does my snake think my arm is a deliscious treat?

[xBurntBytheSunx]

so i've been working with my kingsnake a little more like people suggested. i started handling her with gloves, which she smells then looks very confused, but does not try to bite.

i got her out yesterday and let her crawl to my arm, where she stuck her chin into and opened her mouth super wide like she was going to try to swallow the entire thing. this didn't seem to be a fear response, is this something she will stop doing?

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Sounds like she's just hungry. How much and how often are you feeding her? A snake that's really hungry and not particularly prey-imprinted (ie kingsnakes tend to eat anything, while other species like ball pythons freak out just going from mice to rats) might decide your warm living arm-flesh is a possible snack.

Also, were you interacting with any other animals before that? Even a while before that, snakes have a great sense of smell.

 

[halfwaynowhere]

the other day my little corn snake did that... She opened her mouth real wide, and tried to eat my knuckle. It was really cute. She had eaten two days earlier, so I switched her from a seven day feeding schedule to a five day schedule... figured she just wanted to eat more.

 

[xBurntBytheSunx]

i suppose she's hungry, i'm giving her a mouse once a week...although i didn't feed her week before last b/c i moved and didn't have time. do you think twice a week would be better?

i do have a rat in my room, but i'd just washed my arms with soap. i would think it would cover my rat up, unless she just smells rat in the air.

 

[arrowhd]

Does sound like a feeding response. Don't really recall my kingsnake ever doing this. How big of a snake are we taking about?

 

[GrammostolaGuy]

For a snake that seems to actively want to eat, I'd suggest trying two feedings a week at least once, and see how she reacts to that. A full kingsnake is typically a happier and somewhat more mellow kingsnake than a hungry one. I've had juvies take 3 fuzzies a week, and still patrol for more. I've found that many kings have individual feeding schedules and metabolisms regardless of temperature that quickens or slows digestion in their tanks. Good luck.