Young Cali King.

I got a new Cali King last week. I had to rangle her a few times upon transportation and putting her into her enclosure. But once she got into her cage she explored it (broke out once) then found a spot to curl up. Shes now been hiding for a week and hasnt moved. Is this normal? Ive never owned a baby. Its about a year and a half maybe pushing two years and it is still pretty small.. maybe about just around 12 inches.

Im going to feed her tonight, or try. Is it ok if I take her out from where shes hiding to feed her? Or should I just pre-scent and see if she comes out on her own? I dont want to stress her out anymore. My plan was to take her out, put her on the substrate, then dangle the mouse infront of her. Is this a good plan? Any answer will help! Thanks! This isnt her first time eating but its the first time feeding since ive had her!

Snakes spend most of their lives in hiding. So that behavior sounds totally normal to me.

As this is the first feeding in the new home, I'd keep disturbance to a minimum. In other words, don't touch the snake. I'd carefully lift up whatever the little snake is under, put the food in with it, and cover it up again. Then come back a few hours later to see if the food has been eaten.

Good luck.

I agree, sounds normal. My king hides the majority of the time in her substrate or in a hide/tube. When she was a baby, she wouldn't come out to eat (I feed f/t) but if I left the mouse fuzzies on top of her log hide, she'd come eat them as soon as I left the room. Now, as an adult, I just gently touch her or nudge her somewhere on her body with the feeder (or on the bedding where she is) and she'll sneak her head out to see what is going on, then once she smells it's food, she'll chase the tongs to get it. It's adorable. haha

I would just leave the prey in front of the hide for the first few feedings. If she's anything like my Cali King she'll be a garbage disposal. My boy, Django has never refused a meal or refusals from the BP. He will poke his head out of his hide as soon as I open his enclosure. If he smells mouse he's out and on it immediately.

Our two Kings were also very shy as babies, but have grown up to be busybodies - often out watching what's going on.

Nth-ing the feeding advice from the previous posters.


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She has been burried under the substrate, she isnt in her hide. Should I still try to present her a meal without moving her?

I left the meal with her under the paper towel she was hiding under. She is currently in shed. Her eyes are very blue and she seemed to sit and smell the meal but didnt take it when offered, she struck at it once but let go. I left her alone with it. Hopefully she will eat :(

She may or may not eat if she's deep in shed. I don't even offer food to snakes that are shedding anymore. Good luck with your king.

I left the fuzzy in there. I checked just now and It is not where I left it and she has a slight lump in her body. Looks like the feeding was a success :) thanks guys!