Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well thanks to all about my previous posts, and heres another that could use an answer :-D

I know that regular handling always calms a snake down, however my snake almost always runs from me when i try to pick him up(well, slithers from me heh). As soon as he hears the cage slide open, he kinda shrivles..and if i barely touch him, he makes a run for his hidingp lace.

And if i do get a change to pick him up, that doesnt last long, he slithers out of my hand.

I dont know if i should be a little more firm on him and...force him to be held in my hand, or if i should keep pestering him, or if i should leave him alone all together....

i dont know! ..but i know you guys do! haha

-sean
-----
Out from the night...when the full moon is bright
Comes a KINGSNAKE known as Zorro!

He has pitch black scales, and makes a Z with his tail
A Z that stands for Zorro!

Zorro! The nigrita so cunning and free!
Zorro! Who makes the sign of the Z!

Wow, I think I've been believing wrongly about the MBK. Just purchased from a breeder at reptile show. He promised that these were the "calmest, most docile" snakes anyone could own. He said that the babies he had at the show hadn't been handled hardly at all. When we picked them up they were so laid back and docile and beautiful that we couldn't resist and purchesed two on the spot. Now! ! ! My friend's is musking, rattling, running and very defensive and the one I bought will not eat. lol! I guess some folks will tell newbie's anything and we'll believe them. Beautiful snakes, but what is the straight story? Obviously, we were not told the truth. But I would imagine that with routine handling they will settle down and accept us as warm branches and stop the musking. Or will they?

You aren't being lied to---MBKs are really docile snakes...but when anyone says anything about a species' temperment, you have to mentally insert the words "usually" or "in most cases" to whatever they say.
Snakes are individuals and have different personalities. There are mean, aggressive corn snakes and gentle Amazon Tree Boas. Sometimes it's just the luck of the draw and you get the Bad Seed of snakes. But usually MBK adults are very calm, except when they smell dinner. Which makes yours not eating seem really unusual.
Babies are always more nervous than adults, for just about any snake. They're programmed to be skittish. Often once they've gotten larger (esp. once they've added some girth) they'll calm down. Usually. My MBK was a little nervous a year ago but now is as calm as my corn snake.
How you try to handle them matters too...when my MBK was a baby, he'd rattle his tail if you slowly lowered your hand toward him...but if you just scooped him up he would be perfectly calm. If you falter and then chase them around, it triggers the 'I'm gonna be eaten!" behavior. If you pick up before they "realize" what's going on, they don't have any instinctual response to a big animal just holding them, so they stay calm. Usually. Also if you immediately give up when a baby acts defensive it will reinforce in there little brains that all you have to do to be left alone is act up.
For what it's worth, I've experienced that "nice only at the show" behavior, too. I have a Sinaloan milksnake that was a calm little sweetheart when I held her at the show and immediately became the snake from hell once I got her home. She's actually settled down a little since then but still freaks out and musks at the slightest disturbance.

Baby snakes do not like being handled.
It stresses them out. It's that simple.
Mexican Black Kings are one of the best
pet snakes - I rank them right up there with
corn snakes. I don't recommend handling
either regularly unless they are at leat 18".

Tim

Third Eye

I had a similar situation when I got my kingsnake, she would run away at the slightest touch and handling her always seemed to start out with a "chase" that set a bad tone for the handling session. I also didn't want to apply any grasping pressure to her when I picked her up.

Two things worked for me, but I don't think they would work for anyone, but here goes.........................

At first: When my snake would slither away as I entered with my hand, I noticed she would get to a corner and climb the wall. I found an easy way to get her was to place a finger on either side of her as she climbed, and when she inevitably fell to one side, she would be draped over my hand or forefinger. At this point I would smartly raise up before she slithered over and away from my hand, and bring the other hand up under to support the front end. Once she realized she was in the air, she would stop and relax. I always kept her over the tank the first times I tried this, because they can get away on you and drop down, but lift it far enough up so the temptation to make a bolt for the edge of the tank is not there.

Even better: I have a hide that sits against the side of the tank where she rests most of the time. I can see her there being nice and calm. I found that I could pick up the hide without her seeing my hand enter the cage and simply lift it up and out of the cage. She just sits there every time, calmly thinking she is safe, she rarely even moves (though I imagine not every snake would do this). From there I simply tilt the hide until she plops out onto my hand all coiled up. I've had her sit there with no movement for 20 minutes using this method.......it really minimizes the stress the snake seems to feel, rather than chasing her around reinforcing the fight or flight instinct.

These sure worked for me, and now she is as calm as can be.....I haven't been musked or crapped on since using the latter method, and previously I would get one or both every time.

Good luck.

I have a California Kingsnake, but I have never picked it up with my hands unless i put it down on my bed or something then picked it up. I just use a pencil or something, the snake latches on by curling up, and I take it from there by laying the snake on my arm at first so he doesn't see my fingers. Should I start using my hands? That sounds like a dumb question though, doesn't it... I guess I need moral support..?
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~Banana~

Ah...this comes up from time to time. I have a 3.5 year old black mex male. And he is a great snake...but...sometimes he will shove a coil at you when you go to pick him up. And he may make a brake for it if he is allowed to "play" on the sofa.

But...not always...some days he is as calm as a corn to pick up and hangs out in my lap on the sofa. Black mexs are moody...and I think more so than other kings. He is a great snake but you have to give him respect. They are fisty snakes and I understand him...but like others have said...each is their "own snake". My brooks king is the sweetest snake I have ever seen, but I love both of them.