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I went to handle my '03 spotted kingsnake the other day, not recalling that it was about time for a shed. Well, she took a bite at me for the first time, and held a defensive posture too. Not wanting to reinforce this behavior I used a pencil to pick her up (my heart was still beating fast even though she didn't connect and couldn't hurt me) and it was then that I noted she was in blue. She was settled down once I got her in my hands though I was nervous that I smelled like food or something (though I always wash my hands before handling), till I recalled what I had heard.

Does the "cranky shed theory" explain the attempt at a strike ?? I think I've read they can get cranky during shed but I'd like to hear from the experts on this. I certainly left her alone until she shed, and she then seemed to be back to her old self.

Is it that or do they get PMS like my other housemates.......

0.1 Wife
0.1 Daughter
0.1 Golden Retriever
0.1 Red eared Slider
0.1 Kingsnake

Should I have gotten a male ???

Well I'm not an expert, but I do know that snakes do get a bit ruffled when about to shed, especially when they're in the blue because they're practically blind and are extra cautious of their surroundings. By the way, how long after your snake was in the blue did it actually shed its skin?
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~Banana~

She shed about 3 days later and had her first tough shed. It was very cold in the northeast and humidity was very low too. In hindsight, I should have misted her during those 3 days but didn't.

Thanks for not taking offense at my attempt at humor !! Looking at it after I posted, I was steeling myself for some rebuttals. I'm really not sexist, but its a common joke around my house that I am severly outnumbered : )

Ahaha, I didn't even see that sexist joke. I'm a girl and I didn't take offense to it, I found it funny. It is the truth though, so might as well face it with humor instead of gloom. So your snake shed after 3 days? Mine's almost going to a week... I wish he'd just shed already so i can start holding him again!
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~Banana~

Pre Moulting Syndrome.....

Unfortunately it is unaffected by the snake's gender. But, as I'm sure you know, just back off until it's over.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

Ha !!! Good acronym for it. I indeed have learned to back off until things get better as far as my other housemates, now the snake will get a wide berth at those times.........I even think I've learned the proper response to the "do these pants make my butt look big" question.

I like Banana's reasoning that they are nearly blind at that stage.........it makes alot of sense.

Meretseger, you're a veritable expert..........have you had your snakes seem to change personalities while in shed and get a little nasty like this ??

Geez, I've only got ONE kingsnake. So I couldn't say I'm on expert on them. But.... she gets PMS pretty badly and is a very sweet snake the rest of the time.... hmmm.... my husband says the baby cal king where he works didn't get any meaner when he was blue. But he agrees that 'invariably, some will get pissy'. Mine goes back to her nice self after he skin clears up even if she hasn't shed yet.
So, in conclusion, it varies from snake to snake and from species to species, but, you're not crazy, it happens
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

My blotched kings had 2.6 babies last summer. We lost one, and I sold all but two of the females, Sphynx (formerly named Spot) and Yertyl. These guys come out of the egg ready to KILL anyone or anything, and as they have gotten bigger, the attitude has gotten bigger. The only difference between "in shed" and not is that they have better aim when they're not blue. I've had these guys lunge at my face and any other part of my body... and now they're old enough and big enough to draw blood. Reminds me of their mamma... she had an attitude problem until I'd handled her enough.

Here's Yertyl, some time ago, in one of her calm and docile moods.

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~Sasheena

Honestly,

Kingsnakes are not the most friendly of all snakes...they can be very docile and laid back at times and others days they will be as grumpy as ever. Especially with smaller kingsnakes they are easily startled and can take defensive action...I wouldn't worry about being bit as you will most likely not even feel it. It's like a very small pinch and it's kind of funny...the snake will twist and turn and give up on trying to hurt your hand...

Other behavior that is common is defacation...kingsnakes will poop everywhere when scared and it is extremely foul smelling and not nice on the hands...

Also, I've noticed that some of our babies have taken to shaking their tails much like a rattler...I think it is a mimicry defense in the wild they would do this to fool predators into thinking they are poisonous...I could be wrong on that though.

Anyway,

The shedding thing is king of common, when Kingsnakes are shedding it's very itchy for them and that may make them grumpy...when a kingsnake is irratated they tend to take it out on others...

They are usually friendly but don't be suprised if they lash out once in a while...unlike corns...

Also, if you are bitten...NEVER pull back or pull away or try to remove the snake from your hand...pulling back of away could hurt the snake, it's jaw or teeth...if ever bitten by an adult ithe best thing to do is push forward slightly. It's better to be bitten and have a little cut, scar, or bruise than to hurt the snake...GOOD LUCK
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Chris Vanderwees
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i agree with mertesgeter (sorry for spelling i should have cut and paste your name first) it all depends on the snake it self...i only have 2 snakes right now, one a cal king one a corn and the corn gets really defensive when in shed mode, but she still allows me to pick her up but she mostly just sits there rather then moving, as you guys mentioned they can barely see so basicaly anything to them, can be a threat. i didnt handle the king much while in shed as he was done his shedding process in like 3 days :O i picked him up and fed him tho he was fine, just really cautious as i moved towards him, i have never been bit by either snake. came close with the king but i moved my hand before he latched on, it was my mistake, when i first got him because i fed him in something he could crawl out of and long story short he took a grab at my hand but missed, if i am to get bit i will know now to just let them hang on, i read somewhere else that listerine works too or holding them over warm water if they dont let go of you, they should then. your king will probably go back to normal when done shedding, misting is a good way to usually get a complete shed and when she goes "blue" again i would just be cautious on how u pick her up. im not sure...but i think my king snakeis calmer then my corn because hes bigger, and doesnt feel as threatened because he never likes me putting him back in his cage lol and he barely uses his hides unless digesting a meal

There's no wrong way to spell Meretseger... which incidentally in my kingsnake's name, because she's the first snake I ever had.

Anyway, I'm sure if I had more kingsnakes I'd have a few that were more tempermental. Mine's great. She hides 90% of the time, though, go figure. She's a blotched and not a California, but PMS is a cross species condition.
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"The serpent crams itself with animal life that is often warm and vibrant, to prolong an existence in which we detect no joy and no emotion. It reveals the depth to which evolution can sink when it takes the downward path and strips animals to the irreducible minimum able to perpetuate a predatory life in its naked horror."
Alexander Skutch

I heard somewhere that while a snake is about to shed its skin is fragile and could tear easily making it harder to shed... has this been a problem for anyone?
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~Banana~