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I have a perplexing problem with a long-term Florida king -- he has stopped eating. As an FYI, this snake is a hybrid -- north Florida Blotched king X South Florida "Brooks" phase.

This problem started about a month and a half ago -- this king, which I've had since he was a hatchling (from Brandon Osbourne -- 2002 Daytona expo), has been a very good feeder overall; although he has occasionally just not eaten the (thawed) mice I put in with him (he sometimes will/would push them around during one of these "non-feeding" episodes, as well). Other than wasting mice, this never was a problem because he would always eat normally the next time I tried.

However, this time, he simply won't eat and, even stranger, has on two occasions started to swallow a mouse and then just given up and spit it out (while it is still in his mouth -- not after it's been in his throat/stomach).

Since this king has a very small head relative to his body size, I have tried smaller mice as well as putting live mice in with him. Re: the live mice, the first time I did it, he went after it VERY aggressively and did catch/kill/swallow; however, the very next mouse I put in, he also went after very aggressively but only killed it.

Since then, when I put live mice in with him, he will show a lot of interest (going over after them) and did strike a few times (after that first time when he ate one), but now does not even try to strike at them. Oddly enough, when I open the cage while the mouse is in there, he will still rush over to me just like he always has when he is very hungry.

Also, when I put freshly-killed mice in with him, he will go over to them but seems like he can't see or smell them (???). It’s very odd -- he will pass right over a freshly-killed mouse and not acknowledge it at all (and, once more, if he sees my movement, he will rush right over towards me ???).

I did take him to the local herp-specialist Vet and all he could recommend was some baytril injections for a possible/unknown infection -- has anyone here seen this behavior in a king and/or can anyone refer me to a good (internet or direct) resource to help trouble-shoot this problem? I am going to also post this in the herp health forum here but would like to know of any other good web sites, as well.

Fortunately, this snake has a lot of "weight to give" since he is very heavy-bodied but this problem really concerns me as it just doesn't make sense.

Any input, assistance, referrals, etc., would be most appreciated -- Thanks...

Tim
Sarasota, Florida
mobile (941) 915-3115

I 'll make this easy - perhaps the snake is really not that hungry. Not at all uncommon for mature males this time of year.

Remember that your feeding schedule is just that - yours. The snake may have a different schedule, for example very hungry at certains times of the year and not at other times. Once a week is the caresheet schedule. Yeah, it works I guess but is not very realistic.
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Mark

Thanks for the input and I hope it is that simple; however, as I had said, this snake does appear to be VERY hungry but just won't/can't/doesn't eat. I know his typical behavior and, when he's not hungry, he just "lounges around" in his cage but when he wants food, he is very actively prowling around and very tuned into my movement and/or proximity (he "knows" where the food comes from so he "let's me know" he's hungry by coming over to the glass and watching/following me).

Anyhow, I have never seen this snake do this (for this extended period of time) so that is what has me concerned (he has been a little "odd" from time to time in refusing meals but never for anyhwhere near this long). Like I said, he is very heavy so there is no "real" issue for a while but I don't want this to get to the point where he is weak.

Also, a couple more important bits of info.:

His mouth looks very good/healthy -- no signs of mouth-rot or any other issues in there.

And I did put a light in his cage to raise the temperature a few degrees (even though he has always done very well in the typical 77 - 80 degree environment) and to give him a very warm basking spot, if desired (he is in a very large Vision cage so there is lots of room for him to move around). I just tried feeding him again last night after a couple of days in the warmer temps and had the same results.

It is breeding season, he may just be "distracted". My male '04 Eastern just ate for the first time in about a month or more. He has been cruising his cage a lot and seems interested in food until I give him a rat then no interest. I am sure it will pass, I have a female '07 Florida that will go for almost a month between meals. I think he will be fine if he is not showing any signs of illness. Like someone stated, they will go off feed for no reason and then start eating just as quickly. This time of year with it being a male I would chalk it up to hormones.

Miller
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0.1Florida King
1.1 Eastern Kings
1.0 Black Milksnake
1.0 Chow Chow (2003 Papi)
0.1 Cats (Shug)

You could try another food item like a lizard, but I do think the other posters are right. Give him time, he'll come around to eating again.

1.1 Easterns kings
1.1 speckled kings
3.0 Florida (brooksi) kings
0.1 Desert king
1.2 Cal kings
1.1 Langtry gray banded kings
2.3 Black kings
0.1 Sinaloan
1.0 Thayeri
0.1 Sonoran gopher morph

He is not hungry, he is horny.

Male snakes have evolved to not feed during the breeding season. And they are very excitable and interested in everything at this time of the year. I have several snakes that are doing the exact thing that yours is. Nosing it, pushing it around, humping branches (if you know what that looks like).

There is nothing wrong with your snake this is just his first season as a sexually mature male. Many people who don't brumate or change their light cycles are surprised when all of a sudden right on cue their snakes personality changes and they go into breeding mode.

As long as your snake is not losing weight he is fine.

And I know I have posted this pic quite a bit this week but since he keeps coming up....

This guy has eaten two mice in 7 months. He warmed up, ate two mice in one week, and went into breeding mode. I keep offering once a week but he ignores it. He has done this every year for the past 13. This 5 1/2 footer doesn't look like hes wasting away to me.

I wouldn't give the antibiotics for no reason to a snake that shows no signs of infection.

Have the same proplem with one of my female black kings. She's hot and horny, not hungry!

Thanks so much for all the input and comments about similar situations with adult kings during breeding season -- I really hadn't considered the breeding season thing as this king has been "breeding size" for a number of years and has never gone through this before (but it does make sense and would be a "logical" reason for this otherwise odd behavior).

And, as was mentioned by Zach, since I haven't put this snake through any hibernation or light cycles to prepare him to breed, I didn't/wouldn't expect him to act any different this year (also -- very nice king there Zach!).

I also had the same thoughts about not wanting to do the baytril injections when there were really no signs of any infection. One thing that may have affected the Vet's opinion/recommendation there was that I told him this snake was coughing/sneezing a little while in-route to the Vet's facility (in a snake bag); however, I haven't (before or after) heard this snake cough or sneeze at all while in his cage (so I think it may have just been "dust" or something like that in the bag).

I also had thought of trying other food types (like a lizard) but have concerns about getting a reptile-specific parasite from feeding him any wild-caught stuff.

So....since he most definitely won't be in any trouble re: his body weight for quite a while, I'm OK just waiting this out for a while (and, once more, thanks Zach for the input about how little your big male eats and is still doing well).

Thanks to all again for your input and help with this...

Tim