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.

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