Biting Behavior

[HEVYCHEVY427]

I have a question about my adult Kingsnake female. I got her about a month ago and she was pretty mellow. Nice to handle and easy going...I think I ruined her personality by feeding her too frequently. I started to feed every four days like I do my yearlings. She is a very voracious eater. Now when I take her out she bites at everything. Last night she bit her own body, then bit me twice. I had to trickle water on her head to make her let go of me. Can I change her back? Maybe by feeding once a week? Please any suggestions are greatly welcome. She is a very beautifiul snake.
Thanks:(

[Vanan]

Some snakes are just pigs and I don't think there's much you can do to change that. Try touching her body with a long stick first and pick her up. My snakes immediately realise that it's not feeding time but handling time.

[yankeefoxtrot]

Are you feeding her in the same tank you keep her in? Is she gettin ready to shed? these are bothin things that can make a snake very upset at everything.

Luas out

[HEVYCHEVY427]

I do not think she is getting ready to shed I have seen no signs. I take them out and feed in a seperate tank from where they live. I know she is a pig...she will eat any size any type.. f/t...prekill..or live...and she hits all her food very hard.



thanks

[Andy_G]

What time of day do you handle her? I have found that between 7-8pm is best. My king didn't used to but now does try to bite most other times.

[Ace]

Might just be the opposite..... Sometimes snakes bite because they're hungry. You said you fed every 4 days, but you didn't say what? Feeding an adult snake something like a fuzzy every 4 days won't be enough. Maybe try larger prey? If she's eating adult mice try switching to small rats. I'd personally only feed an adult weekly.

[HEVYCHEVY427]

I usually handle her around 8-9 after my dog goes to bed. Tonight I took her out like she was a rattle snake with a hook.
She came around and bit the hook and when I put her in a holding bin..she immediately bit it. My husband thinks it is because she is housed in the same room ( not Container ) as my Macklot.....but none of the other snakes seem to mind 2 yearling corns,5yr old nelsoni milk female,yearling nelsoni and andean milk, yearling black mex, and a yearling cal king.

[Andy_G]

If you take her out of the room does she stil act the same way?

[gonesnakee]

Sounds like all the biting is due to "feeding response". Cal-Kings that bite & don't let go are trying to eat you. Sounds like she associates you & everything else as food. Was she formerly someones breeder snake? Some breeders have too many snakes to handle them all & certain snakes only "interaction" with anybody/thing involves cleaning & being fed. If they have spent their whole lifes associating movement etc. with food, thats why they come out biting like that. I have snakes exactly the same that bite me, themselves, the tongs, their tubs, waterdishes, hides, everything. You must remember that everything that smells like snake (even though they are the snake making the smell) can possibly be "food" in their eyes if there is any movement around them it is considered "prey". I have other snakes that are fine until they get the scent of another one. I can be handling them no problem & then they get a whiff of another snake (or sometimes just seeing another one) & wham I have a snake latched on trying to eat me. Make sure you are feeding her appropriate size meals weekly. Feed her in a seperate container then she is housed in. Make sure that you are well washed & she has recently eaten prior to handling & try not to handle her while around other snakes. I would recommend "hooking" her when first picking her up also, it will save you being tagged a few times. Don't feed her live either. Sounds like you have no reason too & it will just make her more aggressive & puts her at risk also. You can calm down her feeding habits by just leaving her in with her food also. She doesn't have to be grabbing/striking it always. Just throw her into a tub with the dead prey waiting, I'm sure she will find & eat it by the sounds of her. Chances are she may be set in her ways but there are ways to curb her aggressive nature. You may want to observe her eat as well if she has the habit of biting herself. Cal-Kings can be quite dumb & I have one that tries to eat herself sometmes. I've actually had to force her to stop as she had her own tail & got to the point where she was going to unlock her jaw. Shes not too swift & did not plan on stopping. Hope some of these rantings help. Mark I.

[unBOAlievable]

I breed my kings and I also play with them every couple of days. I always remove them with a hook first after they quit chewing on it they realize it is play time. I have fed mine nothing but frozen thawed since hatching and they still have a feeding response.

I do notice they due it more during breeding season whether I bred them or not. You may just have to learn to love it for what it is and work around the snappy jaws issue. You will get used to it after a while and think nothing of it.

Have fun.

[HEVYCHEVY427]

Mark Thanks you described her to a tee. I got her as an adult from a big breeder/seller...she acts exactly like you noted. Trying to eat everything, the hook, the container, herself,me etc....My Thanks to all of you.. I now have a lot to "digest" Since I have more king youngsters I am going to be carefull as possible and try not to get them into the same habits...if that is possible
thanks again.

[gonesnakee]

Glad to hear I helped. Good Luck Mark I.