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My Cal king has been exhibiting some weird behavior over the last few days. He's basically been hold up in his hide for the last week. I thought he was about to shed but that doesn't seem to be the case. He wasn't coming out in the evening like he had every other night since I got him. I was pretty worried but when I got home tonight, he was out and very active. I dropped in a pinky and he wolfed it down. Do Cal kings take vacations?

Also,I have a theory on Cal kings and why they like to bite. Either my animal doesn't like men or he has associated my smell with food. He will not bite my girlfriend, just me. When I got home, I noticed that he was out so I went to check on him. If I didn't have a lid on the cage, I think he would have taken a shot at my nose. He got one whiff he got really aggressive in his movement. Anyone have any thoguhts?

Could be your movements are too fast or not gentle, you smell like food, she's reacting to your smell (not used to it)....

Just thoughts. Do you handle him regularly - not just feeding her? Does your girlfriend handle him more.?
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buckle,

one thing you can do to add to your enjoyment and understanding of your snake is to start keeping careful records. Get an index card, divide it into columns, and record the date every time your snake eats or is offered food and doesn't eat. record the date of every shed, and record the date it goes "into shed" or turns blue. (remember snakes turn blue, then clear up, THEN shed, so that could explain your snake's week in hiding--maybe you didn't notice the first couple days when he was blue and then checked a couple days later and concluded he wasn't in shed because he had cleared up, but in fact the shed process could stilla ccount for his hiding--and it's not uncommon for a snake to eat the day before it sheds, so his most recent meal could fit that pattern.)

or not. but if you had regular records, you'd know when to expect a shed--you'll see a pattern emerge of him shedding every so many days, or after every so many meals. you'll see a pattern in how many days pass between when you first notice (and record!) him going into shed, and when he actually sheds. if you have access to a postal scale, record his weight at some regular interval--monthly, or after every shed, whatever--and make that a part of your records too.

you'll be amazed at what you'll learn about the snake.

peace
terry

Well, he shed last night. I must have missed his eyes turning blue this week. I guess the weird thing is that he ate a few hours before he shed. Keeping records sounds like a good idea. Then I should know what to expect. In addition, I am going to try to handle him more and see if he stops trying to take a piece out of my hand. Thanks for the advice.

My cali will eat during a shed also...Just not when the eyes are blue....My king is the same way...some days he is out..some he is in his hide... it's just the way these guys are...

Try washing your hands BEFORE touching the snake. My king ALWAYS smells my hands for food but never bites...when a king snake bites its usually a feeding response and not a defensive or aggressive attack. When picking up your snake never come down from above but from the side. This doesn't stress the snake out as much and reduces the risk of getting tagged.

Good advice. I generally wash my hands completely after feeding and handling my Gray-Band. I think my main problem is letting him get the jump on me. I'll trying picking him up from the side.