Reptile & Amphibian Forums

First shed was 9/12. I have tried ground skinks,
scented pinks with anoles (thawed and alive). Put
it in solitary confinement (paper sack) with an
unscented pink and then a scented one. Temp 80
degrees, hide box, etc. Any suggestion will be
appreciated.
Thanks,
Clint

i had the same problem.. what i did was to slice the nose of a THAWED pinky. this will cause some body fluids to flow out. your king will then eat it.
good luck!

My pyros have an internal clock and go off feed every year in late August and do not feed again until after hibernation.

If you don't have any luck in a couple weeks, and if the snake does not look "skinny"

Start cooling it down, and allow it to "hibernate" this winter.

Mine go every year from late August to February / March without feeding with no problem...just don't keep them warm during this period if they are not eating.

>>Mine go every year from late August to February / March without feeding with no problem...just don't keep them warm during this period if they are not eating.

My problem is that I'm in Arizona. The house is at 81* but that is the coolest my little pyro will get until it gets cooler outside than in. At that point I plan on hibernating her in the garage. I still over her a nice plump fuzzy mouse from time to time, but she hasn't appeared to be interested in any food for a while. She has some really good weight on her though, so I don't worry.

When she eats, she's a little piglet. She knows when she's hungry.
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~Sasheena

My speckled King also quits eating in August. Last year he resumed eating in February, and the year previously he started eating again at the very end of March.

Ambient temp in the snake room never gets much below 80 F, so it's not a temp thing with him. He stays fairly active and never gets too skinny during his fast. I feed him 2-3 mice per week when he IS eating, and even when he's not, I offer him a f/t mouse at least once a month until he starts feeding again.

I don't know the age or sex of this snake. He was given to me about two years ago by a wildlife educator who had had him in her collection for at least 6 years. I worried that first year, as he did not eat for me at all until almost four months to the day after I got him (and I didn't know how long it had been since he had eaten previously). Last year when he stopped eating, I kind of knew what to expect. This year, he abruptly stopped eating after his last meal in July. I offered mice twice in August, and once this month. He's just not hungry. It's just what he does.

If the whole cage is 80 that may be a problem. They like it cooler with the ability to heat up. Just like where they occur... Also, they like humidity choices.

They will do different things at different temps and need to have the choice, their choice. They will be opaque in prep to shed at a different temp (hotter) then when not, they will get really hot when cycling and yolking follicles, they keep themselves specifically hotter if they are sick. They will keep their little snakey tummies hot after eating. They are thermoregulatory machines, but can't if we don't allow them the chance to choose what they need when. They also like hidden heat, ie. the choice to bask under layer or two of cover. Pyros if given the choice will almost always choose reclusive basking options. Remember that desert snakes (even montane) avoid heat except for given purposes. Good luck!!