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I am new to kingsnakes and Isabelle(my kingsnake) is very calm and lays under her mat alot she was bought in late November of '03 and is so calm that i am beginning to worry. How do i know if she is sick. She also seems to be avoiding the heat lamp.
WHAT IS GOING ON?????
What type of enclosure is your snake in? When I first purchased my pair of brooksi kings, I put them in a 55 gallon aquarium set up in the living room. I quickly found out that they did not like being on display and would quickly hide when someone entered the room. I put a curtain in front of their tank and they are much more active now. That is why I am considering a pair of chinese beauty snakes as my next purchase as I understand they are great 'display' animals.
Travis
What are the temps inside the enclosure? First off King snakes do not like a lot of bright light and will hide. If you are using an overheat heat light get a blue day bulb as they put off very little light. You should also have a few hide boxes for the snake so it feels secure. Most snakes will spend a good part of the day hiding out and not be overly active. My cali king will go from hide to hide a few times a day then just sit out on a tree branch for awhile. He is very tame and I can hold him for a good hour before he gets a little flighty.Most king snakes are very docile.
Ours are very calm and docile as well. Once we get them out to handle them, they seem to enjoy it and are great pets.
Travis
I've seen a real pattern with all my snakes, of every species or age. If they are well fed and warm, they tend to exercise little and stay concealed.
If I exercise them regularly, they tend to be more active. It's uncanny how often I've noticed that after I put them back in their "room", they are more active and explore for awhile after exercising. If I had not exercised them that night, they don't move much.
Like us, they get bored. The same surroundings! Same food!! Every now and then, feed them a bird, egg, lizard, bat or other, non-standard food. And exercise often. Let them climb on plants, explore the closet (supervised) or the couch. The more you take them out, the more active they will be.
Those are good points. I have seen the same behavior in our kings.
Travis
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