Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My cali king gets agressive when I try to pick him up out of his tank. Once I can get him out of the tank he is as docile as a housecat. But when I touch him while he is in his tank, he recoils into a "ready to strike" pose and occassionally hisses. I'm afraid that if I try to pick him up, he will strike.

What should I do? This snake was so docile at the reptile show where I got him, he is completely tame when I get him out of the tank. But how can I do that when he is ready to strike at me?

HELP!!

I have a few questions, is it a hatchling or an adult? Does it have a hide box? What type of cage set up? Since you wrought tank I think you have it in a fish tank?
Remember in the wild most predator will attack from above, so if you have it in a a cage that you reach in from the top it might think you're a predator, So it goes into defensive mod.
you could get a small cage hook and use that so you don't get a bite taking it out of the tank...

I'd have to see your set up and have more info about the snake before I could give you anything better, Hope this helped....

The snake is neither a hatchling nor an adult, he's a "yearling" i guess, about 28 inches long and eating fuzzies. Yes it is a fishtank, and the snake does have a hidbox to which he often retreats when I try to pick him up (unless of course he acts like a tough guy, going into threatened posture and hissing) I do have to come in from above to pick him up though.

Where can I get this "cage hook", I think that might help

Most herp supply places shound have a "cage" Hook.

Big apple herps or midwest custom products(tongs.com) should have them