Here's hoping...

[Obsidian_Dragon]

...that he/she/it? really does settle down as an adult, because right now, this is one feisty little baby.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/beau_justice/20140704_125924_zpsb6e09fdf.jpg

I tried to find a local breeder of king snakes, but wasn't having much luck, and I didn't want to drive over an hour away to an expo where there would only maybe be MBKs. So I rescued the poor employees of Petsmart from this bitey little bugger.

I'll give him several days to settle down before I try braving his feisty reputation myself. And to think of a name...

[franks]

Awesome! I just got my first MBK as well! They are so cool congrats man. When it's time to handle just go in. The bite will not hurt at this time- just keep gently handling him till he gets used to you.

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the new addition Dragon. I got my Cal King from Petsmart. Your king will most likely settle into a sweetheart. My Cal King was docile from day one but my MBK was pretty flighty for the first 2-3 months. Let it get settled for a few weeks, get a couple of successful feeds in and then start with short, gentle consistent handling. Keep that up and the king will be putty in your hands (let's hope). Best wishes :)

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Right now he's not even interested in being looked at, haha. I took a peek and he quickly hid back in the lovely tunnel he was digging in the substrate...

[sharthun]

Congrats post more pics when you can.

[drumcrush]

I got Ammit, my MBK from petsmart as well, flightyness is expected:p she was actually angry when I first got her, most likely because she was in shed lol nearly 2 years later, chill as ice :)

[sharthun]

My mbk was a little fiesty as well when young. But now just like DC said, chill as can be. Gentle, confident handling they will come around.

[nyjon]

congrats! he is probably startled from being at petsmart. a few days in your room and he will be calm :)

my mbk has been calm and docile since day one. my milk snake on the other hand still musks me lol its been almost a year since ive had him too.

[jpsteele80]

Congrats, keep those pic coming

[Obsidian_Dragon]

His nickname is currently Dig Dug*, since his favorite hobby at the moment is tunneling everywhere possible. I didn't find him chilling in a hide until this morning. He stayed in there too, letting me poke around his cage a little to remove the lovely present left behind.

I did catch him out cruising at one point yesterday, though...

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b219/beau_justice/unnamed_zps241136c0.jpg

*My husband collects arcade machines. To a point, it's contagious.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

Fed the little noodle today! Not the slightest problem. He was curled up in one of the hides and I thought I might have to prod him out, but as soon as I wiggled the mouse in front his little black head poked out!

After grabbing the moue he...retreated back into his hide. Doesn't like an audience, I guess! Grabbed it from the right end, though, so I'll assume it went okay rather than risk bothering the little guy.

Caught him hanging out--not prowling, not trying to escape via osmosis, but just chillin'--out in the open today, so I hope that means he's settling in.

https://38.media.tumblr.com/248a14fc40d54a7467b4ee86d14fc648/tumblr_n8deoaKliA1qdg59lo1_1280.jpg

https://38.media.tumblr.com/89c7fd0b6ecebb2402714aa8391f4f78/tumblr_n8deoaKliA1qdg59lo2_1280.jpg

[EL Ziggy]

Congrats on the successful feeding. Sounds like he's settling in. Keep up the good work. Have you considered covering 3 sides of his tank? It helps them feel more secure. How many hides does he have?

[sharthun]

Congrats! Can't get enough of MBK's! ;)

[Obsidian_Dragon]

He's got 3 hides--one on each end and then one in the middle. He actually seems to favor the one in the middle. He's also got the plant in one corner, although he prefers to go OVER rather than under that one!

He also spends a lot of the time just apparently MIA because he's dug into the substrate somewhere.

Since he's in a pretty big tank for a wee little one, I tried to offer him a lot of options. I might cover the sides if I have to, but then I'd have to change the angle of the hides so I could try to spot him. (Two of the hides are just cardboard tubes, so I can't lift up and find him that way).

[RBDTerrell]

Congratulations!

[TxScarlet15]

That's a pretty little one. I got an albino king from petsmart once, that little bugger had the nastiest attitude I ever saw. It was worse than the black racers that my sister would regularly catch and release. Eventually had to give him to somebody with more experience.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

TxScarlet15, they warned me that this one was pretty bitey, but I've seen no sign of it yet. They said he used to strike at the glass at people's fingers, etc, and I've never seen it. He's not acted defensive while I've had my hand in there moving stuff around, either. Seems like he'd rather hide than bite.

Maybe he felt more insecure at the pet store than he does here? Who knows! We'll see what happens when I try to handle him for the first time this weekend.

I've had miserable luck with pets lately--I'm having to return my cat to the shelter after 5 years because of behavior problems I have failed to resolve, and I feel like utter crap about the whole thing. If this little noodle ends up not working out for me for some reason I think I'll just cry and give up pets all together.

[Kera]

Very pretty! Lol a good name (if you were interested in pokemon) would've been diglette. :)

[EL Ziggy]

Don't give up on your snake OD. Commitment and patience are definitely virtues with new snakes. If you feed it, keep it warm and gently handle him from time to time he'll bring you years of happy moments. Hang in there.

[Concept9]

Grats on the MBK.

I world of advice. Your cage looks kinda open. I would cover three sides with paper or something and add a bunch more foliage/hides in there to give him some more added security.

[sharthun]

Grats on the MBK.

I world of advice. Your cage looks kinda open. I would cover three sides with paper or something and add a bunch more foliage/hides in there to give him some more added security.

I agree with Concept9 and EZ, I have two glass terrariums that I cover 3 sides with cork tiles. Provides more security.:cool:

BTW, when you do handle him and he does bite, don't freak out and put him back in his enclosure right away. Just stay calm and confident. He will learn that you aren't going to harm him.

[Obsidian_Dragon]

EL-Ziggy, who said anything about giving up? :) I've only had the bugger just under a week!

Sharthun and Concept9, I will probably end up covering the sides here too. As to more hides--I can do that, too, but he's only ever been spotted using one. 3 hides plus the plant would be plenty, I thought--he's usually burrowed in the substrate, anyway. The entire darn floor of the thing is his hide. :)

And I doubt I'll bat an eye if (when!) he bites me. Between my mom's fear biting dog and my time with horses, I'm good at both 1) not flinching away when bitten and 2) staying calm. :D

[sharthun]

Awesome! Look forward to him growing!


EL-Ziggy, who said anything about giving up? :) I've only had the bugger just under a week!

Sharthun and Concept9, I will probably end up covering the sides here too. As to more hides--I can do that, too, but he's only ever been spotted using one. 3 hides plus the plant would be plenty, I thought--he's usually burrowed in the substrate, anyway. The entire darn floor of the thing is his hide. :)

And I doubt I'll bat an eye if (when!) he bites me. Between my mom's fear biting dog and my time with horses, I'm good at both 1) not flinching away when bitten and 2) staying calm. :D

[TxScarlet15]

Any updates? How's the little guy doing?

[Obsidian_Dragon]

The little bugger is mostly hiding from me! Four hides to choose from and he's decided to just dig in the substrate, forever. If I didn't see subtle changes in substrate to show me that he DOES indeed, emerge sometimes, I'd start to wonder if I still had a snake!

It's very hard to start taming a snake you never see, ha.

I did catch him last night--and so I brought him out and he damn near lost his mind, as I imagine unhandled babies are wont to do. No attempts to bite, just FLEE...until he finally realized that he wasn't getting anywhere. Then he sort of was relatively quiet in my hands for a minute until I put him back. I kept it short. And while he didn't bite, he did musk. :P

I'm not sure if I should take out some of the substrate so I can find the bugger, or just leave him be for now since he clearly wants nothing to do with me.

[virtuousvixen]

my 4 year old Cali King still likes to bury in his substrate, and i still have trouble finding him. I tend to just slowly wiggle furniture around until he slowly pops his head up from somewhere