California Kingsnake Question?

Question

Today I picked up my first ever California Kingsnake from the pet store. It is young, about 12 inches and seems active, alert and healthy. It has made no effort to hide at all, seems interested in exploring. I have read plenty of information about this snake, although I've read some conflicting advice on some issues. So I am interested in the opinions of those with practical experience keeping this, or a similar snake.

The store had not fed it for a week, so after it had been home for eight hours it seems really hungry and in need of feeding. So I gave it two thawed frozen pinkies which it took great. It has continued to be inquisitive and active ever since.

So here are my questions:

1) How soon should I start handling it to get it nice and tame?
2) How often should I handle it?
3) The humidity of the cage is at 34% is that okay?
4) Does two pinkies twice a week sound reasonable?
5) Any specific tips you'd like to share?

Thank you to any snake experts with some good pointers.

28 hours after its first feeding I had a handling session. It was a little thrashy about coming out of its cage, but after a minute or so out of the cage it became very settled and not jumpy at all.

Today it slept all day hidden under its water bowl. Woke up after sunset.

So far no musking, no defecating, no aggression.

Thank you all for your answers so far. I can now see why so many people get so excited about snake ownership.

Answer 1

1) Start handling your new snake right away. It sounds like he's already had 24 hours to get acclimated to his new environment, and he sounds like he's healthy with the curiosity and alertness he's showing.

2) Handle him gently a few times a day, and eventually he will come to get used to you.

3) Humidity isn't too important for a California king snake. He should be fine with whatever the normal room humidity is. Since they're not from the jungle like ball pythons and other big snakes like that, they're not too picky about humidity.

4) Two pinkies a week is very reasonable for a hatchling king snake. As he gets bigger, you can start feeding him larger portions just once a week, but for now your feeding plan sounds great.

5) Wait several hours after the snake eats before handling him again. Snakes that have just eaten tend to be grumpy and sensitive to being touched. Don't handle the snake when you see that he's about to shed -- you can tell because he'll get a blue film of skin over his eyes. Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling the snake. It's especially important if you've been touching food, since snakes will bite if they smell meat on your hands! Aside from those points, the more you handle him, the more he'll get used to you. Enjoy your snake!

Answer 2

Congrats on your new pet. I have several. I would give it at least a few days to get used to it's surroundings before you handle him. Handle him every day except right after he eats. He should be given at least 48 hours after a meal before handling him. Humidity isn't too important for a cal king. Whatever the humidity in the room is should be fine. You might want to make a humid hide for him when he's getting ready to shed though. I just take an empty coolwhip container cut a hole in the lid and fill it with damp sphagnum moss. This works great and they love it. Two mice per week is fine. The mice should be a little bigger around than the snake is at it's widest point on the snakes body. Not the snakes head, but the snake's body. Any more questions you have I'd be happy to help you out. [e-mail]

Answer 3

nice snake, I love kingsnakes.
Give it about 2 days before you handle it. And you want to handle it atleast once a day for awhile to get it tamed, but if your like me you will want to hold it constantly. the humidity is fine. @ pinkies is good, but don't handle it for 24 hours after feeding or it may vomit. Be shure it has a water dish large enough to get in fully. And while you are tameing it, don't get to close to its head, because that may iritate him. Enjoy your snake

Answer 4

You can begin handling it immediately (unless it shows signs of stress). You can handle it as often as you like (again look for signs of stress). I have a little girl who loves to come out as often as she can (but each snake will have a different temperment. For my girl, I don't worry as much about humidity, though she enjoys a nice misting periodically (especially around shedding). I work at a zoo also and they don't worry about humidity at all. When my girl was as young as yours, I fed her 4 pinkies every 4 days (when they are young they will eat more as they are growing). Also they will grow faster if you feed them more...so if you want it to grow quickly, feed it more food or more often. Your snake will let you know when it doesn't want to eat. I recommend keeping a fairly thick substrate as they love to dig around in it. Also don't feed it by hand (especially when dealing with pinkies) as the snake can mistake a finger for food. If your snake strikes at you b/c its upset it will probably just butt you with its mouth open but without teeth. They usually only latch on with teeth if they think you're food. If they do, recognize that the teeth are angled back in their mouth...DO NOT TRY TO PULL THE SNAKE OFF!!! this will just make it worse. You need to try to get the snake to open its mouth on its own to release you. You may just have to walk around with a snake attached to you for 30 minutes or so before it will let go because it realizes that it can't eat you. I recommend raising the temps slightly after they eat to help them digest. Also do not handle them for AT LEAST 24 hours after they eat as it may cause the snake to regurgitate the food. You don't have to worry about it not hiding as these snakes are fairly social. Good luck with your new friend.