Southern California Coastal Kingsnake at feedingtime

This is the last time I'm going to feed my Kingsnake before I find a new home for it.

From the Wikipedia.com entry for the California Kingsnake:

Feeding -

A hatchling Kingsnake should be offered pinkie mice; and then, as the young snake grows, should be offered larger mice. An adult kingsnake should be fed on large size mice or weanling rats, which are smaller than adult rats. Hatchlings should be fed on a regular basis, every 4-5 days is ideal. Their metabolic rate is very high and as they are growing, they need a large amount of food. Adult kingsnakes need feeding once every 2 weeks on 2 large mice. Exceptions, when they should be fed more, are 1) bringing them out of hibernation, 2) getting them into condition for breeding, or 3) fattening up females for egg production. An egg-laying female should be fed more often than usual, getting 2 large mice every week.

Handling -

Californian Kingsnakes are relatively easy to handle. They are great snakes for new snake owners as they get used to being handled quite easily and don't move around when being handled as much as some other snakes, like the Corn Snake for example.

It's important to remember that you should always wash your hands before handling any snake. This is because snakes have a very sensitive sense of smell, and if you have handled a pet hamster for example, the snake may mistake your hand for food and strike at you. Although this won't hurt when the snake is young, an adult Californian Kingsnake can draw blood.

Picking up an adult Californian Kingsnake is quite simple. With no jerky or sudden movements, and coming in from the front of the snake, first use one hand to scoop up the snake about a third of the way back from the snake's head. Then use your other hand to support the rest of the snake's body as you raise the snake out of its tank.

Picking up a young Californian Kingsnake can be rather tricky—like most young snakes, young California Kingsnakes are generally both "nippy" and "flighty". They also tend to defecate on the handler in an attempt to escape, but usually stop doing this as they get used to being handled. California Kingsnakes are very fast when young, and are escape artists, so it is advised that the handler keep an eye on the snake. But with persistent 20-minute handling sessions a few times a week, the snake will quickly grow accustomed to being handled.

When being held, California Kingsnakes usually wrap themselves around the handler's hand, arm, or neck. When unravelling a snake which has wrapped itself around you, always unravel it by the tail. Unravelling a snake by its head is often difficult as the snake will seem to have a better grip and more strength.

Before handling a snake, remember that it is best not to handle a snake for about twenty-four hours after it has eaten, otherwise the snake may regurgitate its meal in an attempt to escape more quickly. Not only can this cause a lot of stress for the snake, it can also create medical issues. Kingsnakes are generally quite comfortable when being handled, but stress can set in with over-handling.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Southern
• California
• Coastal
• Kingsnake
• feedingtime

[MrRAZZY1234]

wow that was very fast he mist the first time but gave him a nice hug the second time and gulp he was gone "now for my next trick i shall make a mouse dissapere (puts the mouse in with the snake) 3,2,1 abbra cadabra (snake eats mouse) presto hes gone

[dreamweaver961]

Thats what I feel like after Thanksgiving dinner, overstuffed but happy.

[xxrandyxxravexx]

awwe how cute hes giving it a hug.... all i could hear in my head was dun dun dun dun Dun DUn DUN BWAAHAHAA NOM NOM NOM NOM

[arachnidsrulz12]

feed it frozen mice or rat dude

[THEMERCWITHAMOUTH16]

man mice are stupid

[bsnider11]

Good looking snake....but FYI, sand is an decent substrate, but it is dangerous to feed a snake in sand because sand can accidentally get swallowed with the mouse/rat. Don't worry too much, doing this a couple time wont kill it, but just don't make it a habit. Cause over time it can cause fatal digestive problems.

[7lqjah]

oh shh!! if dont like dont watch it, simple!

[7lqjah]

to be honest thats a good size meal for a king snake that size, i think small mice is to small of a meal, i sometimes feed 1 of my corn on small rats never had a problem :)

[wizman144]

your sik oh my gosh.

[Nojoke88]

oh now that my screens lighting has changed the mouse doesnt look so big ne more.