Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi - Early last June I bought my son a baby California King snake. It was a very gentle snake. It disappeared in late September. After a couple months I assumed it was dead, but I guess it was hibernating because I just found it today in the basement. Unfortunately, it is being extremely aggressive. It was shaking its tail like a rattler and striking at anything that got close. I got it into a box and back into its acquarium. If you even get near the acquarium, it strikes at the glass. I figured maybe he was hungry and if I fed him he would settle back down. I dangled a pinkie mouse in front of him and he did strike it and even had it in his mouth for a second but just spit it back out. (He never had any eating issues before this) Any suggestions as to how to retame and feed this snake are appreciated. My son is very excited to have it back, but I can't let him have such an aggressive snake. Thanks.

If it was once nice, it may return to being so. I know this sounds bad, but if you pick it up a few times and it bites, don't put it down, just hold it. A baby snake does not hurt when it bites, it will just scare you. Even if it is striking, pick it up. I've had snakes strike that never bit. Waving a pinky mouse in its face will make it strike and bite. It will probably get back into the habit of being held again. It has not had contact in awhile. I usually let my hibernating snakes warm up for a couple of days before I feed them. It sounds to me like he is just scared. Good luck and keep us posted. Derek

Baby snakes are often aggressive, and baby Cal kings are well-known to be. During Winter, he may have been more mellow, but with warmer temps and the snake's instincts telling it it is Spring, the behavior can change.

In the wild, baby snakes can be eaten by quite a number of predators, and so an aggressive reaction is good for their survival. You are much bigger than the snake, and he doesn't know if you are there to harm him or not.

In about 2 years, he may settle down to be very calm, or at least not as jumpy as he is now.

Keep him properly, don't overhandle, feed him leaving the food in the cage or in a deli cup - don't stick food in front of his face - he thinks it is a threat.

You could also wear gardening gloves and let the snake bite. He may learn it is fruitless to do so.
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Mark

Not to worry,.....you must keep in mind that he has basically been a wild snake for many months on his own now. Don't expect him to immediately be like he was before, after being traumatized with the re-capture, he was frightened for his life just as he would be if he was freshly caught in the wild. Give him time to get comfortable in his environment again. Make absolutely sure it's cage is very SECURE THIS TIME!, and a heat source underneath one side of the cage keeping it about 82-85 degrees. Also it is EXTREMELY important that you put a couple of small "hide boxes" at each end of the cage, so he can feel secure and thermoregulate himself!....this is VERY important!. After letting him adjust to this for at least several days to a week, then you can VERY carefully(without him knowing) take the lid off his enclosure, and introduce a pinkie to the opening of his hide box(assuming he's in it).......odds are, that he will greet the prey item at his "front door" with a BANG!!....this should get him back into the "swing of thing" in becoming a good captive once again........................................Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

Rehydrate him (put him directly into a water dish). Then leave him alone for a day and put a fuzzy mouse in overnight.

I would wait a week or two before handling again.

He is striking simply because he is scared. If you take him out and and let him strike and bite all he wants to for just a minute, he will realize there is nothing to be afraid of. Do this each day for a week and you will have your tame snake back. The worst thing you can do is try to pick him up and then pull away when he stikes or pees. This just teaches him that those behaviors get you (the big scary monster) to go away. Baby snake bites don't hurt at all. I would give him a few days to settle back in before even trying anything though.

In terms of feeding... He is so scared of you, that it doesn't matter that you have a mouse. Don't even offer him the food directly, just put it in the cage and walk away. He will find it and eat it when he is not scared.

Some good advice given, let him chill for a few days and then start handling him everyday, start off for short times and build up to longer times. Let him know you are no threat to him and he will get used to be handled again, just gonna take some time and not rush it.

As for food, give him a few days to adjust again, try a delli cup, a papper bag will work too and try different times of the day and night. Make sure he has a hiding box too, will make him feel secure!

Scott

n/p
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3.3.2 L. getula californiae
1.1 L. getula nigrita
1.0 Boa constrictor constrictor (suriname, fostering/rescue)
2.3 Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Thanks FUNKYRES, he's an awesome desert Ca King, but aren't they all??

Scott

Your snake is just upset that he was cought! He was out with the ladies partying it up, and now has to stay home.
I have a Patagonia local Arizona king who manages to make it out of his rack every few months. I usually find him a few months later, and he will normally greet me with a nip!
Give your king some meals, and a few days to unwind and settle back in. He will calm and be your friendly little snake again.
Good luck:
Jason