First EVER pet snake, Cali king (baby) need help

[SsilverR]

hey guys, first of all i hope i'm not posting in the wrong place .. i've literally just signed up here and hope not to make any early mistakes.

while we're on the subject of early mistakes .. i'm pretty sure i've made a few with my baby californian king snake (10 weeks old) .. i got it home and i was told to handle him at least once a day with confidence **cough** .... right off the bat i must've flinched like a thousand times at his attempts to ventilate my fingersthen when i finally did get hold of him i dropped him when his head got too close to my arm ..... ok i've been told a hundred times that the bites don't hurt .. but GOD DAMN .. i'm not going to give up on him because i've made a commitment and i refuse to leave a good snake without a home because of my cowerdice

i love snakes, i've always loved snakes ... it's just the first time i've ever been attacked by one ... my question is .. do you think the snake (named him... her .... it vega, not sure of sex yet) will have a hard time trusting me now?

[Jczreptiles]

I would not advise handling daily, you may get the snake tame but that won't be a lot of use if the snake won't eat due to stress. Idealy you should handle the snake close to the floor so if he does get dropped it won't do any harm and handle about once maybe twice a week 3 days or so after feeding.

[fergie]

You should have let your snake settle in for at least a week with minimal disturbance. Seeing as that opportunity has passed you will just have to ride it out and see how well it tolerates handling.

As hatchlings/juveniles Cali Kings can be quite skittish, may strike and sometimes musk. They usually calm down with age and by sub adult you should notice a difference. Some never take to handling, like my Albino Cali, but that's just how the cookie crumbles.

[beaniebopps]

I'm sure he / it / she will forgive you. Firstly, if you've just brought it home don't try to handle it for a few days. That way you can get used to it while it gets used to its new home.

When you do go to handle it again try and be confident. Wear gloves if it makes you less likely to flinch. Slowly pick it up (so it can see where your hands are going, approaching from the side and not the top) with one hand about 1/3 of the way down and the other about 2/3 down. Let it slide through your hands. Do this above a bed or something incase you do drop it again! Keep the first session short and sweet, and you can increase the length of time as yours and the snakes confidence grows!

Hope this helps

[SsilverR]

thanks guys, i'll leave it alone for a few days then next time just go for it nice and easy ... i KNOW i'll get bit at one point of another so i'll just skip the gloves and bite the bullet .... a minute or 2 handling, then let it back in the cage ... gotta lose the bite virginity some time aye?

[darren81]

Few times a week is good, sure he wont hold it agaist you lol.

As soon as he/she gets used to your sent and knows its safe sure it will be fine.

Snakes are just the best my first snake was a sinaloan milksnake got him about two years ago.

Now between me and my wife we have 10 snakes and 4 lizards.

Enjoy.

[erewegoagain]

Baby kingsnakes are always are a bit jumpy and rattle their tails etc when you pick them up: it helps if you are confident and relaxed as then the snake feels secure but thats a matter of you getting used to handling them. I dont think it really matters how much you handle them as hatchlings, they always get better as they grow. However its probably best not to overdo it, certainly only handle a couple of times a week to begin with. Snakes dont have the concept of "mistakes" so theyre probably more forgiving then humans, so wouldnt worry on that score