Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hey there --

I've got a 5' male Florida King that hasn't eaten in about 6 months now (I've had him for 4 years and this is the first time he's done this). I originally thought it was just the "standard" lack of appetite during the breeding season (even though this issue started a little early) but, to date, he still hasn't taken any food. As an FYI, he does seem to be hungry -- very active and "looking" for food -- he just won't eat anything (either mice or rats). And he still has decent/normal body weight -- not getting "gaunt" yet.

I have taken him to two different herp specialist Vets over the past month and neither found anything obviously wrong (mouth is in great shape and there's no audible wheezing). The 2nd one gave him a dose of stuff to get his gut bacteria back in balance (as well as an appetite stimulant), but, as of last night, he still won't eat (freshly killed) mice (he pushes them around but won't eat them - ?).

Also, most importantly, I've seen him sitting with his mouth partially open several times during this time that he hasn't been eating (which I know isn't "good" and, just this past week (after the last Vet appt.), he was either coughing or something like that (I heard him make a loud noise and, when I looked over, saw him do it again with his mouth wide open). Once more, both Vets did a thorough check-over and I told both of them that I had seen him sitting with his mouth partially open (but this input didn't prompt any particular additional exam from either of them).

The next scheduled step is to force-feed him (which I plan to do this week) but I wanted to ask here in case any of the symptoms I've described are familiar to anyone from past experience with this same issue.

Any input or guidance would be most appreciated -- thanks...

Tim
Sarasota, Florida

Please disregard that "smiley wink" in the middle of my previous message -- I have no idea how it got there and it's a bit inappropriate -- thanks.

If his body wieght is fine and nothing is worng besides him not eating then I wouldent try force feeding yet snakes can go awhile without eating I had one of my pueblans go out wit food for like 7 months but he had fine body wieght so till he looks sickly and losing body wieght hes fine.

have have a good one!

Try different things before you resort to force feeding. Birds, lizards, fish, eggs...all kinds of things that might bump his appetite back up. Also, check your humidity and temps.

I have a wild caught gopher snake that had a broken jaw at the time of capture. He has never been quite right, going off feed for months at a time and gaping his mouth on occasion as well. Sounds a lot like what you described. He always feeds again eventually, though.
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Diego

SWCHR

My males go off food this time of year. Four months is normal during the breeding season. You would be doing the wrong thing by force feeding that poor snake.

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www.Bluerosy.com

Hey bluerosy thats a awsome pic with those little flowers awsome!

Thanks for all that input. Does anyone here feed fish to their Kings? (other than the mice and rats that I've already tried, this seems like the next best option) And how would one feed eggs to a Kingsnake?

Since he does still have good body weight, I'm OK with holding off on the force-feeding for a while longer (I also do not like doing this to a snake).

However, the gaping mouth thing (without any known injury to cause it and having never seen him do it in the past) as well as the recent "coughing" incident do have me a little concerned -- any idea what might cause these issues or am I just being a little too concerned?

Bump up the heat on one end. Give him something in the 90's.
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Diego

SWCHR

If he's gaping that sounds like a respiratory issue. When it gets to the point of constantly gaping the snake usually dies, in my experience.

I now have a gravid(extremly gravid) corn in her lay box and she is old and always a good breeder but she is gapeing and dont want to disturb her .dont know if she is in laying trance or dying ,i have the medical staff on stand by in case of emergency C-Section.....Bummer yes!.......Wish me and her luck ,Thanks C

I feed most all of my snake baby chicks now. They can be had for .12 cents each
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www.Bluerosy.com

I have a male Florida, and he hasn't eaten in two months. Cruises around and around - looking for love.
I offer him food now and again just to make sure. He does this every year. In another month or so he will start eating again with a vengence. The first year he displayed this behavior I was pretty worried myself. Took him to the vet who checked him out and said he was fine. He did tell me I might think of increasing his humidity, which I did. He did start to eat, but I think it was more him going off food during breeding season. (I do monitor his humidity as a result, however).

As many have said, hold off on the force feeding as long as you can.

Never fed him fish, but I do feed him chicks. When he is in feeding mode, it really doesn't matter what I offer, he eats anything!

Has one of these "vets" even suggested that since it is a male and breeding season that they shut off ?

It is mazing to me because males always do this. Ask yourself why a vet does not know.
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www.Bluerosy.com

No, the vet did not suggest breeding season as a reason.
I learned that from people like you on this forum

I also agree with a lot of the other posters. You need to judge the situation by what it is. If you mean he has not eaten in 6 months, are you counting any hibernation time? Has he just refudes to eat since awakening? Is there a female who he's "gotten wind" of? My male was quite off feed for a few months this year also, but I believe it was due to a female Brooksi in the room who was also just out of hibernation. He did eat but it wasn't in the enthusiastic manner he usually eats. Is this snake getting quite thin? Does he still have any fat reserves? I agree that Force-feeding should really be a last resort. In my experience it usually means the snake is already done for.... I hope that is not the situation you are in. Can you post a photo?

Also, I know some won't agree with this, but maybe try to feed it a garter snake or something if you think the situation is dire.

I wish you the best of luck. Please post updates of his progress, it is still early yet in the season, he might well pull out of this of his own accord.

-Chris

Thanks again for all the input -- to answer a few of the questions:

I'm in SW Florida so this snake has not been hibernated.

There is a female Florida King in an adjacent cage and I had thought that might be an issue (although I've had females in the room every year since I've had this guy and this is the first time he's gone "off feed" like this).

He's not thin yet (he had very good body weight before beginning this period of not eating) so waiting a little longer shouldn't be "critical" in that regard.

Re: Bluerosy's comment (not sure if it was directed at me or RayT3) -- I did tell both Vets that I thought this could just be due to the typical male king not eating during breeding season thing, but, since he had never done this before (and it's been 6 months now), I wanted to get some input from them just in case there was an issue that should be addressed.

Also Bluerosy -- where can I get chicks for $.12? (assuming you’re buying frozen ones via the mail).

It is good to hear that it's still considered "in the season" (since I think of the breeding season ending by the end of April here) so he may very well just be still "distracted" -- I may try a lizard or a chick next (I also have some young frozen rats) but I'd have to be pretty hard pressed to give him a snake! (they’re hard to come by in my yard since, even though I live on an acre surrounded by woods, I've got both owls and hawks here all the time -- a pair of red-shouldered hawks even built a nest in one of my pine trees this year and there's two babies just about old enough to try their first flight sitting in the nest right now!)

Thanks again for all the input -- I'll try to get a picture posted and provide an update if/when there's a status change.

1) You don't need to "hibernate" or "brumate" him to get him to breed. He went into that on his own. I don't cool my snaks or put them off food during winters anymore and they still breed.

2) Ditch the idea of feeding him a W?C snake. He does not need it and they have parasites that you captive snake cannot handle.

3) here is where I get chicks for .12 cents:

www.rodentpro.com/index.asp?referid=5
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www.Bluerosy.com

I have a female Desert King that I found under my sofa a few years ago when she was just a baby. She quits eating in Oct. Might eat one mouse in Feb, March and April when I serve them with a beer. I didn't take her for a ride in my car like people have suggested, but I have played the bass on my music really loud and the vibs always seem to root her out for a hunt.

As far as feeding eggs.... I find sparrow, dove and quail eggs and just put them in her cage and she takes them whole.

That open mouth thingy.... could it be mouth rot?