Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I have a yearling Brooks Florida king who is refusing to eat pinky mice. I keep the enclosure at 80 degrees and all it does is hide under a deli dish. I really dont want to use the pinky press anymore since the snake still dosent want to eat. What do these guys eat in the wild. I want to put more food in it's stomach since the sake appears to be shrinking. The snake never really took to eating after hatching.

Thanks for any help:
JasonMc

Well have you been using a pinky pump it's entire life? Although I've never had to scent w/ floridana "brooksi" and I have had some slow-starting animals. Although lizard or snake shed scenting might help. Has it ever even once taken a meal voluntarily? Have you tried both live and frozen-thawed pinks? Braining, etc? Honestly I'd attempt to tease-feed it adult mouse tails (trimmed carefully to not have any obvious protruding bone). Usually once started the snake will swallow it w/o much assistance and it helps 'trigger' a feeding response. Maintaining it w/ a tail twice a week would ideally help to maintain it's body weight. Furthermore if your animal is finicky you can wet the tail w/ just water and it eases the process immensely should you still have to 'force' it to eat. Avoids alot of the 'press mess' if you know what I mean plus, again, stimulates the snake to actually eat and swallow. Hope this helps somewhat...

Chris

A few months ago it took a pinkie on its own. I havent pinky pressed since it did that which is why the start of weight loss.
It just wont eat live or prekilled. Split brain is too gross for me. Even though people say its not good to start doing, I'll try scenting. Death is a worse option for the snake then scenting.

Thanks for the advice:
JasonMc

Florida King won't eat--that's an oxymoron!!!!! Are you sure it's a Florida???????? I'm sorry, its just such a different concept to me. All the Florida's I have/had have been monster feeders trying to eat anything that moves!!!!!! I've never had trouble getting a little guy to eat!!!! Tom (Stevens and Davis), Dave, Ranier and Zenny where are you!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!

Shalom,

Pat

All the Floridas I bought from Zenny are eating like pigs! I cant get my fingers away quick enough. I dont want to disrespect the person who sold me the non eater on the forum. I realize stuff happens. After spending a decent amount of money on it, I just want to get the snake eating. I plan on catching some lizards in the next day or two and will see how that works.

JasonMc

Try lizards.

I had several corns and a whole clutch of cal kings that refused pinks but jumped on lizards fast as lightning. Four or five meals later they were taking rodents.

Sometimes it is in their genes to want reptile. The picky ones that want reptile become generalists taking rodents fairly quickly.
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x.y L. getula californiae (Cal. King)
x.y L. getula nigrita (MBK)
x.y L. getula floridana (Brooksi)
x.y Pantherophis guttatus guttatus (Corn)
0.1 Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Pacific gopher)
0.1 Heterodon nasicus (W Hognose)
x.y.z Elgaria multicarinata multicarinata - (Cal. Alligator Lizard)