I have had a wild-caught speckled kingsnake since May of this year, and everything has been smooth so far. For the past 4 weeks, however, she is not really eating nor shows an interest in eating. She did eat one dead mouse after it was in her cage for a day or so, but she will not attempt to constrict any mice, no matter the size. Is her "biological clock" telling her it is now time to hibernate and thus she doesn't need to eat?



She is fairly active still and she is not looking lean yet. The temperature in the room is about 70 degrees. She has a heat lamp that is on for 12 hours a day that gives her some extra daytime heat.



How long can snakes go without eating while continuing to receive heat and remain active? Should I force her to hibernate by putting her in the basement if she won't eat? I am not breeding her or anything, so I thought that hibernation is not required.



Thanks for any help, - Nathan

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