Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm sure this is a very common question/concern, but I haven't found any posts which fully answer my questions. Also, I am crossposting this from [url ban].

I have a desert kingsnake that is about 2 feet long. He has eaten twice for me since I go him, both times there seemed to be no problems. He turned down his last scheduled feeding (last wednesday, the 4th), and I have tried twice since then.

I am using F/T pinkies. This last time I even tried braining the mouse, but he still just stayed curled up under his log for hours, not even approaching the mouse.

I am a bit concerned about his temperature. I have a digital probe, and when I put it directly on the bottom glass on the hot side, it reads 101-102 degrees F. If I pull it up to on top of the aspen shavings, it says 95. If I move it to the cool side on top of the shavings, it says 77 degrees F. He spends most of his time on the hot side, so I suspect he likes it there... Humidity reads about 60% on the cheap sticky hygrometer I have. I'm confused about this because none of the care sheets I've read have those numbers in their range, or tell you where to measure it (i.e., on top of the substrate, or below -- he does like to burrow).

Anyways, he just shed last night, so I suspect that's why he wasn't eating before, but today I offer him another meal, and after about 4 hours he still hasn't eaten, even after braining... I tried moving the mouse to just in front of him, so he knows it's there. Is it just that snakes don't like to eat right after shedding? If so, how long should I wait? Is the temperature bad? If its too hot, why does he spend so much time on the hot side?

Any advice is welcome and I'll answer any questions as best as I can. It's bumming me out that he doesn't want to eat, so I'll try anything.

Your temps sound OK, maybe a bit high on the hot side, but it appears there is ample opportunity for the snake to regulate from one side of the cage to the other. At two feet, the snake does not appear to be this years hatch. There is the possiblity if its a wild caught animal that its just sensing winter approaching and shutting down for brumation. It may not shut down eating completely, just not eat as often as it did in the spring and summer months. Also, I dont think a pinky mouse is a big enough meal for a snake this size. At two feet long, should easily be on fuzzy mice or even hoppers, and possibly weanling sized mice. Is this the first shed for you with this snake? There may be the possibility it just needs a day or two more to get hungry after the shed. Wait a few days and try again.

Thanks for the advice, it is much appreciated. However, one more question has come to my mind: Is there a preferred time of day to feed the snake? I.e., will it prefer to eat at night when its darker, or during the day with the light on?

Night time is best for a feeding response, Desert kings are nocturnal by nature, hunting much more betwee dusk and dawn due to the much cooler temps compared to the heat of the day.

~Doug
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"