Random Questions about Cali King Snake

[cbwill]

Hey guys, my baby king snake ever since i bought him has always been really hyper and jumpy. He seems kinda nervous all the time. When i try to pick him up he would slither away really fast all the time and try to find hiding spots. At night I would cover the entire tank with a towel because i heard it helps with nervous snakes. Also is it bad that when i want to pick him up and he is hid under the water bowl or the bark that i remove his hiding and try to pick him up?

He is eating well right now, always hungry so i feed him every 2-3 days but when i hold him he tends to nip at my fingers.

Does this sound normal to you guys??? Just a tiny bit concerned for the snake. Any suggestions, opinions, or any comments would be appreciated

[Shelby]

First off.. feeding every 2-3 days is WAY too often. No more often than once per week, and never handle the snake until 2 full days after he has eaten.. handling sooner than that can cause regurgitation.

Baby kingsnakes are usually quite skittish. Most grow out of it.

It is fine to remove your snake from it's hide when you want to handle it.

[fergie]

Another thing that might help when handling your snake. Whenever you go to lift it out, don't reach over the top of him to pick him up. Instead try and scoop him up with the palm of your hand. Snakes will remain much calmer when the majority of their body weight is supported and once you get it out of it's tank it shouldn't take too long to calm down.

[cbwill]

but i thought that baby king snake feed alot more often because he :cens0r::cens0r::cens0r::cens0r:s after 24 hrs and is hunting again by the 2nd day and he is always eager to eat his food after 2-3 days. should i still wait a bit longer?

[Blu Mongoose]

I would wait on the feedings. Mine eat once a week and thrive. If you feed too often it severely cuts down your handling time. I wait 2 days after feeding which gives me 5 days of handling time. A couple sessions a day and mine are getting quite calm. I tend to keep the sessions short and handle a couple times a day.

[Shelby]

Yeah.. I know they're active little buggers.. seems like they're always begging for food. How big is he and what are you feeding him? Perhaps up the size of the food slightly.. the food item should be around the same size around as your snake's belly is.

Either way though.. keep it to once a week. You can over feed snakes.. which is just as unhealthy for them as it is for us.

[cbwill]

lol yea, he is about 5-6 months old and he is about 1.5 feet long i would say. I am currently feeding him frozen pinkies still. I looked at the fuzzies, they are still a lil bit too big for him and it seems like its quite a bit bigger than the largest part on the snake's belly

[Shelby]

Well you might offer 2 pinkies then.

[cbwill]

cool, thanx shelby, he gobbled up 2 pinkies the last time i fed him. he doesnt seem as hungry as it had been 3 days. but he still would bite me wen i hold him still occasionally. try let him realize its not food by himself but he jus wouldnt let go!! so i usually have to slowly shake him off. any suggestions? sorry for the bombardment of Qs. first time being a snake owner...

[Shelby]

Make sure you don't smell like snake food when you handle him.. always wash your hands before you handle him.

I wouldn't 'shake' him off if he bites you.. you may break his teeth. If he really won't let go, try gently prying him off.

When handling him try not to put your fingers in his face.. anything waving around in front of them is likely to get bitten at.. but as he gets older, he should settle down and not bite as much.