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My most evil snake...

My Cali King is a wicked little creature, too. Always tail rattling, biting when he can, etc. I love him, though, and he is beautiful, so I put up with his antics :). I KNOW you feel the same way about your guys--even Jormundgand!
 
Just throwing this out there. Could it be more of a feeding response to him biting? The gloves would hide the heat signature. And then after handling would explain the calming down as he realizes it isn't feeding time after.

Just thinking out loud here. I read somewhere that they have higher feeding needs than a corn and that can lead to them being more bitey. Made me think that he may not be hungry just figures it is always feeding time so goes after whatever moves.
 
smallet said:
Just throwing this out there. Could it be more of a feeding response to him biting? The gloves would hide the heat signature. And then after handling would explain the calming down as he realizes it isn't feeding time after.

Just thinking out loud here. I read somewhere that they have higher feeding needs than a corn and that can lead to them being more bitey. Made me think that he may not be hungry just figures it is always feeding time so goes after whatever moves.
Click to expand...

No, I normally didn't use gloves with him at all. Got my finger swallowed and bit constantly. But then a couple of months ago I got some gloves and he tried biting them but his teeth would kind of stick to the material. I guess he didn't like it so he doesn't bite as much when I have the gloves on. I said I only take the gloves off if I have him out for a while and he behaves. Then I will risk taking the gloves off. His bites don't hurt much anywhere else on my body but he has strong jaws and when he bites my fingers he draws blood which makes him go nuts and he bites as hard as he can.
 
Forgot to add that I even feed him a little extra trying to get him to not be hungry and he still bites. He is attracted to movement and to anything he might find smells interesting. Places on the body that sweat more like back of the neck and bend of the elbow he likes to bite. Sometimes he just strikes and bites for seemingly no reason. He bit my face twice before. Got a cheek and then my nose.

I think he is either just like that or he was never held much to begin with. I got him from a pet shop and he is around the size of a yearling or maybe older. My pet shop always sells baby snakes. So it was weird to see him there. People often abandon their animals there and sometimes they will sell them. I'm thinking that is what happened to Jormungandr.
 
WingedSweetheart said:
Forgot to add that I even feed him a little extra trying to get him to not be hungry and he still bites. He is attracted to movement and to anything he might find smells interesting. Places on the body that sweat more like back of the neck and bend of the elbow he likes to bite. Sometimes he just strikes and bites for seemingly no reason. He bit my face twice before. Got a cheek and then my nose.

I think he is either just like that or he was never held much to begin with. I got him from a pet shop and he is around the size of a yearling or maybe older. My pet shop always sells baby snakes. So it was weird to see him there. People often abandon their animals there and sometimes they will sell them. I'm thinking that is what happened to Jormungandr.
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Yeap, that's what I think too. Most probably his previous owner wasn't as patient and tolerant as you and they got tired of being bitten.

However, Jormungandr is with someone that will love him... Good for him.
 
Ok. I was just thinking out loud. hopefully some patience and kindness can win him over. Makes me leary of owning kings, not sure I have the patience for when the little guy decides I am a chew toy for a year or more. :)
 
Fast update

My evil little boy isn't as evil anymore! I have been able to get him out and hold him with no striking or tail rattling! Though yesterday he was in a bad mood. I just leave him alone if I go in to pick him up and he pushes against me. I know this is a sign that he don't want to be messed with.

Here's a small picture of my beautiful evil child! Sorry I cropped it but all the rest of the picture was my sheets and took away from the subject.

Jormi.jpg


Ps
I need to get some full body shots of him. He is growing like a weed. I have no idea how old he is but I guessed him to be a yearling last Oct. when I got him since he was the same size as my other yearling kingsnake. But now he has tripled in size! He is at least 3ft if not more.
 
Im not really a fan of ratsnakes, but... as a reptile person.. these guys are gorgeous!
And i love your biting stories (i konw i know.. BITE ME lol), they are fun to read!

I love snakes, they all have different personalities and you never know what youre going to get! hehe
 
WingedSweetheart said:
Forgot to add that I even feed him a little extra trying to get him to not be hungry and he still bites. He is attracted to movement and to anything he might find smells interesting. Places on the body that sweat more like back of the neck and bend of the elbow he likes to bite. Sometimes he just strikes and bites for seemingly no reason. He bit my face twice before. Got a cheek and then my nose.

I think he is either just like that or he was never held much to begin with. I got him from a pet shop and he is around the size of a yearling or maybe older. My pet shop always sells baby snakes. So it was weird to see him there. People often abandon their animals there and sometimes they will sell them. I'm thinking that is what happened to Jormungandr.
Click to expand...

He's a Cali King. They are just like that. Some never grow out of it, some do. Cali Kings and Florida Kings are like the Great White Sharks of the snake world. If it even remotely looks, acts, smells, or moves like it might even possibly be food...they try it. Very opportunistic, which makes them great "garbage disposals".

As for his coloring...Cali Kings are incredibly variable, even in the wild. Different areas have different colors and patterns. Some are clean B&W banded, some are yellow and brown with stripes or dashes, and some are so aberrantly patterned there is really no description for it. And the patter/color combinations are all mixed up, too...
 
Riyeko said:
Im not really a fan of ratsnakes, but... as a reptile person.. these guys are gorgeous!
And i love your biting stories (i konw i know.. BITE ME lol), they are fun to read!

I love snakes, they all have different personalities and you never know what youre going to get! hehe
Click to expand...

These aren't ratsnakes, they are California Kingsnakes...
 
tyflier said:
He's a Cali King. They are just like that. Some never grow out of it, some do. Cali Kings and Florida Kings are like the Great White Sharks of the snake world. If it even remotely looks, acts, smells, or moves like it might even possibly be food...they try it. Very opportunistic, which makes them great "garbage disposals".
.
Click to expand...

Very true. Have to try and make sure you don't smell interesting, which can be hard. Also have to be careful how you move your hands and fingers around them. Never wiggle fingers in their face lol!

But not all kings are such biters. My banded Cali king is a sweet boy. He's never bitten me though he has bitten my boyfriend a couple of times. I think he must like the way my boyfriend tasts. :licklips:
 
Love Jormungand!
I have a female (who is a real sweetheart) that looks like him.
Wow, I have been seeking a male (for awhile now), of this color/pattern, to partner with my girl. So far, it has been to no avail. I know someone who just may be able to get me one but ???
Anyway, Jormungand is gorgeous!:)
 
I really like this snake's markings. That wide dark dorsal stripe is nice with the contrast of the pattern on the sides.
More full-body shots!
 
A quick shot of him outside I took today. It was hotter than I though out so I kept him in the shade and only took one picture. I'm going to wait for the sun to go down some and try again.

His head is black and the color fades into a chocolate color on his body. When he was younger the black stripe was just as black as his head.

IMG_0757sm.jpg


I cropped this one too so I wouldn't have to resize it very small and be able keep the details of the snake. But of course photobucket resized it more :(
 
If I would see him a at a shop or fair I would buy him, what a snake! His face is adorable! And what a great name! I knew he would get more chocolat colored, that's what happened to the two hybrid kings I bred and kept. And indeed, usually black combines with white and yellowish/greenish/cream with dark choco brown. I thought the latter is called desert phase.

Does he have a stubby tail by the way?
 
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