Quote Originally Posted by EL-Ziggy View Post
If he's striking and coiling it sounds more like a feeding response than defensive behavior. Let's start with the basics. What are the temps and humidity in his enclosure and how are you measuring them? Is your heat source controlled by a thermostat? How much does he weigh and how much / how often are you feeding him? Kings can be a little nippy and flighty when they're young but most of them grow out of it. Make sure your husbandry is dialed in and start with short, gentle, consistent handling sessions for a few minutes at a time until he settles down. You can always use a glove or snake hook if it helps. I think if you continue to work with him he should come around. Best wishes and keep us posted.
Thanks. Good to know this is a toddler behavior. The temperature these days has been hot in the city so day it's 85 and drops to about 75 at night. Humidity is 50+. I have monitors stuck to the glass to measure each which are consistent with the monitor I have in the room. I use a lamp that is placed up top his screen for when it goes below 75. He has a few hides; a dome, a paper towel roll, a skull and his leafy branch. His substrate is paper towels.

He weighs 311 grams and is fed once every 7 days.

Yeah I have gloves that I use when handling him. Commercial grade lol! I also wear long sleeves so that no skin is exposed.