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cage aggression in a kingsnake please help

R

remy

New member
I rescued a king snake that was surrendered at work (an animal hospital, people always dump their animals with us) about 2 months ago. He is 2 years old and really undersized and thin. I have been feeding him 2 rat fuzzies every week and he is eating great and getting bigger. Lately though he has been very cage aggressive to the point where I have to hook him to get him out to move him to his feeding bin. This is a complete 180 from when I first got him he was so sweet. What is causing this and please tell me how to fix it, he is a beautiful Lavender albino banana and I would like to be able to hold him more, however he thinks he’s a cobra or something.
 
Sounds like a pretty normal kingsnake to me, maybe he's perking up because he's feeling better now that he's getting proper care and food.
 
other one that I have handled in the past where always very nice, although they where education animals at a nature center and a zoo. Is this really normal, anything I can do to get him used to me?
 
Is he cage aggressive, or really hungry?? My kings seem to know when it is feeding day vs any other day and they make me a little nervous getting them out. I hook most of them out, and don't handle any rodents until they are in their feeding bins. On other days, they catch on very quickly that food isn't involved.
 
Sounds like you recieved a very lethargic animal with little interest in anything that is now healthy and full of energy.

Some kings bite first and ask questions later. There isn't a whole lot that can be done about it...
 
I was going to say the same thing,lol My king tail rattles and bites coming out of the cage if it's even remotely close to feeding day and loves nomming on fingers. Bo striking though just mosey's on up, tongue flicks, and swallows:)
 
tyflier said:
Some kings bite first and ask questions later. There isn't a whole lot that can be done about it...
Click to expand...

Mine definitely do that. If there is any remote possibility that anything happening in or around their viv involves food, bite first, ask questions later.
 
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I know that my little king refuses to eat right now, Feeding him live pinks at the moment. I guess it is just that time of year, But he loves to strike at me when I walk past his tank... The little guy is quite the hate-ling... And, unfortunately his future mate escaped last night, i must not have had the feeding bin secure when I walked away to give her privacy... She is somewhere in my house... Why is it that this always happens around winter.... I had another escape during Thanksgiving and found the little thing under my wife's backpack.
 
Oh, forgot to mention, my Desert Glossy does the same thing, but she is a WC individual so who knows if she will grow out of it.
 
Outcast said:
Oh, forgot to mention, my Desert Glossy does the same thing, but she is a WC individual so who knows if she will grow out of it.
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Wow, you have a Glossy that bites? I've only ever found wild adults, but I have never even seen one threaten to strike, let alone follow through with it. Very interesting...
 
It was born this year I think, it just strikes, never really follows through.
Just an "I'm gonna get cha!" thing.
 
Ok, so this is normal behavior. I guess I will just have to be careful around her for feeding. Anyone have tips for taming during non feeding times?
 
Handle. There's not much else. I'm different from most here on feeding outside the cage, I find it contributes to bites, but that's been discussed over and over. I have a Cal king (as did Robbie) that will simply try to eat you no matter what. For those, there's not much you can do but hook and be careful -and occasionally let them have a glove.
 
elrojo said:
Handle. There's not much else. I'm different from most here on feeding outside the cage, I find it contributes to bites, but that's been discussed over and over. I have a Cal king (as did Robbie) that will simply try to eat you no matter what. For those, there's not much you can do but hook and be careful -and occasionally let them have a glove.
Click to expand...

Hey Chip(elrojo)

I believe you are misleading remy because Cali. Kings do not bite. When a Cali. King puts its' mouth around you it is just Kissing you. The reason why I think it is just a Kiss is because when Cali. Kings mate the male Kisses the female on the back of the neck and holds on for the ride. Sorry, for the sex talk. So, that is my thinking on the subject.

OK - You got me. They are mean little snakes that like to bite and chew the hand that feeds them. Sorry, I just like my Kingsnakes so I wanted to paint them in a better picture.

The only reason I bought a hook is because of the first Cali. King I owned.

Love the Fatman
 
Fatman608 said:
Hey Chip(elrojo)

I believe you are misleading remy because Cali. Kings do not bite. When a Cali. King puts its' mouth around you it is just Kissing you. The reason why I think it is just a Kiss is because when Cali. Kings mate the male Kisses the female on the back of the neck and holds on for the ride. Sorry, for the sex talk. So, that is my thinking on the subject.

OK - You got me. They are mean little snakes that like to bite and chew the hand that feeds them. Sorry, I just like my Kingsnakes so I wanted to paint them in a better picture.

The only reason I bought a hook is because of the first Cali. King I owned.

Love the Fatman
Click to expand...


I never thought he would be like this, lucky I have a hook from a research project I did on timber rattle snakes about 10 years ago. I have to say some of them where nicer. If I have to break out restraint tubes scruffy ( thats his name) and I are gonna have an issue. lol
 
Fatman608 said:
Hey Chip(elrojo)

I believe you are misleading remy because Cali. Kings do not bite. When a Cali. King puts its' mouth around you it is just Kissing you. The reason why I think it is just a Kiss is because when Cali. Kings mate the male Kisses the female on the back of the neck and holds on for the ride. Sorry, for the sex talk. So, that is my thinking on the subject.

OK - You got me. They are mean little snakes that like to bite and chew the hand that feeds them. Sorry, I just like my Kingsnakes so I wanted to paint them in a better picture.

The only reason I bought a hook is because of the first Cali. King I owned.

Love the Fatman
Click to expand...

The only reason I bought a hook was to remove rattlers from the road, and peoples houses...:rolleyes:
 
I have bunches of kingsnakes, all calm as can be. I think kings like it cooler than corns though and this might be a factor.
 
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