Decision dilemma

[trailblazer295]

So some of you know the story on how I got my kingsnake but for those that don't. I purchased her from someone off kijiji(like craigslist for those south of the border). She was in a dirty cage, no hides, 1 plant and a pathetic 25w halogen lamp hung lazily in the corner. Previous owner admitted to no heat for years, feeding rat pups bi weekly (her words "you can feed weekly if you want her to be more active)

Now in my care since getting her in Feb she has gained over 60g being fed weans weekly minus weeks skipped for shedding. She had 1 hot hide, 1 cold hide, skull 'hide', cork round and some climbing branches. I'd put a humid hide in when she was ready to shed which she would always knock apart. It was bought a leopard gecko. So seeing as my humid hide efforts were basically failing I went online and bought a zoo med medium sized humid hide. First win was her using it and not knocking it apart spilling the moss, second is her recent shed was clean.

Now the problem, since buying the humid hide her activity levels have completely changed. She used to be extremely visible, often cruising around even in shed or after eating. 75% of the time she was either moving or laying in the open. Since buying the hide I've caught her out once, rest of the time she is curled up inside of it or poking her head out to look at me. Nothing else has changed in her cage except for that hide, room temp is the same, her heat is regulated, I live alone so no increased foot traffic. I can't figure out why she suddenly is hiding all the time.

Part of why I wanted a kingsnake was A not having to worry maintaining higher humidity 50%+ and B a snake that is supposed to quite active and visible. Which was what I had for months up until a few weeks ago. Still curious when I'm around by looking at me staring with her tongue going crazy but is hidden in her hide now.

Not really sure what to do now but am now debating the idea of trading her in. Any thoughts?

[Andy_G]

I've found lampropeltis to actually be quite secretive...mostly milk snakes, but kingsnakes as well...doesn't sound out of the ordinary as far as behaviour is concerned and she may even be more comfortable than before having that hide to use now. Whether or nto you trade her in is not a question I want to answer or even be suggestive towards. It has to be your choice alone. :)

[trailblazer295]

She had several hides before hand, just a bigger humid hide that won't fall into two pieces is the only change.

I can understand the not commenting on the second part.

[EL Ziggy]

I agree with Andy. My kings aren't very active at all. My MBK is in her hide 80% of the time. My Cal King is a bit more active mostly when he's hungry or horny. He will lay out in the open more than the MBK too. If you don't want her to spend so much time in the humid hide just take it out. Sounds like your girl is just really comfortable in there. Kings really don't need anything more than ambient humidity. I don't offer any of my snakes humid hides nor do I mist enclosures anymore. I haven't had one bad shed yet. I think your king is gorgeous but if you want more of an active/display snake she might not be the ideal fit.

[franks]

Do you use under tank heat or heat lamp? I believe heat lamps make snakes more active. My king is all over the place.

I know many people that have "correct" setups but have had problems with re-homed snakes. (I do not believe you are having problems.) Snakes adapt to their environments- kingsnakes are more adaptable than most. Give him some more time to settle in. Light cycles will help. You could also put a solid top on your enclosure and remove the humid hide.
It seems to me like your snake has been eating alot lately. Digesting takes energy. Personally, I wait until my snakes are active for a while before feeding. I believe that weaned rats every 7 days is a bit much. Its fine for a short season, but i believe a sustained schedule like that would lead to lethargy. Just my 2 cents

[franks]

I've found lampropeltis to actually be quite secretive...mostly milk snakes, but kingsnakes as well...doesn't sound out of the ordinary as far as behaviour is concerned and she may even be more comfortable than before having that hide to use now. Whether or nto you trade her in is not a question I want to answer or even be suggestive towards. It has to be your choice alone. :)

Also, milksnakes are generally more secretive than kings. I believe they are mostly nocturnal where as kings are diurnal.

[toddnbecka]

I'd suggest giving her more time. If she just had the one clean shed it's likely the first time she's felt good in a long while, maybe even her while life, considering the lousy quality of care the previous owner provided. Wait through a couple more sheds and see how it goes, then make a final decision on keeping or rehoming her.
I must say though, my pair of thayeri kings aren't much for activity in general. The female in particular tends to stay in a hide or burrowed in the aspen. The male does seem to move around a bit more since I moved him into his own small tub, but he's not nearly as active as the little bull snake.

[trailblazer295]

I agree with Andy. My kings aren't very active at all. My MBK is in her hide 80% of the time. My Cal King is a bit more active mostly when he's hungry or horny. He will lay out in the open more than the MBK too. If you don't want her to spend so much time in the humid hide just take it out. Sounds like your girl is just really comfortable in there. Kings really don't need anything more than ambient humidity. I don't offer any of my snakes humid hides nor do I mist enclosures anymore. I haven't had one bad shed yet. I think your king is gorgeous but if you want more of an active/display snake she might not be the ideal fit.

She has weird shed cycles where her eyes crust over long before she appears in blue or sheds. She has shed before but sometimes her eyes don't appear to be 100%. I used the humid hide for shedding only and she seemed to like it just knocked it apart defeating the purpose.

Do you use under tank heat or heat lamp? I believe heat lamps make snakes more active. My king is all over the place.

I know many people that have "correct" setups but have had problems with re-homed snakes. (I do not believe you are having problems.) Snakes adapt to their environments- kingsnakes are more adaptable than most. Give him some more time to settle in. Light cycles will help. You could also put a solid top on your enclosure and remove the humid hide.
It seems to me like your snake has been eating alot lately. Digesting takes energy. Personally, I wait until my snakes are active for a while before feeding. I believe that weaned rats every 7 days is a bit much. Its fine for a short season, but i believe a sustained schedule like that would lead to lethargy. Just my 2 cents

I have a UTH that's regulated and a 50w halogen fixture on the screen top as a basking light she can climb on the branch and bask about 12" below it. The light is on a timer as are my other tank lights. She was 40" 379g when I got her and is now 452g as of June 29. Haven't taken a recent weighing. I have recently found other sources for food options so will be rotating asf, chicks and rats.

I'd suggest giving her more time. If she just had the one clean shed it's likely the first time she's felt good in a long while, maybe even her while life, considering the lousy quality of care the previous owner provided. Wait through a couple more sheds and see how it goes, then make a final decision on keeping or rehoming her.
I must say though, my pair of thayeri kings aren't much for activity in general. The female in particular tends to stay in a hide or burrowed in the aspen. The male does seem to move around a bit more since I moved him into his own small tub, but he's not nearly as active as the little bull snake.

She has shed previously that appeared clean upon inspection. This will be the first with a sustained humid spot just due to her knocking the other one apart.

My new view of her most of the time.

[Andy_G]

Also, milksnakes are generally more secretive than kings. I believe they are mostly nocturnal where as kings are diurnal.

That's correct. A lot of kings are diurnal such as the subspecies we are talking about here, and some are more crepuscular in nature. They can be noctournal as well depending on the season.

[trailblazer295]

I didn't know they change behaviour with the seasons.

[Andy_G]

Baromrtric pressure coupled with temperature fluctuations that come with the change of seasons will affect the times they are active, more so in the wild.

[trailblazer295]

Had a weird interaction with her last night. She has been roaming the perimeter of her cage enough to the point she has pushed most of her aspen chips inwards. Opened her cage to push it back and even her aspen chips. This of course caused her to move away. She ended up coming out the front of the cage. I caught her 6" in my hand. The weird part was she just stopped, didn't recoil away and didn't keep going. Every other time when touched in her cage she tries to escape. For a solid 30 seconds she laid in my hand while I touched her side before she finally retreated back into her cage.

[pet_snake_78]

In the wild, for every kingsnake I find on the crawl, I would likely find 30-40 hiding under rocks, tins, and plyboards. They just aren't surface active that much by nature.