Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I bought a kingsnake earlier this week. I'm entirely new to the breed and not very experienced with snakes in general (though I have owned a couple pythons, rat snakes, and garters.)

This guy seems very healthy. He's about 19 inches long. I have him in a 10 gallon tank and I'm keeping it between 70 and 80 on the cool side and between 80 and 85 on the warm side. He hides on both sides and has very active periods. He's very docile and not a bit hand-shy once I get him out of his cage (though he runs a bit when I'm reaching in.)

Yesterday morning, he shed. I didn't even expect it. I thought his eyes might've looked just a tad cloudy when we bought him but there wasn't a bit of dullness to the rest of him so I thought it might just be how his eyes always looked. Also, he was a little more shy about being handled the night prior but not enough that it made me think twice about it until after he shed and I thought back to it. Anyway, it was a perfect shed.

Meanwhile, I've been trying to feed him pinkies. The store said that they fed on Wednesdays and I purchased him on Tuesday. I bought some frozen pinkies from the same store at the time I purchased him. (They don't carry live and this should be the same thing he has been eating.)

He hasn't taken any. I thaw them first, of course. The first time, I've tried both just leaving it near his hide and offering it with tongs and shaking it a bit. I've tried at different times of day. After he shed, I figured that was surely the reason he hadn't eaten yet but he hasn't eaten since either. The snakes I've had previously always wanted to eat almost immediately after shedding so this seems unusual to me.

I'll feel better once he eats. Anyone have any suggestions about how to proceed from here? Am I doing the right thing?

Any advice appreciated!

Thanks,
-j

It takes several days to a week for a snake to get used to it's new environment and start feeding. You were trying to feed too early after bringing him home, and during his shed cycle when many snakes do not like to feed. Give it a few days, then try again. You are doing everything right. At 19" that snake is ready for fuzzies, not pinkies. Although, it may not be a bad idea to give him a pinkie for his first meal. Remember that snakes can go many months without eating. There is no reason to worry if they go a few days, or a few weeks without food. You may find that your snake will not want to eat for months during the winter.

Thanks for the perspective, kingaz. I guess patience is called for more than anything. That's reassuring. I'll loosen up my expectations.

And maybe try the mouse brain thing too.

-j

How are you thawing them? Derek

Don't overlook the magic of exposed mouse brain. Jeff

> How are you thawing them?

I'm putting them in a plastic bag and thawing in hot water for about 10 minutes or so.

-j