Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have several baby apalachicola kings that hatched out this year. All have shed, some are eating fine and others will not eat at all. The ones not eating will play with there pinkies like they are toys. But they will not eat them. I dont mess with them too much because I dont want to stress them anymore than necessary (checking water and changeing substrait). Any ideas? Thought about lizards but I dont want them to really start feeding them lizards.

Need a little more info?Have you tried live? Brained? in a deli cup or brown sandwich bag over night?Washed F/T? or even just holding the snake just behind the head in one hand and getting it to bite the pinkie? There are more various ways and I'm sur more may chime in, but this usually works before scenting or feeding lizards.
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Jimmy Tintle

I would try all the other things Jimmy mentioned first, THEN if all else fails trying to get them to eat pinks using different methods voluntarily, I would then just SCENT ONLY with anoles. Then you can gradually "wean" them off the lizard scenting to regular pinks. This way they don't ingest any possible parasites from the lizards if un-frozen, and the lizard scent can be more easily replaced with the scent of a normal pinkie too.

I have had some super stubborn kings in the past go quite a long while. If they still have fairly decent body weight and are not to the point of getting thin yet, don't worry too much. They usually all come around,...some just take alot longer.

Only when it has been many weeks and start to get thin do you need to take matters into your own hands and force-feed to keep them alive until they develop an initial feeding response.

Good luck!

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

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

For Appalachicola kings try scenting with nerodia or garter snake.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...
www.coastalbendcaptivebreeding.com