Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey, i am picking up my first kingsnake on saturday. i think i have done enough research on food, health, heat etc, but just wondered if anyone had any tips to help him settle in. its quite hard to get advice from anyone over here bacause snakes are reasonably rare! any advice would be appreciated.

I would set it up in your enclosure, make sure it has water and a couple of nice hides with substrate to burrow in and, as hard as it is, let it alone for a few days to explore its' strange new world. After a few days, hold it for maybe 5 minutes and let it get to know you a bit, little by little. Wait another day then offer food, and watch it carefully. Don't handle for a few days after, repeat the handling with slight increases each time. Don't be put off if it musks you, they do that sometimes, but most stop after a while. Change the water every few days or if it soils in it. Have fun and hope to see some pics soon! Good luck!
Todd Hughes

thanks for that. i am so excited about getting him. i'll want to handle him all the time, but i know he'll need to settle in. iv never had one before, but iv always loved them. hopefully he'll meet my expectations. there is not many people that have them here, so its great to have advice available from other owners. by the way, out of interest, how long, at any one time should he be out of the enclosure?

That is entirely up to you but I would start with 5 minutes or lesws the first time and GRADUALLY increase as time goes by. Some are more calm than others, most calm with time and frequent handlings. You could have it out as long as you care to eventually but they are not "pets" per say in as you can't really take them for a walk like a dog. They get skiddish around lots of activity and fast movements. Remember, they have an inborn fear of attack from above and are mostly underground dwellers that occasionally come to the surface to forage and mate.
Todd Hughes

cheers for that. i'll hopfully get some pictures up when he settles in. oh and by the way the pictures you sent are real lovelylooking snakes. thanks again.

Thanks!
Todd Hughes