How bitey are calkings?

Thanks for the feedback. Better get my hands ready for some biting. I'll start urinating on them like Moises Alou!

I have 2 Cal Kings, and It seems to me that it's important to hook train them early on. They have ridiculous feeding responses. I got one of them as an adult, he was never hook trained and I didn't know it was important. He goes into feeding mode as soon as he sees movement near his cage. I try to handle him daily, and every time I take him out he clamps onto me and doesn't let go.

My other one is still pretty young, but I've been training her and rarely get bitten, unless I do something stupid at feeding time. :rolleyes:

I've never had a defensive bite from either of them, and would recommend one to pretty much anybody. Just remember, hook train early!

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Originally Posted by Tek48

I have 2 Cal Kings, and It seems to me that it's important to hook train them early on. They have ridiculous feeding responses. I got one of them as an adult, he was never hook trained and I didn't know it was important. He goes into feeding mode as soon as he sees movement near his cage. I try to handle him daily, and every time I take him out he clamps onto me and doesn't let go.

My other one is still pretty young, but I've been training her and rarely get bitten, unless I do something stupid at feeding time. :rolleyes:

I've never had a defensive bite from either of them, and would recommend one to pretty much anybody. Just remember, hook train early!

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Your bigger one is probably just hungry. I've got some aggressive feeders but when they're not looking for food, they're quite handlable.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Your bigger one is probably just hungry. I've got some aggressive feeders but when they're not looking for food, they're quite handlable.

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I thought that too, at first, I'm feeding him a large mouse a tiny bit wider than he is every week though.

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Originally Posted by Tek48

I thought that too, at first, I'm feeding him a large mouse a tiny bit wider than he is every week though.

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Eat a big mac once a day for sayyyyyyy 4 days.

Tell me what you feel like.

Or, just feed your snake more food.

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Eat a big mac once a day for sayyyyyyy 4 days.

Tell me what you feel like.

Or, just feed your snake more food.

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My buddy who breeds them says that a prey item the same width of the snake every 7 days is an appropriate feeding schedule for an adult, but thank you for the input. I'll try feeding a bit more frequently and see how it goes.

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Originally Posted by Tek48

My buddy who breeds them says that a prey item the same width of the snake every 7 days is an appropriate feeding schedule for an adult, but thank you for the input. I'll try feeding a bit more frequently and see how it goes.

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Alrighty then....

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Originally Posted by Tek48

My buddy who breeds them says that a prey item the same width of the snake every 7 days is an appropriate feeding schedule for an adult, but thank you for the input. I'll try feeding a bit more frequently and see how it goes.

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Wes (wilomn) breeds them too - for many years now! :gj:

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Originally Posted by wilomn

Alrighty then....

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I honestly thought that I was feeding an appropriate amount. I am going to bump it up though. I'm still pretty new when it comes to colubrids in general, and I really do appreciate the advice, especially from experienced keepers. I just want to give my snakes the best care I possibly can.

Thank you for the info!

I've been bitten more by new cal king arrivals more than any other snake at work. After about 3 weeks of me feeding and tending to it they're mellow as a corn snake.

If Cal kings are anything like my milks (and I believe they are), I learned just how much they can eat... let's just say I started breeding my own feeders after about 3 months lol.