New baby Cali king!

[Lascaux]

Hello all! First-time snake-owner here. I just got my baby female cali king in the mail this morning and she is beeeeeutiful!

I won't handle her until Friday or so, but I was wondering if you could tell me if I'm off to a good start with my snakey relationship. I've been sitting next to her tank all day monitoring her-- not getting too close but within a foot or so. At first when I would stand up or move she'd shrink back slightly (which.. you know... makes sense... I just got her). But now its the end of the day and she's spending most of her time either staring directly at me right against the glass, staring at me from her hidey house, or actively searching around unphased by my presence. She's very active and doesn't spend much time hiding. In fact she's spending most of her time on my side of the tank-- which isn't heated.

Is she just gutsy or what? I was expecting her to just avoid me for a while.

[lpbldg18]

she's just getting a glance around her surroundings. Give her a bit and usually they will hide after doing that for a little while. The staring is her making sure you aren't going to eat her! PICTURES! :)

[stephanbakir]

Welcome to the forums, Snakes will never love you, or like you but you can build their tolerance by handling them a few times a week. Start with short 5-10 minute sessions and work up to 20ish. If they bite you, don't put them back till they calm down, You don't want them learning that biting = being left alone.

[Lascaux]

I named her Bellatrix. Sure is an acrobatic little cuss. Better keep that lid bolted shut.... lol. She's 4 1/2 weeks old from reptmart.com

She loves that skull-house. Likes to coil up on the inside and rest her head out of the nose like a window.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-B0gEYsliVMo/TkHl6ebZtuI/AAAAAAAAADY/tTH2gMCn2Is/s800/IMGP4126.JPG

Wheeee~!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-iutp3L5eO44/TkHl6D6juXI/AAAAAAAAACw/9bUo8a57BtA/s640/IMGP4129.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ACaRfaMG5N4/TkHmDnfxYMI/AAAAAAAAAC8/cjTmx1VYoAI/s640/IMGP4132.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-LJbZvPf13Ao/TkHmE91rPtI/AAAAAAAAADA/QiuVnBRcocQ/s640/IMGP4130.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-K3A3Zn6t6jU/TkHl6Xc-GGI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ku1ZWX074K8/s640/IMGP4135.JPG

[Lascaux]

Welcome to the forums, Snakes will never love you, or like you but you can build their tolerance by handling them a few times a week. Start with short 5-10 minute sessions and work up to 20ish. If they bite you, don't put them back till they calm down, You don't want them learning that biting = being left alone.

Gotcha! Not too worried about the biting. My fingers aren't very sensitive.

[brylecc1989]

Cool setup and awesome snake!

[Lankyrob]

rats on the new snake - you want to really leave it totally alone (just changing water) for 7 days before thinking about interacting with it. After 7 fdays i would offer food and if it takes it then it needs 48-72 hours to digest where it also needs total peace. If it doesnt eat then you are looking at another 7 days of no interaction before trying to feed again.

For me i want them to eat at least twice consecutively before i think about handling them.

[lpbldg18]

hows the new cali going for you? :D aren't they cute??

[Lascaux]

hows the new cali going for you? :D aren't they cute??

She's such a cutieee~! But she won't eat... I know some snakes do this but its so frustrating ): Just want to make sure she's alright. The paper said she was last fed on the 5th and now its the 16th. She's just scared of the pinkie.

[Lankyrob]

11 days is nothing for a non eater. Leave her totally alone with just water changes and spot cleaning for 7 days an then try to feed. If she wont take it then repeat the non interaction until she does. Only worry if she starts looking like she is losing weight/condition.

With a pickky eater i would leave it at least two consecutive feeds before commencing any handling.

[LISA127]

She is gorgeous!

[Jay]

Flip that hide, they need privacy.

[Lascaux]

11 days is nothing for a non eater. Leave her totally alone with just water changes and spot cleaning for 7 days an then try to feed. If she wont take it then repeat the non interaction until she does. Only worry if she starts looking like she is losing weight/condition.

With a pickky eater i would leave it at least two consecutive feeds before commencing any handling.

Yeah I still haven't touched her, I wanted her to eat at least twice like you said-- I'm in no rush. I've been at work all day for the past few days so there's been nobody in the apartment.