new kingsnake leaves secretion when picked up?

[MySophia]

i just picked up a new baby kingsnake....well, everytime i pick it up its like he poos or pees (white secretion comes out).....not a lot, just a little.....but it's every time i pick him up...is there something wrong with him? any help would be greatful...thanks in advance....

shane

[Kent K25]

I'm guessing this secretion is VERY stinky too? That would be what is referred to as "musk" if I'm not mistaken, and is common among Kingsnakes as a form of self defense, when they feel threatened/stressed/scared/etc... The nasty odor is supposed to discourage anyone/anything from messing with or eating them. Since it's a new baby thats probably what's happening. He/she isn't used to bein handled and is musking by instinct.

[Eraser]

ya ive heard about that too!! that's why ive kinda stayed away from a king snake.. not that im saying they all do that... its just not that appealing to me!! but im sure all you king snake owers would disagree right?? There is a beauty of a grey banded king at the local exotic store!! he's full grown.. so he/she might be out of that phase right?? King snakes have some of the most coolest patterns ive seen!!!

[meesha]

when i got my kingsnake he was doing that too, i let him alone in his new tank for a week or two and he got over it real quick...

[Kent K25]

Yeah, like meesha said, it's not usually an issue with cbb snakes, mostly just with wild caught. I personally haven't had it happen to me. Just give the snakes the right amount of time to become accustomed to their caging and surroundings to bring their stress level down and you should be all right. If it continues to be a problem you can try the t-shirt trick. Put a tshirt of yours in the cage (not a clean one, but not a filthy one) Just one that smells like you so they become accustomed to your smell. They will associate your smell with the safety of their cage and when handled will recognize your scent as a safe one.

Best of luck to ya.

[LdyDrgn]

Many snakes do this as a deterrent, even those that are CB (our Pueblan milksnake musks quite a bit). Even one of our Moluccan pythons musks when she's picked up, LOL

	Captive Born Captive Born

[Kent K25]

Yeah, I didnt mean to make the statement as 100% true, just figured more often than not with Kings it's not gonna be a permanent problem.

[LdyDrgn]

This is true... our king used to musk, but doesn't anymore now that he is accustomed to handling. It just takes time with some of them, especially if they were never handled much as hatchlings.

[Gecko-Guy]

That stuff must really scare off predators. Heck, it scares me off too. My atb does that to me everytime i clean his cage out. He really loves me.

	Amazon Tree Boa Amazon Tree Boa - The Amazon tree boa, Corallus hortulanus, is a close relative of the Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus)

[haroldo359]

some quit doing it, some don't. get a paper towel out.

[MySophia]

thanks guys....yeah, i keep a tissue around when i have to move him now.....and i'll try the shirt idea as well......he's been gettin better about it so hopefully he'll get used to me enough to where he wont do it

appreciate all the help and advice