Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just got a speckled king out of the wild. He is a hachling, hes only about 15-18" long. When I found him his eyes were a milky blue and he ended up shedding 3 days later which is today. I tried to give him a live pinky mouse, but he just kind of ignores it. I know snakes wont normally feed while they are shedding, but does it take them a while to eat after? Any info would be great, im kind of a beginner.

Try again tomorrow. I have had many that will not eat the day they shed and jump on the same offering the following day.

Should I leave the live pinkie in the cage or take it out and put it somewhere else?

That kind of depends on your setup and personal pref. I do both, depending on what snake I am feeding, the substrate used, ect. Might also help to use dim lighting or try leaving the snake alone at night with the pink. Most kings are active in the late evening or early morning hours.

Im going out of town this weekend, would it be wise to put the pinkie in the cage and just leave them be and see what happens,or should I wait until i get back and try and feed him?

"I just got a speckled king out of the wild. He is a hachling, hes only about 15-18" long."

You found him outside im this weather? Where do you live texas?
At 15 - 18 imches I bet its two years old.

"I tried to give him a live pinky mouse, but he just kind of ignores it."

Welcome to the club

Make sure you have it at about 75 - 85 degrees( not over 90 or you will cook it ) If that pinkie won't work you may have to scent the pinkie with snake or lizard.
Make sure you have the lid on tight. The guys in this forum are all very smart and can give you great advice if it wont eat right away.
-----
"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

Sorry about the mis info on the length, i read a website that said 15" is a hatchling,lol, i thought it was a little fishy myself. Anyways I live in way down south Louisiana,but i still found him in about 60 degree weather, and when i saw him I ran him down cause I love Kingsankes. Im going to leave the pinkie in the cage this weekend and if he doesnt eat it, I will start trying different things, but for being a wild snake,he is very wel tempered. He can get fiesty sometimes but when i hold him he calms down. I have only had him since Sun. so im sure he is just tryin to adjust to not being wild anymore. So hopefully when he is by himself this weekend he will eat and figure things out.

Thanks for all yalls info, it is greatly appreciated, please anyone with and tips and pointers for a novice, please let me know even if it doesnt have anything to do with feeding.

Let him settle in, don't leave the pinkie in over the weekend, wait till you get back. Leave it in overnight and make sure it has a nice secure hide. Place the pinkie in front of the hide in the evening and turn out the light. Give it some privacy and check in the morning. Also make sure it has water and 75 degrees to 80 ought to do it. They can be finicky this time of year.

-----
Todd Hughes

Todd thats a beauty.Where is that from and how big is it? Anymore pics? I like deep yellow specs.
-----
"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

Calhoun county, Texas. here's a few more...

-----
Todd Hughes

While it may have been 60 when you caught it, it is still in the winter season. Thus, if it has not eaten by now in your care, it might also not be willing to eat simply because its senses tell it that outside it is still winter and that it should not be eating alot. I have a bullsnake that wont eat despite that it has gotten 80 in my orchid/snake room at times. My vet says some snakes no matter what you do with temps, simply wont eat due to their understanding that it is winter outside. If the snake is not on the thin side, I wouldn't stress over it.

Since it is a wild snake, it might be used to eating lizards and snakes, and have no real idea what a pinky is, or that it is supposed to actually eat it. Have you tried scenting the pink with lizard skin or snake smell? Also slicing open the brain on the pink and getting some of it smeared on the head- called braining, also might do the trick. My baby speckelds are captive bred and they eat 2 pinks a week, after being taken out of their cages, placed in white deli cups and placed on a heating pad. I dont disturb them for at least 45 mins.

It also still might be adusting to its new environment- captivity versus being in the wild, which for some snakes can be a BIG deal. It also might have been eating frogs or amphibians due that it is a subspecies that seems to enjoy hanging out by swampy areas in the wild.I feel there are more factors to be considered since you are dealing with a freshly caught animal.

Hope this helps and good luck!
-----
1.1 Newton County Indiana Bulls
1.0 Texas Redish Bull
0.1 Kansas Yellow Bull
2.2 Red X Yellow Bull
1.0 Medicine Hat Alberta Canada Bull
1.2 Ball Pythons
1.2 Coastal Chocolate Cal Kings
1.0 Banded Desert Cal King
0.1 Gray Banded 'Blair's' King
1.1 Speckled Kings, Harris County, TX
1.0 Eastern Chain King, NC
1.2 Henderson County NC Black Rats
0.1 South Carolina Northern Pine

That sounds cool,what tenps and humity do you use? Same as snakes? What sort of lighting?

-----
"Wake me when its April"
Doug L

I use compact circular florescent lights that put out 150 wats, and 75wats. I try and keep the room at 62 during the winter, with heating pads on my baby and non hibernating snakes, and tarantulas. The orchids really like things cooler to bloom best. There are some orchids I wish I could grow but 95 deg summers just wont allow that, esp when they live high in the Andes and like their nights at 45.
-----
1.1 Newton County Indiana Bulls
1.0 Texas Redish Bull
0.1 Kansas Yellow Bull
2.2 Red X Yellow Bull
1.0 Medicine Hat Alberta Canada Bull
1.2 Ball Pythons
1.2 Coastal Chocolate Cal Kings
1.0 Banded Desert Cal King
0.1 Gray Banded 'Blair's' King
1.1 Speckled Kings, Harris County, TX
1.0 Eastern Chain King, NC
1.2 Henderson County NC Black Rats
0.1 South Carolina Northern Pine