Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey everyone,

gotta question.. My snake, who has been a lovely hand raised snake since very young, 4-5 months I bought him at 7months... He has lived in various environments, last one for awhile was one of those mesh terrariums. I moved to a new place and couldnt keep the heat in the cage and he was having horrible piecy sheds, so I was advised to put him in a tupperware (cheaper version of the fish tank) lots of holes on the cover, heated underpadding.. he hasnt had a shed yet, but time will tell if that part of the new environemnt worked.. but the big problem

Is he is totally different snake.. He is way more active, I have been able to handle him up until now. He has been in his new environment for about 1 month or so.. and just last week, he began biting me. I thought, he has more underpad heating more humidity hes probably hungry.. fed him 2 adult mice, he ate that super fast.. then he was chill for the usually day or two.. but then way more active than ever. I have handled him a few more times since he bit me last and he did not bite me... but today, I picked him up and he was doing this weird thing with his nose poking at my hand, then he decided to take a bite! Now hes got little teeth and its no big deal, he hasnt really gotten a hold of me yet, hes still pretty small, I can get him off for the most part... but now I dont know what to do.. is he hungry more often now? is he pissed about his living arrangments, what? help any advice!! I dont want to be afraid of handling my snake!

I have been feeding him in another tank since he was brought home, but I dont want to not be able to transfer him to feed, or to hang out with him like we used to.. I dont want to always be worried he is going to bite me! He has become unpredictable..

Does he have enough hides? He could be a bit stressed out in the new home if he doesn't feel secure in it, or only feels secure while the top is on. Can you post a picture of his new home, it might help sort things..
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Holly

0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Lizzie Borden) (missing )
1.0 Florida Kingsnake possible mix (Eddie Gein)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Egyptian Arabian (Bagan)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)

How big are the mice and how big is your snake? Can you post pics of both with something like a dollar bill so that we can estimate the size? It sounds to me like your snake might be exhibiting a hunger response. Mine did the same thing when I handled him (stupid me) on the same day I fed him.

Yo Dude!!!!!
Sounds like the little one is hungry!!!!! It's Spring and snakes chow down in Spring (Unless they are males and they're horny!!!) I wouldn't worry about it. Just try not to react. You're not food and he'll figure it out. I have warmed up my snakes and they are now getting fed every 5 days if they are little guys. Every time I see my kings on the move I haul them out and give them something to eat. I believe in frequent feeding of multiple small items. Easier in digestion and I haven't seen a regurge in a couple years!!!! Good Luck!!!!

Shalom,

Pat

This snake is obviously showing signs of hunger, increase feeding, either decrease size and increase quantity, or feed more often, sounds as though the heat increased his metabolism and he needs more food.
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Todd Hughes

You did not say if this is your first snake or not, so we have no idea how much experience you have. You need to realize that your snake is cold blooded, which means the temperature around them effects their body temperature. Also the body temperature effects them greatly. A snake that is cold, will be less active, feed less, digest slower, and be more lethargic (equals less aggressive). A snake that is kept too warm in turn will be more active, eat more, digest more and possibly more aggressive.

First you should check your temps and see if you are keeping it too warm. Shoot for no higher the 85 degrees over the heating pad, and cooler away from it. This will allow your snake to find the temperature it needs. Provide hiding spots both near and away from the heat. something as simple as a plastic butter container with a hole cut out works fine.

I have had calm snakes become aggressive when over heated or stressed, and the wrong environment can do both.

Good Luck!
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"The band is just fantastic, that is really what I think. Oh by the way, which ones pink?"

Things I've learned about kingsnakes across the years, having had 6 of them, from 5 species:

1) They are individuals. While subspecies behavior is often similar & predictable, some individuals (like people) greatly differ from the norm.

They can change their mind, too. Sometimes they refuse to eat black mice for awhile, taking all other colors. Then, they switch, and refuse only white mice! Some attack themselves and try to eat their own tail.

2) Biting usually occurs due to one of two reasons. They mistake you for prey, or they are annoyed or afraid.

Mine tended to mistake me as prey only as inexperienced juveniles. Later, they nipped to let me know that they are mildly annoyed and to leave them alone. Generally, they get over being disturbed quickly once picked up. Even when they bite, they seldom held on long.

3) When moved to a larger home, they tend to become more independent (like kids). It's almost like being in the wild for them, on a smaller scale. They can begin biting, to let you know to leave them alone.

4) I've found that the best way to stop biting, with a 100% track record, is to keep your hand in a ball when entering their home. Don't spread out fingers (like a raptor enemy) until you touch them and gently caress them. Then spread fingers and pick up firmly. Let them know who is boss; never be squeamish with them.

If they bite and hold on, remain calm and gently tell them that you simply won't allow them to hurt you. Then march immediately to the sink. Run warm water on low, hold their head under it until they release. They get the message quickly.

Only takes 3-4 times of the "sink rinse" treatment before they stop biting completely. Handling them often, and being gentle, helps.

Remember: They are what they are, not what we hoped or fantasized they would be. They will disapoint us at times, like people. They will be fickle and stop eating at times. Situation normal...

Hey guys and gals,

thanks for the info. For those who asked, I have had sunny for 1 year and thats the extent of my snake experience. I have been informed by many different people who "know" snakes about BEST environment and so on...

Since I posted this, I decided to move Sunny back to his original home. He is in a very large Mesh terarium, which is what I was having problems keeping moisture in for his sheds... however the result of moving him to the tuperware seemed to be really stressing him out. Prior to moving him I tried the food things, increased and so on.. decided to put him in his old home (the terrarium)on the heated side ( I have a heating pad on a timer underneath, and a sun (heat) lamp above. I enclosed this area with garbage bags so I can retain the heat and moisture. His substrate I used the bark type forest something or other (the stuff for snakes) and the moss, that holds the water better (expands when you add water to it) The colder side of the enclosure has his hiding spot, hes got a water bowl sufficient for him nightly baths and drinking pleasure if he so chooses.

Prior to putting him in there, I asked my local pet guy about the biting and he said he is probably hungry.. so I gave him 3 mice and the pet store guy (who had no rats at the time) said I should start giving him rats. I totally forgot about this option! anyway, I fed sunny well, and put him back in his old enclosure. He has been totally chill since then, mostly alwasy sleeping under his substrate this is in the heated part. He began a shed (the eyes glazed over) about 4 days ago now.. so I will take him out and see how he has been since the whole process after his shed is complete since snakes can get cranky at shed time anyway and they dont eat so he will be hungry when he is done...

One of my thoughts was that maybe he got crazy from not having the sun lamp, kinda like we do without the sun light... he has been totally in the area of the sun lamp and the heating underpad since he got to his old home like hes making up for lost time or something...

If you have any other suggestions, questions or ideas please continue the support.. I have to tell you, I do feel like the relationship has been broken through this experience. NOw Im just housing a snake as opposed to enjoying holding him and the relaxing feeling I enjoy when holding him and he slithers around my hands and arms and so on.. I miss my Sunny, but hes freaked me out..
peace,