Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have 9 cal kings which hatched out last month. They all shed in within 2 days on the 2nd and 3rd of August, but I can't seem to get them feeding. They have been striking at day-old pinkies aggressivly, but won't settle down to eat. I've left them overnight and still nothing. My pueblans are scarfing down what these guys don't eat. Today I cut the heads open to get some juices flowing and still nothing. I'm not sure what else to try. They all just act like cobras and try to kill me when I open their cages.

Please help me out on this!

Nick
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

Given your description of their behaviour, it sounds as if they feel rather insecure.

How are you housing them? Do they have an adequate hide?

Maybe try some baby skinks or fence lizards.

Seems there have been several threads about problem cal king feeders. Wonder if they all come from the same line ...
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3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Can't be the line, these came from a WC female. Most of them hide under the paper, which has worked for the other babies I've been raising. I've heard that cal kings are easy to start. One of them took a brained pink today, but I'm really worried about the non feeders survival.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

Try laying the pinks under the paper or hide, so the snakes hunting instincts will go in to hunting mode.
Good Luck,RBichler
http://www.webspawner.com/users/rbichler/index.html

I've been removing the paper to feed, this way I don't forget who had a pink and therefore who ate since I do a few at a time. When I left them overnight, I left them on top of the paper. I'll have to try placing one under the paper and see if that helps.

Thanks
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

Are you feeding them all f/t? Did you try live w/ any of the non feeders?

reako45

Haven't tried live yet. Its hard to get day old pinks out here, and they are pricy. Looks like that will be my next try though. I just don't want left over live pinks that cost so much if they won't take them.
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."

I know what you mean - local pet shop charges $1.25 for live rodents regardless of size, and only sometimes has day old pinkies.
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3.0 WC; 0.2 CB L. getula californiae
0.1 WC; 10 eggs (7/11) Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

Sounds about right. I used to spend over $30 on feeding day before I started breeding. I was also breeding mice at the time (just not enough obviously).
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"I'll be back at 6 if not 7. 8 the very latest but definatly no later than 9...ish...Moscow time."