Jerk of a Mexican Black. What do?

[ShamelessAardvark]

Title says it all. I love this thing to pieces, he's an 11 year old Mexican Black Kingsnake, and I took him in about three weeks ago. At first, he was fine, but once I got him home and in proper temps, he turned into the meanest snake I own. I suspect he wasn't so mean at first because he didn't have a heat source, so he was just a bit chilled. A week after taking him in, I went to help him out of a fix he got into (he was stuck between his log hide and the wall of the tank.) As I was getting him unstuck, he without warning (I'm sure there was warning, but it was dark and I wasn't exactly paying attention) just grabbed onto my finger. I figured I wait it out, but he actually started making his way up to the tip of my finger, when at this point I grabbed the Lysterine. Not too long after I got him to let go of my finger, he turned around and grabbed my other finger. The next day, he ate two frozen mice (both very small) and a hopper rat. About four or five days later, I went to get him fresh water, and he wasn't having it. I didn't own a snake hook at the time, so I just gave him a rat while I changed his water.

Tonight, I had taken him out with the hook (he struck at it a few times) to inspect his belly (just a few scales looked odd, nothing serious.) After a bit on the hook, he relaxed a bit, so I let him wrap his tail around my arm. He seemed just fine until he decided my finger was dinner. There was absolutely no aggression or anything, he just kind of opened his mouth and latched on.

I really do enjoy this snake and the respect he demands, but my dad isn't too happy with how often he bites. Besides hook training, proper husbandry, and regular feedings, is there any way I can get this guy to calm down? Should I just start wearing gloves until he tames or what?

And just because you guys live for them, pics! (Sorry, no blood or anything. P: )

[LotusCorvus]

That has to be the best bite pic I've ever seen. Here's to hoping he eventually figures out the difference between fingers and food!

[John1982]

A good feeding schedule and plenty of handling are usually enough to get them over the chewing habit. Great pic, got me chuckling and reminiscing about some kings of the past.

[Riv]

*Feels racist* That is a pretty nice bite though XD I was feeding a california king once at work and he went for the wrong pinkie. Wish Id taken pics
He was an aggressive one too though. Only 2 years old spent his whole lifs in the petstore. I get the attitude XD Honeslty I just handled him 4 days a week 15 minutes at a time multiple times a day and he chilled right out after a few weeks.
-Riveran

[TheWinWizard]

Kings can be like that. Handle and be gentle and make sure you don't smell like rodents.

[DooLittle]

That is a great picture! Sorry I don't know anything about those guys.

Sent from my ADR6350 using Tapatalk 2

[lmtrej]

Make sure that your hands are free of any rodent/snake smell. My brooksi is extremely calm, however if I don't wash my hands thoroughly after handling another snake or any feeders than there is a 100% chance that I will be bit, wrapped, and chewed on by him.

Other than that, frequent handling and proper husbandry should fix this behavior.

What are it's temps?

[ShamelessAardvark]

His temps right now are 76-82F, and he likes the warm side. Looks like I'll just keep the Lysterine near his enclosure until he learns better.

Glad you guys like the bite pic, lol! He grabbed both of my middle fingers that night.

[Pyrate81]

Great pic!!!

For some reason I thought this story was about a milksnake cause I had a similar thing with my Tangerine milksnake.

Keep handling him and make sure his habitat is in good order. Hook handling or glove handling is at your discretion. My king only bites when he is hungry so maybe a few more meals will help calm him down a bit. Or even handling him to the point where he realizes you aren't food. He is great looking snake.

Here is the long version of the tangerine milksnake:

I worked at a Petco 10ish years ago and there was a tangerine milksnake in the store which no one wanted to handle cause it had an "attitude". Truthfully, I think the snake needed some TLC and a bigger enclosure. At the time I was one of about 5 employees(about 1/3 of the store) in the store that didn't own or have care knowledge of snakes. So after I've worked there a few months and have been learning/working with the snakes, I take it upon myself to "tame the snake". 1-2x a week for a month I took him out of the enclosure and just let him bite and skunk me until he tired out or I got tired of getting bit(21 bite marks was the most I counted, the bites lessened after that). He was wirey to say the least and eventually realized I wasn't letting him go and we were going through this same routine until he completely calmed down. I eventually did start using gloves(a pair of mechanic gloves from home depot is fine, I have heavy duty work gloves which don't allow him to get through, but reduces dexterity for keeping hold). One day after 2-3 months a customer came in while I was handling the snake and asked if he could handle him. I had gloves on and he hadn't attempted to bite me yet. I warned the customer there was a high probability of a bite and he was ok with it. So the snake goes down my arm up the customer's arm, around the back of his neck, and down his other arm back to me.

A few years later, I'm at another petco and start talking to the reptile guy whom I knew had a red tail boa. He apparently had bought the milksnake for $20 on a manager's special and he really wasn't feeling the snake so I offered to take if off his hands. Still don't think the snake was given proper TLC. So I take him in and he is still a bit nippy, but not like he was in the store. I have high respect for this snake and feel he just wants to be left to his own doings so I've given him better living conditions and only handle him(with gloves) when I clean his tank. He spends most of his days under his water bowl but lately has been on the surface.

Lately with him being out of his hiding places(he's also a gorgeous looking snake, love looking at him), I've had the urge to start taking him out again and see what he is like. People have asked me "why do you have a snake(that isn't venomous) you know you can't handle?" And I answer something to the effect that the snake hasn't been given a chance to be a pet or friend to anyone and is very misunderstood. Even if he does have a "bad attitude" does it mean he should be crucified/abandoned for it?


I think you will have good luck with your king. Be persistent with him and I think things will go well. Good luck! :-D