Is This Normal?

[ruthupton]

My first day as a 'mum' to my little Kingsnake and I am a bit concerned about my baby.

Last night she was zooming around fine. then, around 10.30 pm she dug down under her sub-strat for the night. Now it is nearly 8.30 am and she is still there, curled up, not moving. She was so active yesterday that it surprised me to see her so still.

I have a book by someone called David Perlowin, but there is nothing about it in there.

I know I am probably worrying over nothing, but I am very new to snake keeping and my first one was a disaster, through no fault of my own, and has left me feeling a bit wary.

[liltattyprinces]

Ruth just a couple ??'s out of concern. I was reading your other posts in the Bp forum and was wondering if you had thrown out all the old substrate from the bp and if you had bleached the enclosure? As any mites or internal parisites could have stayed on in the bedding or the enclosure.. Wish you better luck with this little guy Laura-Lee L
EDIT:
P.S. Just an after thought it would be a good idea to nix the enclosure to ensure that you do not transfer mites to the new snake, but if it came from the same store chances are that they have mites in all the tanks.

[sapphire_moon]

Ya, what liltattyprinces said, otherswise she is just "in bed" for a while, or she's done checking out her cage and just wants to be left alone for a while......

[ruthupton]

Right, at the moment she is in a different enclosure within the vivarium. The vivarium has been cleaned out well. Unfortunately Nix is not avaiable over here but I found a very good alternative.

She has come out now and is just lying there, watching me, looking daft. Her, not me! On second thoughts... ;o)

[jwsporty]

hey ruthupton,

the actions you described are pretty normal. Simply give him/her time to adjust and settle in. Review your husbandry and try to feed him in about a week. Good luck with your new baby.

Cheers
Jim

[ruthupton]

Hi Jim.

'Skunky' (on account of the smell she left all over my hand) has just gobbled a pinkie and is sitting there happily with a stupid grin on her face.

Now I just have to figure a way of giving her fresh water tomorrow morning without her doing a 'Houdini' again. LOL

Ruth

[jessesgirl]

Get used to the vanishing act, Ruth. I have four, and they spend most of their days hiding. Early evening, and late morning tend to be their favorite times to be out and about. And since you mentioned Houdini, Cali Kings are great escape artists! Make sure every little tiny hole is closed tight, or your new baby will go adventuring! It's happened here, and the hole she got out of was so little, I never even worried. Haha on me.

[PaulBar]

Like the previous writer, I agree that snakes spend most of their time hiding. I guess this is how they survive in the wild.

They will come out when hungry to hunt, but other than that mostly hide.

Give the snakes two 8 inch ceramic pot plant dishes overturned to hide under. One at the hot end and one in the cool end, over Aspen wood chips. They like something heavy to hide under.

P

[PaulBar]

Oh yes make sure she has adequate heat. A sixty watt bulb over one end in the day and a 50 watt infrared blub at night are in order. Use timers. 12 hour day 12 hour night. Heat is everything to successful reptile keeping. Also don't handle the snake alot at first, let it settle in. Keep a bowl of fresh water in the tank at all times.

Paul

[ruthupton]

I got up at 7 this morning and she was peaceful so I was able to change her water without any trouble. She had a 'lie-in' until lunchtime, then came out to see me when I got home from work at 3.30.

She is a pretty little thing. :D

[jwsporty]

Ruthupton,

I am glad that you are enjoying your new girl. The "kids" can be a handful at that age. Best if you haven't already started, is to keep records on your little girl. When she ate, when she goes into and out of shed, tank temps (night and day), defecation dates. Make sure not to feed her directly on the substrate as well. Give her another "snack" in 5 days from the last feed.

Cheers
Jim

[ruthupton]

Jim, I have already started keeping records in a notebook which I keep next to her vivarium. It is a habit that I have got into with my fish.

[Pookie]

I have had every single issue that you've been having with "skunky" when i first got my cali king. Mine loves to hang out under the newspaper that i put down. It's like a hideaway. And she pretty much poops on me every time i pick her up, it gets annoying but pretty normal. Good luck with her!