What does this mean?

[trailblazer295]

I went to pick up Yzma to get her used to handling. Anytime I got close she shook her tail like a rattle snake. It was cool and weird. She didn't strike and when I picked her up but did pee right away all over the floor and my hand. Other then that she was fairly calm in my hand. Is it normal for a king to act like a rattle snake?

[Aaron_S]

Quick answer is yes.

A lot of colubrids do it. Generally, the idea is the tail will rattle in the leaf litter in the wild and make a sound similar to a rattlesnake to ward off predators.

[trailblazer295]

Quick answer is yes.

A lot of colubrids do it. Generally, the idea is the tail will rattle in the leaf litter in the wild and make a sound similar to a rattlesnake to ward off predators.

She has never done this before, she usually tried to flee, I hadn't even touched her yet. Does this mean she is becoming more settled in her environment? When I sat down on my couch today all 3 snakes looked at me at the same time and stared for awhile, it was weird and cool.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's more of a stress reaction than a comfort reaction. It means you've scared her and she's warning you off. I'm not sure that really means she's settled into her home, just that she's not used to you yet. If she's fine once you pick her up, she should come to trust you more as you handle her.

I've had my albino checkered garter for 2.5 years now and he still rattles on occasion, if I startle him particularly bad. So it's just something they do, and might not completely go away, but as long as she isn't overstimulated, she shouldn't come to strike at you. Musk you maybe. :P

[trailblazer295]

It's more of a stress reaction than a comfort reaction. It means you've scared her and she's warning you off. I'm not sure that really means she's settled into her home, just that she's not used to you yet. If she's fine once you pick her up, she should come to trust you more as you handle her.

I've had my albino checkered garter for 2.5 years now and he still rattles on occasion, if I startle him particularly bad. So it's just something they do, and might not completely go away, but as long as she isn't overstimulated, she shouldn't come to strike at you. Musk you maybe. :P

She was mostly out of her hide and her face was pointed out so she saw me open the glass and that's when the tail started. It was an odd contrast because she was in her cork round when I sat on the couch earlier and she moved closer to the front to stare at me. In the hand she was a bit more exploratory than before but other then that she was fine. I'm still working on handling her so I don't tend to hold her for very long.

[EL Ziggy]

All part of the process Blaze. Like the others have said it's a common defense mechanism in many snakes. She's still acclimating so excuse her :). My Cal King would rattle his tail and musk in the beginning too but he never struck at me. I'd say he outgrew it after a month or so. My female bull snake still rattles her tail sometimes when I open her enclosure. Keep feeding her and handling her. She'll come around.

[trailblazer295]

All part of the process Blaze. Like the others have said it's a common defense mechanism in many snakes. She's still acclimating so excuse her :). My Cal King would rattle his tail and musk in the beginning too but he never struck at me. I'd say he outgrew it after a month or so. My female bull snake still rattles her tail sometimes when I open her enclosure. Keep feeding her and handling her. She'll come around.

I didn't mind the peeing part, good ol hardwood floor lol easy to wipe clean. I don't mind working with her just never saw that before. She usually tried to escape or hide before. It's the first time she stood her ground. Zero regrets getting her, she is very cage active. I'll work on her being comfortable with me.

[Minkness]

Every king I have handled has done this....

[chairman]

I had a female cornsnake that rattled her tail every time you got within a couple feet of the cage for the entire 8 years that I had her. She'd quit when she realized it was me but anyone else got a quality threat display.

The kingsnake in my house only rattles when she's working on a mouse and you do something she doesn't like. But she was predominantly a musker and I would have loved it if she had been a rattler instead. Luckily she's grown out of musking.

[trailblazer295]

The odd part was that I just opened the cage, I gave her fresh water a few hours before she didn't do a thing. I've often reached in to poop and scoop or give fresh water and she usually just watches or flinches away.

[Aaron_S]

Most likely just startled. Could have been sleeping and you woke her up and this was first reaction.

[toddnbecka]

My new baby bull did the tail buzz for about 2 seconds once, no sound, I just saw it when I reached in to pick him up. No other reaction, hasn't done it since. The everglades rat has done it a couple times, and I was surprised by a black rat that was basking in the sun on a dead tree one day back in college. I reached up to get him and he buzzed his tail on the dead wood, actually sounded like a rattler. Made me hesitate for a moment, but even though he was a wild adult he didn't try to bite when I did get hold of him.

[D Grade]

Both my King and Milk have done this when young and outgrew the habit in about a month.

As stated, it's a common form of mimicry to avoid confrontation.