Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, I am having feeding problems with my speckled king. I have had her since September and she had always been my garbage disposal and eaten everything I’ve offered. Three weeks ago she ago her fuzzies and then regurgitated them. I watched her and she seems healthy and actively searching for food. Two weeks ago and last week I had bought hopper mice since she’s almost 3 foot and she ate two total. Normally she eats in a separate container. However tonight I bought some fuzzies to try and she ate great. I was able to sneak a few hoppers in but generally she tried to leave them alone. The temps are constant from what I’ve seen and she’s not shedding. My bull snake hasn’t had any problems with the mice she’s ignored. Anyone else ever have this issue or suggest anything? I don’t want to keep feeding fuzzies. But I don’t want her starved or have her lose weight. She’s normally very docile but currently in her tank she is definitely aggressive and I’m assuming its hunger. Thanks for any advice; I haven’t had king snakes long enough to ever experience this.

So she only regurged one time 3 weeks ago and since then she has eaten three times and held them down? Doesn't seem like an ongoing problem. I would just check the temps on the warm side, make sure it's about 80-84 and be sure not to handle or otherwise disturb her until two or three days after she feeds.

And your other problem is that she will eat fuzzies but not hoppers? Are you feeding live food? If so then she probably is just having a hard time catching the hoppers. In which case you need to pre-kill them. A hopper can easily kill a king that won't eat. Also if the hopper bites the king or simply causes it too much stress the king can "learn" to fear that smell and go off all mice completly, live or dead. Kill the hoppers and see if she will take them dead.

she reguritated once three weeks ago and it was a large meal, one she normally ate no prob. since then she ate two small fuzzies and refused the hoppers. everything is prekilled. I don't like feeding live because of the threat with live mice. I just dont know why she instantly inhales the fuzzies but sniffs the hoppers and then decides to maybe eat them.

Well if the hoppers are dead I really don't know what to say. If she has good body weight I would just watch her closely. I have seen kings go off feed but it is usually mid-summer(when they would normally eastivate) or winter(when they would normally brumate).

How old is she?
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Todd Hughes

i got her as a baby in october. so she's young

Sure it is a female? Sounds like sexually mature male springtime behavior to me, when males either refuse food or get really picky, and are very ancy.
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Mark

when i bought her, it was probed as a female. I am not doubting anything at this point tho.

Snakes aren't my area normally. I have always been huge into snappers and larger amphibians and I have recently gotten into snakes since I'm on my own. So that tells you how confused I am

I will go with this for now, My male specks woke up first and wouldn't feed right off(normal). my adult females woke up with a hunger vengeance (normal). My younger female hasn't eaten yet. She still seems to be napping off the effects of brumation. Did you brumate the little one? If so, a slight increase in temps could get her going, and start with a small meal. Check your humidity as well, maybe she is getting ready to shed and doesn't want to eat right now.
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Todd Hughes

Good advice here. You can also try a small pinky and split it's head open, this will work for the most part and get some food into her. You can try this with a hopper too. What time of day or night are you trying to feed her?

Scott