Juvenile king advice
Hi everyone! This is my 13 month old (estimated) California Kingsnake, Green Bean. I have had him for almost 3 months now, and am looking for some advice.
The first 2 months that I had him, he loved spending time in his humid hide and I pretty much always found him in there. It was very rare that I had to search the entire enclosure to know where he was. This made it really easy to get him out for handling sessions and for him to find his mouse at feeding times. He's always been a very curious little dude that is very tolerant of handling and has never shown any defensive behaviors.
But more recently, I haven't seen him using his humid hide at all. He is pretty much always burrowed in his substrate (at least during the day), and this makes it difficult to know where he is if I want to handle him. Since this has started, I've been using a blow dryer on a low setting to spread the scent of his mouse for feedings and this always gets him to come out. He has definitely grown since I've gotten him (this photo is from when I first got him at about 10 months old), so I'm wondering if his humid hide has become too small for him and that's why he doesn't use it anymore? Nothing has changed as far as temp or humidity the entire time I've had him. His ambient temp is always around 71° at night and 77° during the day, with an under tank heating mat set to 91° (with a few degrees give or take being lost through the glass and substrate). Ambient humidity is always around 45%. He has the humid hide (Zilla rock lair) on the warm side, a dry hide and water dish on the cool side, 2 pieces of hollow cork wood to climb on (one is large enough for him to slither inside of), and some fake plants (although I do think he could use some more foliage for coverage, which I'll be getting the next time I get paid). I also have a uvb bar on top of his enclosure which is on during the day and off at night to provide a stable day/night cycle and aid in digestion. I was told when I got him that the heating mat would be totally fine as kings are cryptic and do not typically bask. I also have 4 cats, so them knocking over a heat lamp was a concern. He has never skipped a meal in the time I've had him (even in blue) and is a great eater. He has only shed once since I brought him home, but it was a very good one- all in one piece.
I guess what I'm wondering is, should I be concerned? I haven't handled him in a couple weeks because I don't want to dig around the enclosure and stress him out/disturb him. I always take a good look at him when he comes out for feedings, but I haven't actually taken him out. I know consistent handling is really important for young snakes to make sure they are used to it, so I worry that he won't be as tolerant of it if I continue to leave him alone. What would you do? Would you let him be, or dig him out for handling? Should I get him the next size up for the humid hide to see if he starts using it again? Any advice or tips are greatly appreciated!
Also... I grew up with snakes but this is my first time owning a reptile as an adult, please be nice 🥲❤️🩹