Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok, I have a CallyKing that has been a problem since day one. I purchase this snake in May of 2004, for the first two months the snake would not eat (not completely unusual for babies) when begin the third month I start taking back to the pet shop so they come force feed it….because they would not refund my money or exchange it. Well after a month or so it start eating live pinkies every other week, so once it seem to be on the road to recovery I start feeding it frozen/thawed pinkies, then fuzzes, everything moving along great. Well around a year and half it quick feeding for almost three months, finally ate again in Feb of 2006. Well since Feb 2006 it has only eat five times. It drinks water all the time (which is a good sign) and still sheds every few weeks. May 2007 the snake will be about three years old, about as big around as a nickel, and it is only 23 inches long. Cages temps stay around 80 to 83 on the warm side and 78 to 80 on the cool side. I do not want to go to a Vet because the cheapest reptile Vet around here charges $70 to see the snake and not actually do anything. Oh yeah my sister has a Cally King Snake from the same clutch that is huge and has never missed a feeding…also this not my first snake. I have been keeping snake for fifteen years plus.

So what do I need to do? Is this snake one that should not have lived?

thanks
Grover

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AOL IM - necroscollector
0.2.0. California King Snake (Molly & Pearl)
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Striped Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red Amelanistic
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Hypo-amelanistic
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red
2.3.0. Cats (Buddy, Rose, Bud, Little Bit, and Spikey)
1.0.0. Beta Fish (Gouda)
1.0.0. Yorkshire Terrier (Buster)
1.5.0. Son, Wife, two Daughters, and two grand daughters

You have one of two problems. One is your feeding your snake to small a food items for proper nutrition(ie fuzzies/hoppers) that it needs for a growth spurt. Second possibilty (and the one that I think it is), your snake is mentally retarded. Physically it looks fine. Just not its mental health.

My suggestion is to GET RID OF IT.. and then get another one that eats and grows normal. Sometimes we get these weak finicky feeders. You can learn to deal with it for the duration of its life or get another one that acts normal.

Is retarted. And sir, that is plain and simple. Also what a poor attitide. I am very surprised.

If you are going to give advice, I would think you would ask more questions. Like maybe show how its kept. A snake kept in marginal conditions often results in marginal progress.

There can be a million reasons for this snakes marginal progress. I have taken others snake that did not do well and have them grow like weeds. I am sure you have too. The chance that the snake is retarted is less then the chance your retarted(at least your answer to the post)

To discard a snake because it is not doing well is IGNORANT. We are suppose to work with snakes(reptiles) TO WORK, means to try different things and adjust to the snake we have, not throw the snake out and get a new one. Yes sir, that reply is retarted.

For the person with a reluctant king, try changing the cage around or a different cage, or more hiding places, a humidity box, give its choices of places to hide, get it something to do.

Sometimes I think the snakes that do well in a sweater box or a 10 gallon tank are the ones that are RETARTED. Cheers

P.s. don't take it so hard, hanging around these forums without question causes all of us to make retarted posts. After all, its shear numbers, you posted over 10,000 times, a few have to be retarted.

My terminolgy was a little over the top but I was in one of those moods.

Good on you that your are taking the time to answer a newbs question...

I just take the most common possible reason and lay it out there. In the most likelyhood this snake IS retarded. Well not really. But there are some captives that always want to eat sparingly while others feast. They insist that you wiggle the mouse or that it is fresh killed. Its these "runts" that we all get.

Now I could write a book on all the possible reason but since you are here I don't have to.

hee hee!

You been slapped down Grasshopper HA HA... On the other hand your right he takes the time to insult you for not asking more questions and ignores the poor guys post ??? He may be a Master but a good one he isnt.
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Big Jack Bronson

If you took the advise to get rid of it, I would make absolutely sure it went to a very experienced keeper, or you'll just be signing the snakes "death warrant"!!.....I would try changing up on what you are offering try a variety of different rodents,..he could be very particular. This isn't the norm for Cal.Kings, but it happens. he might also be a pre-disposed lizard eater, or snake eater if he was in his natural habitat. try "scenting" some apropriately sized prey by crushing up a lizard tail(anole or whatever is available) with your fingers and rub the juice all over the prey, I also stuff a piece of the tail into the dead preys mouth to get the snake to focus on the correct end. this has worked on many problem feeders for me in the past....last, but certainly not least,"brain" a mouse by cutting a slit on the head, and pressing some brain material out and smear it all over the face of the mouse!!...this stuff has worked like you wouldn't believe for me in the past. I had a little hatchling snake that I paid $800 dollars for, and it wouldn't eat for a couple months no matter what,......as a last resort before I force-fed him to keep him alive, I did the "braining" thing,........man, the split second he flicked his tongue over it....he lit up like a firecracker and devoured the pinkie like it was the last one on earth!!!....the point is do something different, you might be very happily amazed....Doug

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Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!

thanks, I will give it a try.
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AOL IM - necroscollector
0.2.0. California King Snake (Molly & Pearl)
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Striped Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red Amelanistic
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red Amelanistic
1.0.0. Corn Snake – Hypo-amelanistic
0.1.0. Corn Snake – Blood Red
2.3.0. Cats (Buddy, Rose, Bud, Little Bit, and Spikey)
1.0.0. Beta Fish (Gouda)
1.0.0. Yorkshire Terrier (Buster)
1.5.0. Son, Wife, two Daughters, and two grand daughters

While some snakes are just more finicky then others. I think you have a bigger problem.

78-83 degrees is NOT a temp gradient!

The cool side is not cool enough and the hot side is not hot enough. For someone with so much experience maybe the most basic aspect of reptile husbanry should be paid attention to?

While some hardy kings may survive or even grow with this range others will not.

Lastly, he does not look emaciated to me, so it seems that he does eat when he is hungry. Even if you keep them warm it is normal for many kings to refuse food in the winter, which is what you describe.