return to main index

  mobile - desktop
follow us on facebook follow us on twitter follow us on YouTube link to us on LinkedIn
International Reptile Conservation Foundation  
Click here for Dragon Serpents
Locate a business by name: click to list your business
search the classifieds. buy an account
events by zip code list an event
Search the forums             Search in:
News & Events: Make good choices . . . . . . . . . .  Burmese found on roadside in Wisconsin raises issues . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - May 06, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  CRE - May 16-17, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - May 16, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Chicago Herpetological Society Meeting - May 17, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Bay Area Herpetological Society Meeting - May 22, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  DFW Herp Society Meeting - May 23, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Tucson Herpetological Society Meeting - May 25, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Greater Cincinnati Herp Society Meeting - June 03, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  CRE - Jun. 20-21, 2026 . . . . . . . . . .  Colorado Herp Society Meeting - June 20, 2026 . . . . . . . . . . 

RE: milk snake feeding problem

[ Login ] [ User Prefs ] [ Search Forums ] [ Back to Main Page ] [ Back to Milk Snake Forum ]

Posted by: Jeff Hardwick at Fri Feb 17 09:32:27 2006   [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by Jeff Hardwick ]  
   

There's 2 reasons an otherwise healthy male milk will abruptly stop feeding: lust and "winter".

It's a bit late in the season for the snake to notice that it should be cooling/brumating but the tropical milks seem to not notice seasonal change as well as N.A. milks. I'm assuming it's not a North American milk.



Then the lust part: it's a male and if the snake is wearing down a track in the cage, he's actively searching for a female and will forego feeding for 'some time' (it varies from snake to snake, 1 month up to 6 months)and this will pass eventually but offer a small meal every couple weeks. (How else would you know he's back to feeding?) And no, a quick hook up with a friends female will not magically end his driven lust.



So what to do??

Is the snake very active and prowling the cage more than usual?

>this would suggest he's in breeding mode.

Is he simply sitting in the hide and was not cooled this winter?

>find a cool, dark, place to store him for a couple months. Just below 70 will do fine (assuming you're not breeding)provide water, a place to hide, and keep the temps above 45 or so.

Why bother cooling at all?

If he's refusing to feed for several months and remains at approx 80 degrees, he continues to use energy and will lose weight, sometimes to a crisis point (see the Campbelli in the post below). The cooling drops the snakes metabolism and preserves his stored energy/fat until 'spring'.

Odd that you haven't had this experience in the past couple years....Jeff


   

[ Show Entire Thread ]


>> Next Message:  RE: milk snake feeding problem - kroden, Fri Feb 17 09:43:19 2006

<< Previous Message:  milk snake feeding problem - kroden, Fri Feb 17 08:43:53 2006

Click here for Dragon Serpents Click here to visit Classifieds Click here for Dragon Serpents
KINGSNAKE.COM

Enjoy all our content free of charge with a user account that gives you full access to every feature. For added visibility, paid options are available - post in our Classifieds, showcase your business with Banner Ads or a Directory listing, promote reptile events, and more.

Quick Links
Community
Legal & Safety
Support

Register for free ✓ Sign up!

Kingsnake.com ® is a registered trademark © 1997-