Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I got a new chainlink from the exotic animal show in raleigh about 4 weeks ago. They said she had recently eaten so I didn't offer food for about 4 days. Since then I have tried a pinkie every 2 days except for the period of sept 27 til oct 6 when she was in shed mode. I tried again today and she still isn't acting interested in the least. She is about a foot long so she doesn't have a whole lot of size to messing with. Is there anything I can do to get her to eat? I've tried braining the meal and that hasn't even worked. They said she had eaten a frozen pinkie so i don't think size or type is the issue but I don't have a doctorate in this so who knows. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
John

>> "I got a new chainlink from the exotic animal show"

** Do you mean a "Chain" king?, if so, I wonder if the vendor was being honest. Many times people say that a hatchling has eaten, when in truth, it has NOT, just to sound "good" to make a sale.

Some Eastern's, as well as many other getula have very strict preferences when very young. Some like other baby snakes, lizards, and also their eggs as well. Maybe this one hasn't eaten at all and needs some coaxing with a little gecko or anole scent, or even snake scent such as cornsnake, garter snake, etc...This can be very typical sometimes.

Experiment with some scenting from these other things and see what happens.

~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

Try lizard scenting. It's a PITA but it can work (I've used it on vine snakes, never had to try with kings). I'd get a lizard native to thier habitat like anoles or skinks. Keep the lizard, and when you gotta feed, rub the pinkie on it (be ready to get bit by the lizard when you do). It's sort of stressfull to the lizard but oh well. It's also an excuse to get a pet lizard

You may also save bits of shed skin from thel izard; I'd occasionally just stick them on the pinkie mouse. didn't stick terribly well, but they didn't need to either.

1 to what Dmond said and varanid said.

Only thing i would change is chain "Eastern" kings love water snake scent, or any other such scent as ground snakes and stuff you might be able to find under boards if you live near the eastern part of the U.S. . Haven't had much luck with anoles or other lizards or ringnecks with scenting mice for easterns. But if that is easier you can try that first.

the other thing is your eastern king might have shut down during this time of year as some kings do. if that is the case (and after trying scented) cool the snake for a few months and then heat up and try again.

One thing for sure is you have got to have patience.

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www.Bluerosy.com

"They that can give up essential liberty, to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty or safety." -Benjamin Franklin

>>I got a new chainlink from the exotic animal show in raleigh about 4 weeks ago. They said she had recently eaten so I didn't offer food for about 4 days. Since then I have tried a pinkie every 2 days except for the period of sept 27 til oct 6 when she was in shed mode. I tried again today and she still isn't acting interested in the least. She is about a foot long so she doesn't have a whole lot of size to messing with. Is there anything I can do to get her to eat? I've tried braining the meal and that hasn't even worked. They said she had eaten a frozen pinkie so i don't think size or type is the issue but I don't have a doctorate in this so who knows. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,
>>John
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

If what every one else said don't work try scenting a live pinkie with a quail or chick, if none are available u could try scenting with raw chicken skin or parts or chicken broth.

Most snakes that usually eat rodents LOVE avian prey.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

bred Brazilian rainbow boas and the one hold out was too small for rats of any type but would only eat mouse scented rat pups (slit open the belly of a f/t/w (frozen thawed warmed)rat pup and bloodied up the mouse pinkie) like blue rosy said be patient, the snake wants to eat something or could be shutting down for the winter. I am sure a lot of baby snakes over winter before they take their first meal.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

I have no Colubrid snakes that have done to me this personally but I assume for one reason or another it occurs, Frank Retes (sp) has often peeked my interests in this subject as I offer a certain environment and my colubrids seem to feed all winter, but I have a few male pythons that seem to fast for 3 months of the winter and others males right next to them that continue to feed, so snakes IMHO are "individuals" and fast for the winter for one reason or another whether it be hormonal or environmental that's for us to figure out and try to compensate for, the male balls I just feed more heavily in summer time when they are willing to eat...till I figure out what I am doing wrong or perhaps that just that particular snakes way.

sorry for the multiple post...too may "after thoughts" LOL
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

"Most snakes that usually eat rodents LOVE avian prey."

I've noticed this with colubrids and boids both, even for species that I wouldn't think got avian prey all that often, particularly as juvies. I wonder why it is?

I also once received an adult Solomon aisle ground boa that had not eaten for 18 months, after trying what I thought was everything I read in the "big red book" that they also eat bats and frogs of the genus Rana (now Lithobates)so I went to the local pond and caught an adult bullfrog and WHAM she ate it and she would never except scented she would grab and then spit it out, she ONLY wanted frogs and she was 3.5 feet long...go figure.

I used to specialize in getting adult wild caught snakes to feed, not very usual now that most are captive bred...but still a skill that works on stubborn captive bred animals. It is not always prey type offered....most times people assume snakes are given the proper environment that makes them feed in the first place....if certain variables are off that we just assume are correct the snake WILL NEVER EAT NO MATTER WHAT U OFFER!!!!
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

I think most snakes that are opportunistic feeders have all their prey types "wired" in their DNA.

Hence most Eastern Hog nose snakes eat toads by nature therefore being "specialized feeders" BTW they also love red backed salamanders as juvies. As a friend of mine had caught a wild caught female in the 80's and could not get all of them on baby toads and asked me for help and I thought of the Plethodonid salamanders and that's what the holdouts ate.
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Thanks,

Frank Roberts

You said the snake was "in shed mode on 1/6".. did it shed out yet?

~ Mike Russo

Also, do you have her temperatures up high enough?
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Holly

1.0 Florida Kingsnake (Eddie Gein)
0.1 Lavender California Kingsnake (Belle Gunness)
1.0 Bearded Dragon (Charley Manson)
1.0 Fire Skink (Peter Dinsdale)
1.0 Vietnamese Golden Gecko (George Chapman)
0.0.1 Blue Day Gecko (Joe Ball)
1.0 Orange Marmalade Cat (Oliver)
1.0 Black Cat (Shadowfax)
1.0 Tennessee Walking Horse (Durango)

2.0 Toddlers (Justice & Trevor)