i have a pyro kingsnake and he last ate about 3 weeks ago, and was eating fine up to that point. Now he refuses to eat. Temperature hasn't changed since that point. Any advice?
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Feeding Issues
eddiemnoian
Oct 14, 2009 01:53 PM
Replies (8)
DMong
Oct 14, 2009 02:32 PM
I'm thinking even though your temps haven't changed, the snake can still tell the change of season from light entering through any windows(photoperiod), and it is well aware that it is nearing the brumation period to shut down for the fall/winter.
These montane forms are renowned for doing this a little earlier than some others.
~Doug
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"
eddiemnoian
Oct 14, 2009 02:57 PM
Yeah but I'm in southern california where it stays sunny all year long.
joecop
Oct 14, 2009 03:08 PM
Doesn't matter. They know when it's time somehow and shut down. All of mine with the exception of one male pyro have shut down. Some for weeks now. If it's been three weeks since the last meal then the snake should be cleaned out by now. Take it off the heat or turn it's heat off so it does not lose needed weight and start lowering its temps for brumation. My opinion.
DMong
Oct 14, 2009 03:39 PM
.
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"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"
eddiemnoian
Oct 15, 2009 04:55 PM
See the thing is it seemed like he was doing the same thing last year, but I kept the heat up and he ended up eating throughout winter. Plus the point of hibernation is... the seasons have changed, its getting colder and all their food has become non existent. There is absolutely no point of that to happen in captivity.
varanid
Oct 15, 2009 05:00 PM
There is absolutely no point of that to happen in captivity.
The snake doesn't know this 
eddiemnoian
Oct 15, 2009 06:24 PM
Seee!! thank you Varanid!
Bluerosy
Oct 14, 2009 03:23 PM
My first question is what temperature is normal for the snake..what temps are you keeping it in? Does it have an under tank heat source? How cold is it in the room? Does the snake sit on the cool end or the hot end of its encloser??
Colubrids and espcially Mountian kingsnakes shut down from eating for the winter. there are mountain kings in california and they do know it is winter.
What you need to do is get your snake as cool as possible before it eats its own reserves up. It will then start feeding in the spring.
Without much more info on your husbandry i can't give much more advice.
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www.Bluerosy.com
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