Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My king snake rubs her nose on everything, very often. Her eyes aren't clouded over, so I don't think she is about to shed? but she randomly opens her mouth, maybe to yawn? Also she'll open one side of her mouth sometimes too, sometimes it will land off set when she closes it as well. Are these normal things??

She wouldn't eat today either, she ate last week though (my first time feeding her) so I'm not too worried about that. Is there a certain time of the day I should try to feed her? Or is anytime okay?

Bleh, thanks. I hope I'm just paranoid.

you may have missed her Blue phase of shed cycle,snakes will most often look clear prior to shedding, i bet you will find a shed skin today and hopefully she will be right back up and feeding good luck.Chris.........

No shed today!

Thanks though.

> Is there a certain time of the day I should try to feed her? Or
> is anytime okay?

Mine will generally eat anytime of day.
The one shy eater I have only eats at night.
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3.0 WC; 0.3 CB L. getula californiae
0.1.1 WC; 0.0.3 CH Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata

If she won't strike when I hold the pinky in there w/ the foreceps, should I just drop it in and let her hang out with it for a while??

They are frozen pinkies. Thawed out of course.

Place the snake in an 8 oz. deli cup overnight with the pinky.
Baby snakes are generally shy and eating leaves them in a vulnerable situation. They often won't eat if they sense someone is watching.

Tim

Only you know for sure, but a snake with a “splinter” for lack of a better description, caused by a little sliver of wood from certain woody bedding? could be sticking into the mouth on that one side. Could be VERY small too.I would examine with a real good magnifying glass to see if there is something like that causing an irritation. You have to be the fingers for your snake if something is stuck in there- be happy it isn’t a hot! These things do happen! Good luck, sometimes the snake works it out on their own and you’ll never know what it was. If it looks very uncomfortable, I would check it out and try to resolve it. Hope it turns out to be nothing!

I'm going to go pick up a magnifying glass to see if this is the case.

Thanks for the advice!

That is a good guess and some good advice. I always try to be there when they eat to see them through, also most of mine are multiple food item eaters so i am there for them.
Todd Hughes

What is the temperature in the cage? Snakes often become restless if it is too warm. Does the snake have a hidebox in the warm area and cool area of the enclosure? A snake feeling insecure might want to make an escape.

Tim

Third Eye

It's about 75 in the cage during the day (warm side), and probably 70 at night. There is a warm pad thing on the bottom of one side and there is a hide on both sides.