Reptile & Amphibian Forums

About a week ago I had purchased someone's kingsnake. Upon arriving she had told me that he does get a little jumpy from time to time. Which I understand after as I know from personal experience that they do not always like to be bothered. She proceeded to pick up the snake and handed it to me. He latched on and enjoyed my company and was reluctant to go back in his cage. After I had gotten him home I left him in his cage for a few hours so that he could settle down a little. When I went to get him out he would kink his body I I couldn't get him out without great force so I lefft him alone. later that day I tried again. I had lifted him up and as I did so I noticed that he hadn't tried to anchor himself to me yet and then his head turned and started to go for my hand in fear of him going on the defense and biting me I put him back down. I fed him 3 days ago and tried to pick him up today. I first tried petting his back gently to alert him of my presence (which I had about 6 times prior in the days before feeding him trying to get him used to my scent and touch and had become successful at doing so), but he began to trash his body to escape being held. I am very upset by this because I have never had a snake act so wildly towards me, and at his size (just over 3 ft) I'd rather not be bitten. I need some help on tryign to lessen this temper issue. The previous owner did not use bedding in the cage, which I plan on doing because I feel like a bit of the problem is that he can't hide as well as he might want to. Please offer any pointers that you can guys. I'd prefer you not to email me as I would like your tips to be criticized by others viewing this topic to make sure I do get some accurate information. Thanks a lot for your help

My advice is to leave the snake alone for a few days and let him calm down. Moving into a new environment is stressful for snakes, and it's important to give them at least a day (if not more) to settle in. The snake has to get used to new sights, smells, and routines that it hasn't dealt with before - of course he will be a little jumpy.

It's very important that you stand your ground when you decide to handle the snake. Even if the snake bites you, it's little more than a pinprick. You can do much more damage to the snake by jerking away when he bites you than he can do to you just by biting. Pick the snake up and handle him normally so that he gets used to your presence. Don't restrict him (if you can help it), and let him glide through your hands. Hopefully he will learn that you are not a threat. Also, my Cal king has the tendency not to "latch on", and I've never had a problem with him - I just have to hold onto him to keep him from falling off.

I am by no means an expert, but I hope this helps you. Good luck with your snake!

Very few snakes like to be held and will thrash about as a defense action. Especially if they like their home. I find it more easy to just reach in and pick them up, without giving them the chance to think about it. Walk around a bit, it seems to com them down. You can also use gloves to remove them from the tank and to get them use to being handled. Remove the gloves after they com down, after each removal.
GOOD LUCK;
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R.Bichlers Colubrids
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

thanks for the insight. I already had the gloves on the shopping list. I was also told that I should wait a month. I'm a little uncertain about waiting a month since in my experience goign more then a week or two without handling a snake seems to make them a bit more unhappy about being held. As of right now this is what my plan is looking like for my next attempt.
Tuesday(today): leave snake alone and let him rule the cage
Wednesday: put bedding in cage
Friday: pet the snake in the morning and spend then leave it alone then repeat in afternoon, and finally in the evening put on the gloves and take it out.
Sunday: feed and watch for a few days
Tuesday: attempt to handle again

please take a look at this iterneray and critque it. Also throw in any pointers possible

This is just my opinion, but I wouldn't overdo handling the snake in the same day - at least until he gets used to you.

I would not handle him till at least 3 days after feeding, especially if he has been this nervous and high strung. So, if you feed him on Sunday, I would wait till Wednesday before handling.

Also..does he have a hide box in his cage? If not, please get him one right away, as that would make him feel secure and maybe push him in the direction of calming down some.

Keep us posted and good luck!!
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Genesis 1:1

On letting it be at least three days after feeding, an excitable snake can easily regurgitate prior to that. Also as "DISCERN" mentioned, the hide box is a MUST for most snakes, especially nervous ones.

~Doug

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

I'm sure we've had this conversation before, but do these snakes look similar?

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1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

Yeah, I believe we have,..........that IS a very similar looking Floridana/brooksi you have there. My pair are from wild-caught parents from southern Dade County,Florida. The pair has really been lightening up with yellow as they grow.

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

Yeah Belle has yellowed too. And a wonderful temperament.

Does that snake look like this now?

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1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

They are both really young 07's, so they have quite a bit of yellowing up to do, but they are definitely getting there.

Here is a pic of the sibling I posted earlier. They both started out very dark as is very typical.

~Doug

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

What a nice clear photo that is. Be sure to post new pics often, they change quickly!
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1.1 Florida Kingsnake
1.0 Kisatchie Cornsnake

~ZF
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Floridana Morphs: Resource Site

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

I must say that none of my snakes "enjoy" petting. You should just reach in, scoop it up and walk away from the cage. While you need to keep it from falling, you shouldn't grasp the snake firmly after the removal. As stated before, let the snake crawl from hand to hand or give it one hand to wrap around, keep it short at first, and gradually increase the time holding. I really think 90 some-odd % of snakes enjoy handling, they learn to tolerate it.

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Todd Hughes

....getting a snake hook. I use a hook for all of my animals when removing them from their cage. And I would consider all of my animals to be docile. By using a hook I don't have to actually grasp the animal, I just lift up the snake with the hook and then lay it across my hand. It seems that they are not as nervous when you are not grabbing them.

Rob

Everyone on here is pointing you in the right direction. Personally, I suggest you put some kind of bedding in the cage, a couple of places to hide (I use small, cozy, empty boxes--cereal, macaroni, large matchboxes-- because they are free and disposable) and a bowl of fresh water. They also like sheets of newspaper. If you put several layers, they will hide between them. Then leave the snake alone for a week. Don't do anything. Maybe even throw a towel over the cage, being sure not to restrict airflow. After a week, try and handle the snake, but only for about ten minutes. Wait a couple of days and try again. You may also try and leave a t-shirt that you've been wearing inside the cage. This sometimes gets the snake used to your scent. I usually wash my hands with an alcohol based hand sanitizer before and after handling. They seem to recognize the strong smell of the sanitizer and know that I am about to handle them. Some snakes will never calm down completely, and different species react differently. Some simply calm down with age. I have one kingsnake, a Thayeri, that actually seems to enjoy being held. He comes straight to my hand when I open the cage and climbs up my arm and around my wrist. He is totally calm around every person he's been around. Others, like my milks, display varying levels of agitation when first handle, but clam down after a few minutes. All of them quit biting as they grew.
I wait at least 24 hours after feeding before handling any of my snakes. Longer for the more nervous ones.
Good luck.
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1.1.0 Hondurans Het Amel
1.1.0 Hondurans Anery, Het Hypo
0.1.0 Honduran Hypo
0.2.0 Pueblans
1.0.0 Thayeri MSP
0.0.1 GBK Blair's Phase
1.0.0 California King
0.0.1 Speckled King WC
0.0.1 Jungle Carpet
0.1.0 Ball, Normal
0.0.1 Sulcata
0.1.0 Girlfriend, Caucasius Mexicana, Fiancee Phase

Yes the snake does have a hide box and I'm buying another one. I'm also gonna buy gloves for beggining the handling. I know alot would say that I should bypass the glvoes, but to put it simply I am a diabetic and so if the snake breaks skin the bacteria in it's mouth could cause an infection that I would rather avoid. Anyways thanks for the advice and keep it comming