Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When ever I try to pick up my new cali king, she rattles her tail, and tries to crap on me. I think its because I barely got her saturday, but I just wanted to make sure. She's a hatchling btw.

P.S. any good methods of switching from frozen to live? Live is just more conveniant for me.

This is very common with baby Cal kings.. As he puts on some size and gets more used to handling he should calm down a bit..

Have you tried live or are you assuming you will have issues switching him over?

~ Mike Russo

Do yourself a favor and keep it on frozen. Its more convenient than you know.

Nevermind the switching now, I just convinced my mom to let me keep frozen in the freezer...after about 3 months. How cold does it need to stay for the pinkies to stay good? It just a pain to go to two different stores for 1 live and 1 frozen. 1 pet store only sells live and frozen in bulk, and the other only frozen. To make it better, they're on the opposite sides of town. But its all good cause I just got freezer rights!

Try getting one of these...

Avanti upright freezer (it's not a refrigerator... it's all freezer with pull out drawers)

it's about $150-200 (depending on where you look) and will save you a lot a headache... once you get one king... it's only a matter of time till there's a 2nd one... before you know it you'll have 6, then 10, then who knows!

may seem like much to send now... but it is sooooo worth it!

~ZF

I have no space for one . But what temp should I set the freezer to so the mice stay fresh. They're pinkies if it matters.

i've never check temperatures... but as long as it's cold enought to freeze solid then your pinkies will stay "fresh".

check out RodentPro.com for feeders... youll save more by getting in bulk rather than going to the pet store.

~ZF

Young Cal Kings and probably young getula in general can be tempermental. Then again I have an adult WC Cal King female that rattles her tail and musks on me every time I pick her up.

reako45

It will stop tail shaking after a while.I cant believe you want to switch from frozen thawed to live food.I would think any snake that takes FT will take live so that should not be a problem.

Wait let me guess,you dont have freezer rights?

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"Wake me when its April"

Doug L

Welcome to the joys of kingsnakes, its how they all act in the wild, and part of their attitude. You've now been properly baptized! We all have at one time or another, no matter what subspecies of L. getula, they all do it, think of it as a blessing of sorts. To look at it in a positive way, it does say that your snake is in good health if they are putting on such a show. Switching to live food will not ride your snake of this behavior. Keep it on frozen thawed, its better for the snake. Mine have cut back on musking on me and rattling when I have handled them more often, and more regularly. They do get used to your smell and learn to know you, however, when your hand is in their cage, your in their territory, understand that. Many snakes will be aggressive in their cages, but turn nice when you get them out of their cage.
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