Help!

[Neurotic]

Recently obtained an adult Eastern King Snake female last night. She bit me today as I was taking her out of her tank. Apparently, her previous owner did not use her hands to remove her from the tank. She is okay when being held as long as your not jumpy. Do you think it's a combination of the new environment and the not being used to hands in her tank? From what I know she's very calm. This is the second time she's bit someone. Last night she was being handled very shortly after moving to my house and she bit my friend.



Is she an aggressive snake or just upset?

[chairman]

I wouldn't recommend touching the snake until it has eaten three consecutive meals for you. That should be about 3 weeks and will give your snake a chance to settle in and start feeling secure. Then you can start handling the snake. Odds are that if you leave it alone then it will learn that you aren't a threat... and then it'll be much less defensive when you go to pick it up.

[Andy_G]

Why are you trying to pick it up already? You're bothering it by trying to handle it already, although I know that's not your intention. Even the most docile of snakes don't truly "enjoy" handling. Give it a week to settle in and then feed it, get it eating at least a couple of times before you handle it as chairman said. Once it's settled in, then we can revisit this discussion for you.

[jay's reptiles]

agreed with chairman

[Neurotic]

Thank you all very much!