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I had a kingsnake prolly a year ago that I had received from a pet store. I kept it for about half a year until it escaped and I haven't seen any signs of it since. Anyway, the whole time I had him he never liked being held or touched or looked at. Is this normal for kingsnakes, or did I have a weird one? All the pages I look at say kingsnakes are docile, but there was NOTHING docile about this critter. Could it be because I didn't have it long enough? Or that it was from a pet store? Or is that just how they are? I'd like to know so that I can plan on trying again in the future with another kingsnake or just stay away. Thanks for any tips!
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~Shana~

Most baby kings can be a little crazy, but if you handle them often they will calm down very fast. Adults are very docile for the most part. You just have to watch out for the feeding response. They will grab your hand if they think it is a mouse.
thanks
Jeff

I held my guy just about every day and he never changed his attitude, but thanks for the input! Maybe I'll try one again sometime.
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~Shana~

I've had many Kings across the years. At least 4 species.

(Forgive me. I don't have pets. I have animal companions. They are not kept in cages. They are kept in their "rooms", vivariums. You should see the photos of my 60-gallon Mojave Desert setup! At least 4 major hide spots, plus much more. I have even maintained lichen colonies on the rock that I got from the Sawtooth Mountains in ID from 1993.)

I made it a point with all my snakes, even Boas and Gophers, to handle them often - almost daily when not in pre-shed.

I have a track record with all hatchlings; they stop musking within the first week. I talk to them, handle gently, live feed, massage them at times, and communicate tactilly - the only way they understand.

One charmed Cal King who was lost twice was found within 30 minutes after I called out for him - both times!!

If we are squeamish & timid with them, they sense this (like horses or dogs). Let them know who is boss, that they are not in danger, and that you treat them gently, and they respond appropriately.

My current, desert phase Cal King is a gem. He was active for over 3 hours when home his first night. Of course, it helps when his home is a 60-gallon vivarium replica of the Mojave Desert.

They are ALWAYS more active in their rooms right after I handle. They love to explore my couch and towel closet (when I clean his room). Twice I've had him out on grass in the sunshine across the street.

Many people make the mistake of sparse setup, seldom handling, and treating them like a living jewel that seldom moves. They respond accordingly.

Caveat: There will ALWAYS be exceptions to the rule. I knew of one person who had a Mexican Black, known for docility, that would strike at anything that entered the room. It had to be exchanged for a better specimen eventually.

Every now & then a snake will be found that just likes to be left alone. The other 99% love to be handled, once you've earned their trust and understand their needs.

Thanks so much! I guess I will never know if my guy was the exception or if it was my style of handling, but I'm glad to know that it's not common for them to be like that. I'm also glad you mentioned that mexican blacks are known to be more docile... I've ALWAYS loved those guys and grey banded! Again thanks for your reply, and I'll keep the cage setup in mind as well for future.
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~Shana~

Was your kingsnake a cali? If so no wonder, i don't know how they ever became so popular except that they are mass-produced.
If you're interested in a nice variety of kingsnake try the eastern black, L.g.nigra, they are very mellow and not too shy after a little attention.
here's some eastern black pics,

Yes it was a Cali, all right! Actually I thought it was either high white or a banana phase... thank you so much! I will definitely keep those other snakes in mind. Thanks!
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~Shana~

Thanks for keeping an open mind about kingsnakes, they're not all nasty muskers like cali,lol,tho sometimes there are cali with good attitudes and i have a few nice cali in my collection.
here's a not so nice cali i have

No one is asking any questions, was it a baby king, if it was, aren't most baby kings of all types a little edgy and prone to striking, but not biting.

Also, I have a friend, a long long time herper, He holds snakes like they were a rope of something, while holding them, he twists and bends them, in ALL direcitons. Folding them around like they had no bones.

That leads to this, does banaanaaaaa know how to hold a snake. Because you surely understand, if the snakes are not secure, they get frighened very easily. Your hand should be still and not moving all the time. I often tell newbies, make your hand like a branch and do not grab the snake. Let the snake hold you, not you holding the snake. Snakes do not like being grabbed. I am sure you know this. Maybe you could explain it better then I. FR

Yes my snake was young, and I do know that most animals, snakes or lizards or even puppies and kitties, are more fiesty and high strung when they are young. I also do know how to hold a snake. When I held him, I was very still and let him just crawl through my fingers. He would always tense up and musk if I even turned my head to look at something else. I'm not dumb, and I believe you weren't trying to tell me I am. From what other people are saying though, it does sound to me like it's the snake that was the problem, although I'm not saying I'm perfect. Thanks for your help.
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~Shana~

Knowing enough about cali i would say the problem was not your fault, there are a lot of bad californiae, I have over 45 yrs exp. with snakes and i still have occasional troubles with cali. They are about the only getula sub that have ever musked me.
here's some that arn't too bad when they're occupied

I said, no one asked this/these questions, asking questions is the road to a more accurate answer. I never insinuated you were dumb. What, you want people to be mind readers???? thats dumb.

The only evidence of you being dumb is your last post. Please, I do not think many here know you, i know I do not. How are we suppose to know how you handle and what you know about reptiles?????????? without asking. Particularly from the question you asked.

Now if you were smart, you would apologise, because the only intent was to help you.

Also is you were smart, then you should understand, one individual does not define the whole species. Yes, there are little pissers in all kingsnakes, heck, I even had a rosy boa that bit at every oppertunity. Maybe someone crossed it to a kingsnake, G'day, FR

FR...you should know that a Lichanura-X-californiae is impossible.

When I was very young, a friend raised a lyresnake and a calking together, they got along great. If you put another snake in there, the calking would eat it, but never touched the lyresnake.

So who says you cannot breed a king to a rosy, maybe we just don't understand the how yet? remember, when I was crossing zonatas to pyros and all the mexicana, people thought that was crazy, and would have commited suicide if they knew whats commonplace today. Gophers to kings and rats and milks and all such things. Heck, them old herpers are spinning so fast in the graves we should harness the energy. FR

colubrids and boids are geneticly way too far separated, but who knows herpetoculturists are always coming up with new stuff.

I am sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you.
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~Shana~