i'm in love!

i was delivering silkworms to a petstore and i saw this little girl... now, normally i don't like kingsnakes... very had one... the whole 'musking' thing just annoys me :giggle:

but... she's so darned cute! my hubby held her and she musked all over him - and then it took awhile for her vent to go back in... is this normal?

so i put her on hold while i investigate the 'vent issue' and i did a search on the internet... this is almost exactly what she looks like

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~zakizaki/snake/hical01.jpg

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

i was delivering silkworms to a petstore and i saw this little girl... now, normally i don't like kingsnakes... very had one... the whole 'musking' thing just annoys me :giggle:

but... she's so darned cute! my hubby held her and she musked all over him - and then it took awhile for her vent to go back in... is this normal?

so i put her on hold while i investigate the 'vent issue' and i did a search on the internet... this is almost exactly what she looks like

http://www5e.biglobe.ne.jp/~zakizaki/snake/hical01.jpg

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I am not sure on the vent problem,i think if it was me i would pass on her just incase.She is a nice looking king though.

joe, i was looking on a website and it said that their vents come out when they are upset... so i'm thinking it must be connected to their musking... which is why i want to check this out BEFORE buying her.

they are holding her for me at the moment. ;)

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

joe, i was looking on a website and it said that their vents come out when they are upset... so i'm thinking it must be connected to their musking... which is why i want to check this out BEFORE buying her.

they are holding her for me at the moment. ;)

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Hmmm,i did not want to freak you out so i never mentioned the only time i have heard of something like this happen.It was a king female that laid eggs and her inside area came out and never went back and she died.I am not saying thats whats going to happen to this king your looking at.Its the only time i have ever heard of it comming out though.I guess we both learned something new tonight lol.

well she's just a hatchling... but it is a concern... which is why i didn't buy her tonight ;)

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Originally Posted by recycling goddess

well she's just a hatchling... but it is a concern... which is why i didn't buy her tonight ;)

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Yea its always smart to do some research:cool: .

Sounds very normal to me. I babysat a 2 year old male ratsnake who STILL did that and musked on you when you picked him up. He would keep his vent open and just be plain gross...Typical boy :)

Sounds like a very typical baby colubrid to me! Very cute though and she should grow out of it.

thanks becky!

my female keeps hers open until after she musks and finally calms down

I hate it =/

I held a splendida king this weekend - *melt* - in fact, this one. But, it's Rick's turn to pick out the next herp. =)

so, question for all you kingsnake owners... do they eventually stop with the musking... or is it something they do for life?

When I took care of one it constantly musked. It was only the last week or so that it barely began to calm down. I didn't even take it out of the cage most of the time, just popped in my hand to say hello because I was afraid it would spray on my bed or clothing.

From what I understand they settle down when they're older with regular handling, if you're dedicated. >_>

I think that it's very individual to the snake, though.

my male has never musked it just shakes it tail like crazy

the female musked everytime I picked her up until just recently.. she's calmed down now

these guys were not handled much prior to me getting them

I think if I kept these guys and handled them often they wouldn't musk at all.
It's to bad mine have to find a new home. They really aren't bad I just prefer bps and corns.