Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Okay so i have this banded california king (named richard) and this is our second time feeding him since purchase (we've had him for about 10 days) and both times after eating he has been running around the cage and is very active. He is about 3 months old (i am assuming since he is almost 18 inches) and we feed him f/t pinkies.. well.. a f/t pinky... Is this the right time to move him up to two pinkies? I wouldn't say a fuzzy because he is only about the girth of somewhere between my pinky finger and ring finger, closer to the pinky finger. I however am not an expert. Also, when should he be moved up in the future? At which ages/sizes? Thanks for any responses!

p.s. we call "him" richard but actually have no idea what the sex is lol

p.s.s. He kind of looks like he is in super alert hunter mode. I have read on some forums though that this is quite normal after feeding activity for a snake.. thoughts?

It should eat a rodent that will make it's jaws stretch out quite a bit and put a noticeable lump in it's mid-section, not a tiny morsel it can quickly gulp down, or else it is too small. If this is the case, give it two smaller meals until you can get slightly larger peach fuzzies, and so on.

This rodent is fairly small compared to what it is actually capable of eating, and the snake will easily compress this down with no problem whatsoever. Young kings should eat a meal that you can see a slight bulge in their belly about every four days. But make SURE they can get to surface temps in the low-mid 80's on one side of the cage for proper digestion, otherwise you risk regurgitation issues that can kill it. This is EXTREMELY important!

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

my website -serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thank you doug! There is a lump in his belly for at least an hour after he feeds and he does have to stretch quite a bit for it. I have a video of him eating his first meal here if you want it sent to you for analysis (i am making it sound so serious lol) but the thing that concerned me was his activity after shedding. The warm side of his cage stays at 85 and the cool side at about 80 (i know it doesn't seem like much of a difference but there is a notable difference when you stick your hand in one side then move it to another). He has 3 different hides set up which he uses regularly, one is a vertical log and the other is a log laying horizontal, and the third is a tree. His tree is on the warm side and his logs are both on the cool side. After a few hours of eating he finally rests in his tree but i don't think he is full yet. I don't want to over feed him though.

It doesn't sound like your over feeding it at all. It really sounds like just the opposite. I would give him 2 pinkies untill he can take fuzzies, like Doug said. Also if the lump is gone in just an hour or two, it definately is not enough. He activeness may also be partly because of his new home. Kings are very inquisitive and he may be checking out his new pad, and also searching diligently for an escape. Keep that in mind and make sure there are no gaps or sloppy fitting tops. They can squeeze thru the smallest of openings when they are young. Good luck with him/her.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I would agree with Doug and Jorge about feeding more than you are.
With such a narrow thermal gradient between the hot side/cool side he is going to process meals very quickly. 5 degrees temp difference is not a lot for a king.

You describe him ranging around for quite a while after his 1 pinky. He is looking for more food. Typically, at least with my experience a full king goes straight to the warm hide to digest, no roaming around.

A narrow thermal gradient does not allow him to go to a cool area to lower his metabolism. This would be the same as putting you on a treadmill and making you walk at a brisk steady pace all the time. It might be better if you can get the cool end down to the low to mid 70's. But as Doug pointed out a warm end in the low to mid 80's is essential for proper digestion.

Hope this helps,
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BigT
There is a difference between ignorance and stupidity. The ignorant can be taught, stupidity is beyond our control.
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