Rare Two-Headed Snake Thrives at Berkeley Pet Store

A rare two-headed California kingsnake, named Angel and Zeke, has been thriving for over seven months at the East Bay Vivarium in Berkeley, defying the typically low survival odds for bicephalic reptiles. The snake, which hatched in September, is notable for having two independently functioning heads that sometimes disagree on direction, with only the right head currently eating. This condition, known as bicephaly, is extremely rare, occurring in about 1 in 100,000 snake births, and most such snakes do not survive long, especially in the wild. The shop’s owner and staff are optimistic about the snake's continued survival and potential to reach a typical kingsnake lifespan of 20 to 30 years. While there has been outside interest in purchasing the snake, the store does not plan to sell it and continues to monitor its progress. The case has drawn significant attention on social media and from herpetology enthusiasts.