Caught a wild baby king snake, thinking about keeping it, had some questions.

I was mowing today and saw a baby eastern king snake slithering over my driveway. It's tiny, my estimate would be 8 inches long and maybe 5 or 6 grams in weight. Just wanted to know if anyone had any experience taming wild caught baby king snakes and what should I feed them when they are that small? Also it's very aggressive right now, do I need to worry about its bites when I try to handle it and tame it down? I know it's non-venomous, but could they harbor any bacteria, would a bite from a baby king even break the skin?

Most baby colubrid bites are simular to being attacked by angry velcro :)

I honestly would look into your local bylaws and see if it's legal to keep him.
If it is illegal then please find him a nice safe place and let him go.

He should have no problem eating pinky mice. My baby corns where 6-8grams each when they hatched and all had no issues with eating f/t pinkies.

I have a yearling MBK/desert cross. He is from a petshop, given to me by the people who purchased him. He is a 2011 and musks every chance he gets. Young kings tend to be fiesty, thats how they survive! Most do tame down eventually.

Any animal bites can get infected. If you are bitten(by any animal) wash with soap and water. Keep an eye on it. Redness, swelling etc are cause for concern. Make sure to keep your Tetnus updated :)

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Originally Posted by Wyldrose

Most baby colubrid bites are simular to being attacked by angry velcro :)

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lmao :rofl:

Just checked the legality of keeping the snake in my state. Non-endangered snakes caught on your own property are legal to keep here in NC. Just wanted to ask one more followup question. I don't have my camera on me so I can't upload a photo, but I was wondering if I could give a description and someone could tell me to the best of their knowledge if it was a king snake or just nonvenomous just to be sure. I don't have huge experience with snakes; I only currently keep one ball python, so I would rather be safe than sorry.

It has a black background with thin white stripes down its full length and a few white spots on its head. It has a rounded head and from what I have researched 5 of the 6 venomous snake species in North Carolina have more of a square shaped head, with the only exception being the brightly colored coral snake.

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Originally Posted by decensored

lmao :rofl:

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Is the lmao because the statement is true or false lol?

Sounds like a garter snake to me, pictures would help..

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Originally Posted by fhbob

It has a black background with thin white stripes down its full length and a few white spots on its head. It has a rounded head and from what I have researched 5 of the 6 venomous snake species in North Carolina have more of a square shaped head, with the only exception being the brightly colored coral snake.

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I have been attacked several times from my hatchling corns not a mark to show for it lol :)
Maybe a tiny drop of blood here and there nothing to worry about.

Does it look like this:
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects...t/Lam_get.html

Here is a picture of Onyx my little king :)
http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j6...fly/003-39.jpg

Your snake is what he looks like except the stripes are a little fuller and more defined. Also smaller, but that could just be because of age. The page you linked to was the exact one I looked at when Identifying him.

Onyx is part Mexican black kingsnake, so he has a lot of black. Onyx is also a small yearling. He was not eating for his previous owners, he has had one meal for me here so I think it was just husbandry related(I have had him a week). From the link I posted it says they hatch August to september so you have a new hatchling.

Well he is a beautiful snake. Is your's aggressive at all? They do have much more of an aggressive look to them compared to the Balls I'm used to seeing.

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Originally Posted by fhbob

It has a black background with thin white stripes down its full length and a few white spots on its head

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Ahh, I got confused, thought you were describing vertical stripes with the full length bit! :P

What part of NC are you from?

Mine is not aggressive as in bitting, but he does rattle his tail a lot and will try to musk any chance he gets. I am working with him as much as possible.

About an hour southeast of Charlotte, a town called Monroe.

Just below asheville here

Cool, you going to the Charlotte Repticon show this weekend?

I'll be there Sunday, I'm on the other side of Charlotte from you.

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Originally Posted by fhbob

Cool, you going to the Charlotte Repticon show this weekend?

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Originally Posted by ChrisS

I'll be there Sunday, I'm on the other side of Charlotte from you.

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I am going to try my best to go saturday

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Originally Posted by ChrisS

I'll be there Sunday, I'm on the other side of Charlotte from you.

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Ah I'm only going to be able to make it on saturday. I just get too look this time too, its such a tease.

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Originally Posted by fhbob

Ah I'm only going to be able to make it on saturday. I just get too look this time too, its such a tease.

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Just think of it as a warm up for the Columbia show. IMO columbia is a better show all around anyways.