Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've searched on the internet for plausible reasons as to why this is happening but have found limited answers.

What he does is bite and wrap his tail until he's either tired or figures out it's himself that he's biting (pure speculation).

I know he won't directly kill himself doing this, but I'm worried that he's going to get a nasty infection because he does this every few days or so.

I've seen him taste his tail for a while and then decide that it was food and I've seen him chase his tail around his water bowl in an effort to get it.

I thought that it could be him seeing his own reflection so I covered each side with paper after cleaning out his cage but this did not change his behavior (not like I knew it would, or anything).

He is well fed and I give him new water everyday (sometimes multiple times/day) because he's a spaz that likes to attack himself in his water bowl.

Can anyone help me out with this?

You say he's well fed, but some kings have voracious appetites, and need food more ofet than let's say a corn snake. SoMy first thought is feed him more! How big is he and what are you feeding him, how often. Don't feel like we're gonna pounce on you, it happens to be a very common error especially with some particular subspecies of kings like Florida, Chain, and Cali.
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

awesome

I'm starting to see a pattern in your thinking!
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

First off, let me say thanks to all of you for your insight. I feed him once a week at least. This actually started happening after hibernation as I normally leave my snakes as much food as they can eat. He would not stop eating, however, so I had to limit him to once a week as it became clear that he was starting to become overweight. I can tell he's overweight by the somewhat large spacing between his scales. If I offer him food, I'm sure he'll eat it but I want to avoid overfeeding him as much as possible. I feel like he would eat everyday if I offered him food, but is that the right way to go about this?

Also, I just fed him 2 days ago and I feed him rat pups, at the moment.

Seems like you are doing what is right for him, and you know what you are talking about, especially noting the areas between the scales being seen easily, which is a sign of oncoming and possible obesity.

See, people a lot of times confuse the ability and wanting to eat as the cue to feeding them as much as possible. Humans have done this to themselves as well, hence the obesity crisis in our nation. Your feeding schedule is still much more than possibly what your snake would be eating in the wild, as all of ours would be and is. Since you yourself can see the snake personally, versus any of us on this forum, it appears you have a good and trained eye, and have it under control.

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Genesis 1:1

>>>Your feeding schedule is still much more than possibly what your snake would be eating in the wild, as all of ours would be and is.

ok please show some kind of PROOF that wild kingsnakes eat once a week billy, otherwise your above statement means DIDDLYSQUAT.
if a snake is continually trying to EAT itself it needs more food plain and simple.

next
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com

Thomas,

Put the bong down for a sec.

There was no mention of proof that wild kingsnakes eat once a week. What are you talking about?? I was simply stating that in captivity, feeding schedules provide more food that what a kingsnake possibly may find in the wild at any given time. The words to note are " possibly " and " may ". Nature does not guarantee any certain amount of food at any given time.

You really need to lay off the 'skunk'.

Grow up. Seriously.
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Genesis 1:1

Post a picture.
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www.Bluerosy.com

he is starving.

What size is the snake and what size mice are you giving and how often are you offerring food/ Do you offer as many rodents as he weill eat until he stops? I usually put in more than what a snake can eat and let it eat their fill. Then I remove the rodents or chicks (I feed mostly chicks) and offer them to my garbage feeds.

ie..garbage feeders are snakes that will eat anything, anytime and are not ones you care much about. To some people that here that would be hybrids, ratsnakes, etc.
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www.Bluerosy.com

>>ie..garbage feeders are snakes that will eat anything, anytime and are not ones you care much about. To some people that here that would be hybrids, ratsnakes, etc.

My garbage feeders are some of my favorite snakes! the boa, my yellowhead retic, Chomper...
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

My brooksi will even eat partially consumed rodents and she's a favorite...Love the garbage disposals!

feed him MORE
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Morphs... just like baseball cards BUT ALIVE, how cool is that???

my website www.barmollysplace.com