Domino - the baby King Snake from He...

DreamQuestin · 10-15-14, 12:32 PM

I adopted this little guy knowing he was a biter, but while I have had snakes since I was a kid, usually these were garter or corn snakes. Never had a king before.

So, he bit two of my co-workers and strikes anything that moves (even his reflection in his habitat). He also 'rattles' his tail tip before he strikes like he thinks he is a rattle snake! Is this a normal King snake thing?

I have him on just paper towels atm until I get him to eat and see that he is ok. He was fed Thursday before I brought him home and he has passed that through fine. He wont eat today, but with the move and such I am not too worried as it hasn't quite been a week (though at work he was eating a pinkie twice a week).

Once I've gotten him to eat I will clean the habitat and use reptibark him and put him in a small plastic tote to feed him. I have a clear plastic one but he strikes everything, even the reflection of the feet of the container. Weird little snake, pretty as he is.

So, advice welcome on how to calm him down to be a content pet and how best to move forward so no one else is bit.

Thank you so very kindly!

With a smile,
Deb

drumcrush · 10-15-14, 01:11 PM

The tail rattling is normal

I would use aspen instead of repti bark though. Aspen is easier for them to burrow in. Over time with handling, he should calm down.

I would love to see pics! Post some when you can

**EL Ziggy** · 10-15-14, 01:17 PM

Welcome and best wishes Deb. How long have you had this beast

? How old and how large is he? Most kings tend to calm down pretty quickly once they get acclimated. They will hiss, rattle their tails and occasionally strike. This is all normal defensive behavior that the snake should outgrow. I would offer food every 5-7 days and wouldn't handle him at all until he's had 2-3 consecutive feedings. Post pics of your snake and setup when you can.

sharthun · 10-15-14, 01:49 PM

I agree with DC and EZ! Small snakes are defensive. Post pics!!

**Aaron_S** · 10-15-14, 02:53 PM

Also, to keep him from needlessly striking feed the snake in his current enclosure. No, it won't keep the snake "defensive" or "aggressive". It's a myth.

wrecker45 · 10-15-14, 04:24 PM

I agree with Aaron S. Feed in its enclosure. I have a couple of snakes that get aggressive at feeding time. Other than that they are fine.

DreamQuestin · 10-16-14, 12:02 AM

Thank you for all the helpful messages

!

I am glad there is hope he will settle down and that his antics are pretty normal.

I got him 6 days ago. He fed before I brought him home but wasn't interested yet today.
I may set up his habitat proper before he has eaten, I think it is stressing him not having the burrowing ability (paper towel is just not the same lol).

The only worry I have with feeding him in his enclosure is the possibility of him eating some substrate in the process. How do you end around that? I had thought of getting a piece of astroturf (the kind for reptiles of course) to put in the tote to feed him - would that work in his habitat? Just put it down when I feed him, once he has devoured the pinkie remove it? Or am I being a nervous nelly here?

Here is a pic of Domino (just taken with my phone). Size reference for you, the log hide is four inches wide. I think he is gorgeous

though I couldn't tell you what type of King snake he is. He was just labelled "fancy King snake".

With a smile,
Deb

DreamQuestin · 10-16-14, 12:08 AM

Another pic (again with the phone) through the glass of the tank.

toddnbecka · 10-16-14, 12:16 AM

Looks like he's getting ready to shed, milky blue eyes are a sure sign. That may also have something to do with his aggressive disposition, snakes can't see well while their eyes are cloudy and tend to become more defensive than usual. Aspen bedding would certainly be better, and he probably won't eat again until after the shed. Check the temp and humidity, you might want to mist the enclosure a bit if the humidity is low until he sheds.

**Aaron_S** · 10-16-14, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamQuestin

Thank you for all the helpful messages

!

I am glad there is hope he will settle down and that his antics are pretty normal.

I got him 6 days ago. He fed before I brought him home but wasn't interested yet today.
I may set up his habitat proper before he has eaten, I think it is stressing him not having the burrowing ability (paper towel is just not the same lol).

The only worry I have with feeding him in his enclosure is the possibility of him eating some substrate in the process. How do you end around that? I had thought of getting a piece of astroturf (the kind for reptiles of course) to put in the tote to feed him - would that work in his habitat? Just put it down when I feed him, once he has devoured the pinkie remove it? Or am I being a nervous nelly here?

Here is a pic of Domino (just taken with my phone). Size reference for you, the log hide is four inches wide. I think he is gorgeous

though I couldn't tell you what type of King snake he is. He was just labelled "fancy King snake".

With a smile,
Deb

Hi Deb,

He's a good looking california kingsnake.

I would just feed him on the substrate. No one is walking around the wild putting astroturf under prey items for these snakes so why should we? If your husbandry is correct then anything ingested will just pass normally.

sharthun · 10-16-14, 07:56 AM

Beautiful King! Yeah what Aaron said! Feed him on substrate. I feed all mine that way. No issues at all!

DreamQuestin · 10-16-14, 11:35 AM

The advice that the wild snakes manage without the astroturf makes sense.

I've been doing a lot of reading on this guy and will be making some changes to his habitat tomorrow (day off). I think I will take this repti-bark back and get some shredded aspen. I think I better get him light for the tank too, we don't have much natural light in the living room. Worried about the cats knocking it off, so will have to see how well we can clamp it down or if there is some kind of caged light that can go inside the habitat itself.

Thank you again for the reassurances and advice.

sharthun · 10-16-14, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamQuestin

The advice that the wild snakes manage without the astroturf makes sense.

I've been doing a lot of reading on this guy and will be making some changes to his habitat tomorrow (day off). I think I will take this repti-bark back and get some shredded aspen. I think I better get him light for the tank too, we don't have much natural light in the living room. Worried about the cats knocking it off, so will have to see how well we can clamp it down or if there is some kind of caged light that can go inside the habitat itself.

Thank you again for the reassurances and advice.

A lot of us sani chips. I and my snakes really seem to like it. Smaller uniform aspen chips. Relatively dust free. And easy to spot clean! Clumps up like kitty litter when soiled.

Native Earth Aspen Sani Chips 2.2 Cubic Foot Bedding | Pet 360

Here's what the sani chips look like:

DreamQuestin · 10-16-14, 11:55 AM

Thanks Stever, that looks pretty awesome. Can/do your snakes burrow in it ok? Domino is all about the hiding when he is being sedentry.

sharthun · 10-16-14, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamQuestin

Thanks Stever, that looks pretty awesome. Can/do your snakes burrow in it ok? Domino is all about the hiding when he is being sedentry.

Oh yeah, they burrow like crazy!