Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just started a new job & found last Friday that they have a California Kingsnake in the back, in the "bay" where they work on the Police & Emergency vehicles. He looks to be close to a year old maybe, they said he's been in the tank (10 gallon) for about 4 months. He's been shedding (the skin is all over the tank ugh!) and eating frozen pinkies but he so upset, so unhappy! As soon as I gave my opinion that 'this is wrong, he should have never been taken from the wild and put in this cage' the guys gave me dirty looks. But I own snakes and do NOT believe in taking them from the wild and forcing captivity on them. Is it too late to try to get him released back where he was found or do you think he'd be able to return to stalking and killing again? If there is a chance he can survive, I'm going to figure some way to get him released, even if I have to take him and say I left the lid open by accident! I've had King Snakes and Rosy Boas for 20 years and just don't believe in WC and if you could see this guy, he's so UPSET, you'd agree he that his (healthy) life has just been shortened considerably. The cage is unclean, God only knows the last time his water was changed and it just kills me. He is so beautiful!!! Oh yeah, I have to share how he came to be in this cage...this woman at work said they saw the King in their back yard and he 'was so small and obviously had lost his mama and was orphaned, they had to put him in a cage and save his life" !! Doh! I'm sorry for the super long message but I am really burdened over this snake. Am I worrying for nothing? Is it legal to catch a Cali King and keep it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

While I can appreciate the relucatance to see a formerly wild animal caged I'm a little concerned about the coming off as righteous because your animals ar CB. All of our animals originated from WC stock. Are we so far removed in the hobby these days from the concept of occasionally taking wild animals?Captive bred is obviuosly better but sheesh, most of us started bringing home Garter snakes and the like when wwe were kids. I don't think we were Eco-terrorists in retrospect. Lighten up LOL

Why not just try to gently "educate" the guys at work to take better care of their "Mascot"? Why come across as a PETA type person trying to take away the Fire departments Dalmation.

Instead of going the "Born Free" route why not volunteer to clean the cage or bring in a better one for him so his life is a little better?

Just because YOU don't believe snakes should be taken from the wild doesn't mean these are Bad guys. Why go head to head with them when, with a little tact and patience you can make the captives life better. If you don't come off acting like you're morally superior they may even get bored with it and let you have it if you want and then you can do whatever you think is best. Hope I haven't offended you. Good luck.

Whoa... I don't think I'm acting morally superior, in fact, I find myself to be quite average and rather humble. I think I'm being sincere in asking for advice. I'd like to do the right thing for that beauty in the cage. If the snake is well as he is, then I will let it be. I was hoping for advice or something that would help me to understand that he will be fine, or what I might do but didn't expect to be attacked. Perhaps someone else has advice rather than a tongue lashing for using this forum to reach out for advice? Thanks for taking the time to enlighten me guy.

"As soon as I gave my opinion that this is wrong, he should have never been taken from the wild and put in this cage' the guys gave me dirty looks"

...I own snakes and do NOT believe in taking them from the wild and forcing captivity on them..

"I'm going to figure out some way to get him released, even if I have to take him and say I left the lid open by accident"

Sounds potentially morally superior to me. I think maybe that's why the guys gave you dirty looks?

Sorry I offended you. But my advice to take care of him yourself was also given by someone else. You get more flys with honey...

Please I'm sorry to have upset you. It was not my intent. You didn't hear the tone of my voice, you don't know that anything I wrote was said with bad intent. I've got a good heart. I mean well. To be labeled as someone that feels morally superior is just hurtful okay? When I'm not at work I volunteer my time at the SPCA and tutoring homeless teens-moral superiority doesn't run in these veins. Truly I made a mistake in seeking advice here, though you will note that the other advice was given with kindness and the intent to educate me. The guys at work aren't hating me, they just found my statement odd okay? Two of them came to me later in the day and asked me if I really do have snakes of my own and asked me why the little guy keeps 'peeing all over" them. You've got me very wrong. I won't return to this site. I was mistaken in thinking my sincere concern would be addressed without assault.

I agree with you about C.B. being better captives than W.C. and i'm sure i'm not the only one.

Very well said, Bob.
Todd Hughes

There are two main concerns with releasing him back into the wild:

1. If that snake has picked up any parasites or diseases while in captivity, perhaps from the food its been eating or another reptile, it could potentially indroduce pathogens back into the wild population. This has been documented in desert tortoises. This is probably not too big a deal if that snake has been kept in isolation from other snakes. I could be wrong, but I think it is illegal to release a captive snake into the wild in CA. (Someone check that).
2. If the snake isn't released back where it was found, it is likely to search endlessly for its home territory and be killed by humans, raptors, etc... Studies have shown that relocated snakes have high mortality rates. Since the snake was collected in a backyard, you would probably have to release it somewhere else, which would be no good.

I think you would be better off cleaning the cage, changing the water dish and educating your co-workers on proper husbandry rather than re-releasing the snake. I would only re-release it if there is good habitat near that lady's yard and it hasn't been in contact with other reptiles.

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- Andy
ToothAndScale.com - herp and underwater photography

1.0 Sandfire x Yellow Bearded Dragon
0.1 Albino Black Ratsnake
0.1 California Mountain Kingsnake

Thank you! I don't have a lot of time while at work and the bay is a busy area but I will do just as you said and take some time to clean things upk, talk to the guys and use some charm to be helpful without offending them! I really appreciate the advice. He is so gorgeous!! That pic you sent along is great. What a beauty you have there. Godspeed.

I do appreciate that you care about the animal. good luck with the situation.

Things that are written in forums can come across very differently from the way that they were intended. I've seen it happen many times, and I think it's happened in this case as well. I'll spare everyone any lectures about how we teach writing and just say that some kinds of misunderstandings are a natural part of this form of communication. I'm sure that Bob didn't intend to offend you. I don't mean to offend you either, but I was struck by some of the same things that he was. We had a misunderstanding, and those things happen. I hope you'll feel that you can come here for advice. I'm one of the least experienced folks here, so I can't give great advice. I'll help if I can, and I'm sure others will help as well.

Sometimes a picture can be very helpful, and if you wanted to post a picture of the current cage, I'm sure that there are plenty of people here who could give good, specific advice about how to make things better for this snake. Another thought would be to take a little thermometer and get some temperatures inside the cage.

Bill
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It's not how many snakes you have. It's how happy and healthy you can keep them.

CINDYGURL, I am sorry. I did not mean to hurt your feelings and would not want you to not feel unwelcome here. I gues I could have been nicer. I apologize.
Bob.

My concern as well, CINDYGURL. We have a vast storehouse of knowledge here but we cater to all kinds, most captive bred but many wild caught animals. It is the right of people to use the resources of their state as long as it is done legally and in my opinion with good judgement. I have many w.c. animals but does that make me a bad guy? You judge me for yourself. But allow me to judge you.I don't buy from the pet stores because it allows what you hate the most about wild animals, bad husbandry. You have an awesome opportunity to teach these guys something great and you may make some allies at work! They may even schedule themselves to maintain the habitat! Wouldn't that be great! Share some pics of your animals and their enclosures with them.Good advice was given and I hope you can let some things slid, as you definitely got the softer side of the stick! F.R. must have been sleeping! LOL!

hahaha i watched this post for months before peeping in. hahaha
bob should not have to be sorry. she got what she asked for and bob stood up for w/s snakes and those who keep them. do i think c/b are better? yes.that is me.are the people who have w/c doing wrong? not if they are giving good advice like we just saw here.thanks for the good laugh this morning
jason

young w.c Duval easterns,lol!

i am lining up the old contacts and scouting new areas. i just need a hot week and then some heavy showers. i am patient.it took me three hours to bag that black racer hahaha. o'yeah and the lady paid my $150.00!!! to do it hahaha. she wanted it out that day. that snake was smart. i think when a topic goes to the HOT TOPIC area the advertisers should send you some free stuff. hahaha
have a good one bro
jason wilson

$150!!!!! you should do that full-time! Do you ever encounter E.D.B.s?

i want to see some canebreaks in the wild.edr's are big just south of me. i got a dvd of the snake master in florida he catches one swimming in the gulf out to some islands. very cool stuff but a little to U.K.ish for me.lol

LOL! Selective wild caught I should have said !!!LOLOLOL!! I guess if JETZEN likes it it is ok!!! LOL! W.C. wins the day!!! And to all that think differant.....
Todd Hughes

the most GNARLY BURLY TRANS-PECOS i ever SEEN!!!!!!!

HEHE! World record he is!
Todd Hughes

Wow! Not really a Cal. King fan but what a striking looker! Nice pic. Bob

this is one her 05 hatchlings. the year on pic is wrong.
thanks jason wilson

It's all good Bob. Life is too short! I just want to do the right thing for that lil king at work. I didn't mean to come off as morally superior, because I'm a happy, free-spirited 45 year old woman that LOVES snakes is all. I really do enjoy snakes. No worries. Out of it all came some good advice and I know what the best thing is for that lil beauty now.

That's the spirit!
Todd Hughes

OMG!!! That picture is fantastic!!! Wow, you guys are all quite fascinating and the pictures are just gorgeous. I will be taking pics of the lil shop king because it's starting to feel more and more like I'm going to be the proud mom of a beautiful brown and white cali king. LMAO!! Everything is for a reason and there was a reason that woman took me to the cold back room last Friday.

Glad to have you around. There are a lot of neat interesting folks here. Some times we Butt heads and sometimes we are Butt heads but it's nice to share a common passion.
Bob

LOL, Bob hit the nail on the head! We ain't so bad......
Todd Hughes

Maybe you could teach them how to properly care for this snake now that it is a captive. He most likely will become a snack the first time he ventures out into territory not of his choosing. I would share your keepers expertise and calm him with handling, showing the guys instead of lording how much you know over them. You get more flies with honey.....just my .02
Todd Hughes