Hello all,
I have a 7 year-old female California King who has stopped eating. It has been over 2 months since she has eaten. Prior to this, she was eating 2-3 mice a week at times during the summer and autumn. She gained considerable weight during this time, and still looks to be a healthy weight. However, she wouldnt eat one day and after numerous attempts of feeding her she just is not interested in live or dead mice at all. She is still lively, and energetic when I handle her and not showing signs of hunger at all. But, like I said, its been over 2 months. Is this an instance for a force feeding attempt? I know that can be tramatic to the snake, but it has been a long time since she's eaten and I'm getting worried. Its the first time she's ever done this......
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Cali King stopped eating: forcefeed?
Replies (5)
I wouldn't force feed the snake. I'd cool it for 6 to 8 weeks at 50-60 degrees and then warm it back up to see if it eats. Snakes sometimes go off feed for no apparent reason. Force feeding the snake is stressful to the animal and if it's refusing food, it probably doesn't need it.
Tim
Third Eye
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Genesis 1:1
This may sound strange, but try a smaller prey item. Several of my Thayeri which were previously eating medium mice have refused them the past 2 months, but are readily accepting 3 or 4 fuzzy mice instead.
Lots of kings go off feed this time of year anyway, but it is kind of strange this is the first time in, I'm assuming, 7 years. Cooler temps could be responsible. Is there anything you have done different this time to cause lower temps? Like, is the cage being heated a different way or is the cage in a different area. Believe it or not, I had a king refuse for over 6 months and never noticeably lost weight at normal room temps. It was a long time ago and probably my fault because I wasn't providing the right conditions. I wouldn't worry about the two months without any food, that's nothing. I wouldn't try to fix the situation because of the time of year. I would just cool it and let it be till mid March. I'm sure will get a lot of opinions here. Just go with what sounds best.
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thank you all, I feel much better about the situation 
