If he is already 3ft at 11 months it will do no harm to miss a few meals. Are you sure you are not over feeding?? I got my Cal at 1 year old and it was not much bigger than a hatchling. I got her at a great price at a show from a reputable breeder and he said she was not a big eater but was healthy and robust just small. That was 3 years ago and I have noticed a definate pattern with her. She eats like a starving horse in the spring and early summer, levels off to normal diet in late summer and then completely turns her nose up at all food beginning in Sept and fasts untill mid March. This is without any other changes to temp, housing, handling etc. That is just how she feeds and she is doing fine with it. Lately I have been giving her as much food as she will take in during her ravenous periods (I feed appropriate sized rats) and then however much she wants during her leveling off periods and now I have her cooling in the basement during her fasting time. Most people would consider it power feeding to be feeding her every 2-3 days in the spring but given she will volutarily fast for about 6 months out of the year. The total number of food items over the year would not be alarming. This is the first year I have given her all she would take and while she has put on some girth and length I have not seen any signs of obesity at all. I do not know if I am doing the right thing or not, the snake appears healthy and happy. She is about 31/2-4 ft long and the girth of a little more than a quarter, not a bad size for a 4 year old cal. My point is that some Cals will go off feed for long periods regardless of what you do with temps and such with out any harm. Then there appetites will return with a vengence so don't worry. As far as being jumpy, they usually do start to mellow out a lot at about 1 year old with regular handling. I never thought mine would ever be handlable but she is now quite good although she will still chomp me occasionally out of the blue. I think that is just the nature of the Cal King beast.

[ Show Entire Thread ]