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New King, and I need help

Spot's mama

Spot's mama

thes
I have a new king snake. I got it from the same owner that I got my corn from, he's in good health, 9 years old, but hasn't been held since she left her classroom last June. Until then, during the school year he was held constantly by students and was loved and spoiled. He loves to hide under his little hut, and has been there for a week. When I lift it up and attempt to pet him his tail rattles like a rattlers would, I asked a couple of friends who have snakes and they said it's a protective instinct. This afternoon, when I lifted the hut his tail went into the rattling mode and I didn't even touch him. He just shed, but isn't moving or acting hungry. Advice, please!
 
It sounds like you had been trying to "pet" him pre-shed. It's not at all unusual for a snake to be more nervous and jumpy during this time, so that may be a big part of it. Unlike my cats though, I don't think snakes like to be petted. If I let my snake move through my hands she's fine, if I touch her back, she gets jumpy and moves a whole lot faster.

Every time you pick up the hut and he rattles his tail and you don't pick him up, he wins, and instincts will tell him to do it because you leave him alone. If you're going to hold him, you need to follow through and pick him up even if he does strike at you. In my limited experience, I've learned if I don't put her down, she'll settle down. My corn used to strike my hand when I went in to pick her up, so I took a metal coat hanger and made a hook to gently lift her to me instead of putting my big fat hand in her face and that has worked well.

If he was held in school as much as you said, he may also need more time to get used to his new surroundings.
Good luck, let us know how it works out.
 
Things are going MUCH better. I always stay late on Friday's to get my room in shape, and when it was darker in the room yesterday afternoon, King came out and cruised around, so I took the top off the viv and put my hand in and he came on over and wrapped around my hand. I held him for quite awhile while he tried to figure out the new smells and person. I think we're going to be just fine! I'm sure he'll remember being held by 20 or more kiddos each day for the majority of his years in the classroom and warm up to the idea quickly. Thanks for your ideas and suggestions, he didn't "win"
 
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