Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a highway pattern Cal King who is almost an adult. He was awesome to handle at the store and when I first got him home. Soon after, he is rattling his tail and making the strike posture at me. He hasn't bit yet, but he would if I tried to grab him now. Does he just need time to adjust to new surroundings? I thought these guys were great to handle(?) He also urinated on me one time I tried to handle him. Please help so I don't get bummed out about his disposition.

I'm not an expert like some here, but I can give (bad) advice.

You make sure to wash your hands to get the scent off. Have a cage with something to go both under, over, and all around. Wait for him to ball up and if needed grab him behind the head then with other hand lift his body.

I got mine yesterday and he hasn't motioned to strike once. I was extra careful and grabbed behind head, but soon realised it wasn't necessary. For fun I scrubbed out a bathtub very rigourusly then filled with luke warm water and me and this 3' King swam around (well, I was standing, he was trying to get the hell out of the water, it wasn't deep and was dry at one end). Maybe he'll appreciate a little dip? Also, when was the last time he was fed? Maybe he's hungry...

Thanks for the reply. It was the only one I got though! He is still acting this way so I have left him alone for now. I noticed he has a retained spectacle on one eye (possibly from his last shed) and maybe the poor vision makes him more hostile(?) He continuously burrows under the substrate and is all over the terrarium. Seems a little hyperactive. I hope he settles down. I already got rid of my Taiwan Beauty cause it was so nasty! Thanks again.