Trying to escape!!!!!!

Hillsberry · 04-07-10, 03:20 PM

My California Kingsnake for the past 3 days had been trying to get out of his enclosure. I found him 2 times hanging half way out of his enclosure. And when I go to put him back he gets very aggressive and rattles his tail. Now he has never done or wanted to get out. And for like the passed month he has aways been moving around. He isnt acting like a Kingsnake. He used to going and sleep under the substrate. But now he is always out. He is eating fine. And the temps are fine. He is in a 10 gallon and I am moving him into a 20 long tonight. I hope moving him in to a big home will help. But the escaping is really annoying.

emseeKAY · 04-07-10, 03:41 PM

what is your setup like? how is he getting out? (i.e. pushing his way out?)

infernalis · 04-07-10, 04:06 PM

It's mating season..... They will act like this, Love is in the air.

mykee · 04-07-10, 04:51 PM

So after the first time you noticed this, what have you done to alter his enclosure so escape is not possible?

Hillsberry · 04-07-10, 05:46 PM

I taped the top. But he found out how to get out anyway. My parents are at work most of the day, so I have not been able to get locks. Tomorrow I am going to get some locks for both my snakes and lock them down. But is there any reason why he is moving around so much? Does he smell my female JCP cross the room?

infernalis · 04-07-10, 07:26 PM

Sit heavy things on top of the enclosure. Not real pretty, but it works.

I keep a tool box (filled with heavy tools) on top of the python cage.

shaunyboy · 04-08-10, 06:57 AM

hillary i have a few friends who do not keep kings in the same room as other types of snake.they think the cannabalistic nature of kings freak the others out.however ive kept my youngest sons king in the same room as all my pythons.in the tank next to the king i had a year old jungle.it was ok for months then it stopped eating.i moved it and it started eating again 6 weeks later.the king is still in the room.i have my tanks stacked and the king is now one row down and one tank to the right of the jungle.everytghing else is eating ok.so i really dont know if the king spooks them or vice versa ? imo the king does not influence my pythons or them him.i'd like to hear what the rest of you folk think on the subject.should kings be housed beside other types of snakes ?
cheers shaun

infernalis · 04-08-10, 07:51 AM

I know that when I kept my mice colonies in the reptile room, The python, Corn and milk snakes all started acting "crazy", I moved the mice out to another location, and they all calmed down.

Seems that the constant "food smell" in the room triggered the snakes behavior.

Hillsberry · 04-08-10, 08:11 AM

I don't know Shaunboy. My Jungle is a cross the room and seems fine. And Infernails my kingsnake is to young to be looking for a mate. He is only 7 months and 3 feet. So I dont know what his deal is. :/

infernalis · 04-08-10, 12:54 PM

Spring fever maybe??

gonesnakee · 04-08-10, 01:34 PM

I keep/have kept dozens of species in the same room all in close quarters to one another, its usually not an issue.
As mentioned its spring, its a male & I'm guessing its 2-3 YO?
Sounds like typical behaviour for a snake that wants to breed.
Doesn't matter if there is ANY snakes around at all they will still act this way, whether its ever even seen or been near a female or not.
Its very common for them to go off of food right now too & be restless always looking to get out.
I've kept/bred CKs for over 10 years now BTW Mark

Will0W783 · 04-08-10, 05:25 PM

Mark, I think she said it was less than a year old. Is that too young to be looking for a mate? I used to have a kingsnake and no matter what time of year, he kept trying to get out. He was a little jerk, and would go "visit" the other snakes. He wouldn't do any harm, he'd just weasel his way out of the tiniest cracks and I'd find him in another snake's enclosure. I had to move him back into an aquarium with locks because that was the only cage he couldn't get out of. I ended up selling him when he started biting. Maybe it's just a kingsnake thing?

gonesnakee · 04-09-10, 09:51 AM

Its in their nature to try & escape as well.
As for restless if all husbandry is correct its not a big issue, keep in mind sometimes they are restless due to it being too warm etc. though as well, Mark

Feebo · 04-10-10, 05:39 AM

The very first mistake I made with snake keeping was thinking a big rock was heavy enough to keep the lid shut. Locks locks locks !