from.
Mountain kings are produced in smaller numbers than many colubrids, so a Hit List alert is a handy way to hear about new listings as they appear.
ReptileAds makes it easier to track down a species that is bred in modest numbers each year.
Many sellers list locality or lineage information, so you can compare lines side by side before reaching out.
Ask about feeding, shedding and parent animals directly through built-in chat.
Get notified as soon as a mountain kingsnake matching your search is listed.
Mountain kingsnakes come from rocky, wooded highlands, and a setup that reflects that suits them well. In general terms:
See the ReptileAds kingsnake care guide for full setup and seasonal cooling details.
Before you buy a mountain kingsnake, it helps to ask: