How to pick up a 4 foot king snake.

[luther]

Hi people,

Knowing that I've got a collection of tarantulas, insects and hedgehogs the RSPCA brought round a rescued black king snake and offered it to me. I have accepted it and housed it nicely in a big snake tank I've bought specially. It seems healthy and "happy", although it still hasn't eaten one week later.

I would like to handle it. I know its pretty harmless but I dont know the best way to pick it up. I have no snake experience at all. I dont want to scare it.

Can someone point me at a good web site that will explain how to pick up and handle this snake?

Thanks guys.

 

[Lasiodora]

I wouldn't handle it at all until you are sure that it has settled down and has eaten a few times. Picking it up is pretty straight foward. What you want to do is pick it up from the mid body section and then support it with both hands. Never restrain the snake. This will make the snake feel threatened. Allow it to move from hand to hand as it wishes. This is all assuming it is a calm snake.
Be patient and take it slow.
Good Luck,
Mike