Will a kingsnake bite if it smells other snakes?

[ed4281]

My kingsnake has been doing very well with his aggression issues however today he took a hunk out of my partner the only reason I can think of is because he handled him after helping me clean the BP's. Could their smell make him think food?

I know they eat other snakes in the wild so maybe?

[SK_Exotics]

They just did this myth on the most recent episode of snakebytestv!

[DZ Reptiles]

They just did this myth on the most recent episode of snakebytestv!

and the answer is FICTION

[ed4281]

Ok I don't watch snakebites TV so you saying he was just being a mean little bugger and I'm over rationalizing and making an excuse for the bite to keep my happy home

[mainbutter]

and the answer is FICTION

Their method was completely flawed.

They house the kings in a room with literally THOUSANDS of other snakes. Those king snakes live around the constant smell of "snake" in the air.

[Donald M]

Chewy got bite both times after he washed his hands and before Poor Chewy

[blushingball419]

I've handled my king after I've handled my corns, and he's never tried to bite me or seemed remotely interested in my hands. I had heard this myth before as well, which is why I didn't get a king for the longest time, but I think it would be more true with a wild caught king (that may have eaten other snakes before) than a captive bred one (that's conditioned to eating rodents). Unless your king is wild caught, I'd say it just sounds like he has an attitude

[PitOnTheProwl]

Kings just have "Big Dog" attitude. ours will be sweet as can be one moment and then flying ninja teeth if you do something she doesnt like.

[JLC]

Snakebytes did just address this question....and I agree that while very entertaining, their methods are hardly scientific. But even though they didn't provide any real evidence one way or the other, I would tend to agree with the ultimate conclusion. Kingsnakes are just unpredictable little buggers and far more likely to randomly bite than, say, a ball python. So who can ever say it was for a specific reason like the scent of other snakes?

All that said though....it certainly can't hurt to make sure you wash up well before handling the kings!