Albino King striking

Grimslade · #1 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 01:56 AM

I know that Albino King's are bitie snakes until they are a little older. Mine is about 1 1/2 yrs old. He likes to play a lot in the cage and zoom around (hence the name Zippy) and seems happy. He has always been cage defensive, but now he likes to take it to the next level and bite me once out of the cage. He is very wound tight not relaxed at all. When he bites he is claimed on and does not want to let go. He is a bit of a pyscho anyway, but I wanted to know if he will grow out of it. More handling and just take the hits? What is the best course of action as I do not want to stress the snake out. Thanks for your help!

Heidi · #2 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 02:17 AM

Well I don't have a colubrid so I can't help as far as the specific information on them but I do have a bitie 1 1/2 year old boa that I'm putting through a whole new adjustment period.

First, double check temperatures and all husbandy. If he isn't on loose substrate try that for him. Give him more hides too.

My first priority in trying to calm down Wilbur is his comfort. If I know he is healthy and comfortable and he still decides not to calm down the I know that I've tried my best and just to enjoy him for what he is. I've started using a hook and he hated it at first scaring me thinking he was going to break his jaw on it but not it is almost used as a toy and he has no fear of it at all anymore. I still use it to help get him out but it's more of a chore to get him unwound from it. He hisses when I first start to unwrap him but he doesn't strike and he does stop hissing. That is my goal so I figure whatever floats his boat.

Rust316 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 03:47 AM

Our California banded king snake is very calm, but still likes to bite and latch on every time he is handled. He doesn't strike. Just opens his mouth and gives us a taste.

Heidi · #4 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 04:09 AM

LOL, sounds really calm Rust. My kids are pretty calm too, they just really like to run around and act all crazy. LOL. Just a funny statement.

Rust316 · #5 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 04:55 AM

Well, it doesn't wiggle, squirm, hiss or strike. It calmly slithers around, opens its mouth about once every handling session and usually between 10 and 30 minutes and takes a taste. Just one taste. I know it sounds wierd, but I've heard this can be quite common with kings.

Oh, and my kids do the same thing as yours.

telefrag · #6 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 05:52 AM

I hate to say it, but california kingsnakes are not the brightest bulbs in the snake world.

albino's have terrible eyesight, and tend to believe anything they touch could be food.

but its not only albinos, some normals seem to think everything that moves is food, if they can touch it, its food.

I would love to say that he will grow out of it.
best i'd hope for is good moments and bad.

dont give up on it, but just think of it as....... uh..... spirit.

I had a cal king once that tried to eat a paper towel, I had another that would latch on to me, and had to be dunked in a sink of cold water to let go (only to re latch on once I started moving again)

i've also had a few that thought their water bowls were food.....

but those have always been the exceptions, I had 20 adult cal kings at one time, and anywhere from 20-50 babies in my holdback stash, and the ones that were serious disciplinary challenges were the minority.

All_American · #7 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 07:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rust316

Well, it doesn't wiggle, squirm, hiss or strike. It calmly slithers around, opens its mouth about once every handling session and usually between 10 and 30 minutes and takes a taste. Just one taste. I know it sounds wierd, but I've heard this can be quite common with kings.
Oh, and my kids do the same thing as yours.

Maybe you have a new species on hand. A Vampire sub species...LOL

All_American · #8 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 08:00 AM

Telefrag, thats very interesting. Being I live in Ca, and every and each year I catch at least 2-3 Cal kings and yet I have not been bitten yet (knock on wood) maybe this is something to look into about cal kings? I do know my buddy has one that I cought many years back and he says he feeds it in it cage all the time and can reach in and take it out with no problems ever to date? Maybe it could be there general location where there cought? There climatized to ppl possibly?

telefrag · #9 (**permalink**) 11-26-2006, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by All_American

Telefrag, thats very interesting. Being I live in Ca, and every and each year I catch at least 2-3 Cal kings and yet I have not been bitten yet (knock on wood) maybe this is something to look into about cal kings? I do know my buddy has one that I cought many years back and he says he feeds it in it cage all the time and can reach in and take it out with no problems ever to date? Maybe it could be there general location where there cought? There climatized to ppl possibly?

I think its mostly inbreeding or captivity

I had some WC ones before, they were all very tame.

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