Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've just got a Ruthven King Snake and I am looking for a little bit of advise beyond what I can find through researching him.

He is about 2 1/2 feet and he is 1 year old.

I've had him for a few days and he seems pretty uncomfortable - he is in a 33 gallon acquarium that he wants very much to get out of. I've got a log that he can go into and he sometimes burrows into the bark chips that cover the bottom of his cage. I have the following questions if anybody has time to answer them.

Handling:
- I let him be for a few days before handling him at all. Now, I take him out daily and let him cross over my arms trying to get away for a few minutes (he hasn't bit me or anything). Does anybody have any advise on how I should go about this so that he won't mind coming out? Is it even possible or will he always try to get away?

Tank size:
- Is a 33 gallon tank big enough for him? He doesn't look comfortable but some sources say that a bigger tank would be bad in that there will be too much open space for him.

Scenery:
- I have two fake plants, a water dish, and a log in there right now. What would be the best thing to keep him occupied/comfortable? He doesn't seem all that interested in his log.

And, in general, is there a point where he will want to come out of the acquarium and he will know/trust me? Or am I doomed to spend the next 15 years feeding him mice and hoping that one day he will come around? Any advice on how to get him to warm up to me?

Lots of questions, I don't expect them all to be answered - but if you have insight to even one, please respond! I'd like to keep him as happy as possible and you are probably the best people to ask )

Jeff

YOU WROTE:
I've had him for a few days and he seems pretty uncomfortable - he is in a 33 gallon acquarium that he wants very much to get out of. I've got a log that he can go into and he sometimes burrows into the bark chips that cover the bottom of his cage. I have the following questions if anybody has time to answer them.
MY RESPONSE:
HIDING PLACES, HIDING PLACES, HIDING PLACES ~ Give it a bunch of hiding places. I don't know about you - but 95% of all snakes I have ever caught were hiding under something cool, dark, and "cramped".

YOU WROTE:
Handling:
- I let him be for a few days before handling him at all. Now, I take him out daily and let him cross over my arms trying to get away for a few minutes (he hasn't bit me or anything). Does anybody have any advise on how I should go about this so that he won't mind coming out? Is it even possible or will he always try to get away?
MY RESPONSE:
SNAKES ARE NOT DOGS. HE MAY GET USED TO YOU BUT WILL NEVER "COME" TO YOU. YES, HE WILL ALWAYS TRY TO GET AWAY

YOU WROTE:
Tank size:
- Is a 33 gallon tank big enough for him? He doesn't look comfortable but some sources say that a bigger tank would be bad in that there will be too much open space for him.
MY RESPONSE:
THE BIGGER THE BETTER - BUT YOU COULD GET BY WITH MUCH SMALLER. MY SNAKES THRIVE IN SWEATER BOXES ON NEWSPAPER WITH JUST A HIDING PLACE AND A WATER DISH.

YOU WROTE:
Scenery:
- I have two fake plants, a water dish, and a log in there right now. What would be the best thing to keep him occupied/comfortable? He doesn't seem all that interested in his log.
MY RESPONSE:
I AM SURE THAT STUFF IS ALL GOOD. MORE PLACES FOR HIM TO HIDE AND EXPLORE/ HUNT. AS FAR AS BEING "INTERESTED" - SNAKES ARE ONLY "INTERESTED" IN A FEW THINGS: THERMOREGULATING, EATING, NOT GETTING EATEN, AND REPRODUCING. PRETTY SIMPLE, HUH?

YOU WROTE:
And, in general, is there a point where he will want to come out of the acquarium and he will know/trust me? Or am I doomed to spend the next 15 years feeding him mice and hoping that one day he will come around? Any advice on how to get him to warm up to me?
MY RESPONSE: NO, HE WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE AQUARIUM TO YOU - BUT HE MIGHT TRUST YOU NOT TO EAT HIM.
YOU ARE NOT "DOOMED" - ENJOY THE SNAKE FOR WHAT IT IS OR SELL IT TO SOMEBODY WHO WILL AND GET A PARROT, CAT, OR A DOG.

Peter Jolles

"MY RESPONSE: NO, HE WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE AQUARIUM TO YOU - BUT HE MIGHT TRUST YOU NOT TO EAT HIM."

A few of my snakes will come out of the aquarium when I open it up. They've learned that's the way out, so when it opens up, they immediatly climb to the top of the tank. Admittedly it's to get out, rather then to come to me though. But, it's basically the same effect .
-----
Ace

He'll always make some attempt to get away but they become much less frantic about it after a while. He'll settle down, sounds like he's already on the way there.
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Martin Whalin
My Email

Quotes from guys named Carl:

"Science stops at the frontier of logic. Nature does not, she thrives on ground as yet untrodden by theory."
-Carl Jung

"It is foolish to let singleness of purpose deprive one of the joy and delectation of the many wonderful sights and sounds incidental to the quest."
-Carl Kauffeld

And make shure your are not using pine chips
not trying to insult your intelligence but some people do not know this.
Demon