California King snake question

I Was looking at a king snake at my local pet smart. The only problem is that he is aggressive. I was just wondering if he would calm down if I buy him? He is in a pretty high traffic area in the store and wouldn't be at my house.

Cali Kingsnakes are pretty well known for being aggressive. I had one for about 3 years and never got struck once, but every other cali king i've seen has been high strung. I think if you get them when they are really little and just handle them fairly regularly they MIGHT turn out less aggressive, but don't count on it. On the bright side, once they latch on to your finger, it shouldn't take more than a minute before it releases! hehe

I have 2 cal kings. One is brand new and he is a little demon. When you pick him up he explodes musk everywhere and strikes at you everytime you move. My other one is nice though, but sometimes bites. It all depends on the snake really.

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Originally Posted by brj833

I Was looking at a king snake at my local pet smart. The only problem is that he is aggressive. I was just wondering if he would calm down if I buy him? He is in a pretty high traffic area in the store and wouldn't be at my house.

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I rescued and adult male. He is a big softy. Of course he hasn't eaten for me yet either. Previous owners husbandry was really bad. I am hoping he can work up this famous Cal King ferocity and take it out on a mouse. He definitely musked the first few times I held him but hasn't the last 3. I think at the end of the day its all about the animal. What its genetic temperament is and how much you work with the snake.

Ours will let you hold her on feeding days to put her in the feeding tank....................... other than that we own a hook for a reason:O
The same reason she got the name "Nibbles"

The guy I got my corn snake from owns lots of kings.
He said they're nippy, but if you work at it you can eventually tame them. He also said it is indeed best to get them as, NOT hatchlings, but about a month or so after they hatch--when they are babies, they are going to feel threatened because they are so small.
That's just what he said. :P

I have one that when I got it was extremely small and high strung would musk everytime I tried and do it's rattlesnake impersonation. It's now about 22 inches and wraps around my finger, doesn't musk or bite at all. Never did try to bite me. You just need to work with them. The guy I got her from never handled her so they tend to be a little nervous at first. Time will mellow the fellow out.

My little guy is a complete sweetheart :D He's a little nervous when you first pick him up, but after that he's just as laid back as a corn, maybe even more so. I just love him. But he was like that when I bought him, and I have heard that a lot of cal kings are crazy. There was actually an albino at the same store where I got mine, and I swear that thing was possessed... he would bite anything (including his stick and himself) that came within range of his mouth, and once when I was trying to feed him he latched onto my shirt and refused to let go for almost an hour :rolleyes: And I really don't think he'll ever grow out of it.

So if the one you're looking at is that crazy aggressive, I'd say he's probably going to stay that way. But if he just seems scared and skittish, then he might calm down with some handling and tlc :)

Well I guess I gotta make a decision. Thanks for all the help.