I also live in MS, but in Starkville. All of my speckled kings (excluding my '05 hatchlings) have almost completely shut down for the winter now. After we had that first cool front come through a few weeks ago all of them have been very secretive, inactive, and very reluctant to take prey.

In your case, I would say (knowing how my MS speckleds are) that the disturbance of moving him around, ALONG with the dropping temps, shorter days, etc...that he is naturally doing what he would do in the wild. I noticed you said that last year he fed through the winter? This year he may not, especially if he's quite a bit larger. Even though he is kept at constant temps within your home, he still knows what seasonal changes are taking place outside. If he's wild caught it is genetically coded within him to shut down right now.

If he doesn't eat in the next few days I would recomend you cool him gradually, place him in a smaller container with water, and then put him in the coolest room in the house on the floor. Check on him every few days, make sure he has water, and when Spring arrives he'll be an eating machine. Good luck!

[ Hide Replies ]

• Perplexed-Speckled King no longer eating? - LethalWeapon, Tue Oct 25 06:38:34 2005
• RE: Perplexed-Speckled King no longer eating? - antelope, Tue Oct 25 23:55:55 2005
• Some advice from a fellow Mississippian - mattbrock, Wed Oct 26 06:58:46 2005
• RE: Some advice from a fellow Mississippian - LethalWeapon, Thu Oct 27 06:40:30 2005