Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I saved this king snake the other day from being run over. I wanted to keep him a few days and let him go. Before I do that I wanted him to eat so I got him 2 pinkies that he wont eat. He is about 20-23 inches long and his head is the width of tip of my index finger. is there something else that I can feed him? or should I just let him go?

Don"t worry about the pinkies I have 2 mommy mice that have hopper babies. I moved one of the mommy out to a different cage to take care of the babies. They are doing great!

I do have a few pics of him if that helps let me know and I will post them.

Thank you for the help

It might be easier if you post a pic. What type of kingsnake is it? Where do you live? Derek

Sorry I meant to put all that in my post he is a Common king black and yellow. I live in the Sedona area of Arizona near the river. I have had him out several times and he is very sweet and the only think he likes to crap on me when I first get him out but he has not done that the last couple times that I have gotten him out. Both pics where taken the same day that I got him.

I would love to keep him but I can't because I feel that would not be fair to him being that he is wild.

That's a california kingsnake.

If you collected it in the state of California, it is illegal at this point to release it back into the wild. That being said - do it if you can't care for it, as long as it has had ZERO contact with your other reptiles AND you have washed you hands before each handling of it.

If you release it, release it exactly where you found it. Being young, it has a better chance of survival if released in a new location, but it still isn't good.

Cal Kings are usually good eaters. It is possible it just ate or is starting a shed cycle, or it isn't feeding because it was just caught.
-----
3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

There is no reason to feed him if your planning to release him.. If you do release him try to put him back as close to where you found him as possible..

~ Mike Russo

nice find
he/she will eat after a while. it may take a week or so, cal kings eat like garter snakes they are always hungry umless in shed
-----
Doug
....and am I the only one here that thinks designer snakes are ugly ?

A drink of water might be good and then let him go exactly where found off the road in the direction of travel when you caught it. Keep him any longer and he will already be captive and no longer free.
Todd Hughes