Reptile & Amphibian Forums

So I picked him up on Tuesday from the pet store and gave him a couple days to settle in. Yesterday was his first feed and he didn't hesitate to take the pinkie.

How often should I feed him? I've heard lots of different opinions including twice a week or once a week. What should I look out for following a feed?

He's about a foot in length right now and his diameter is no more than that of a nickle

Also, I have been given different opinions of how long to wait to handle him after bringng him home? I've heard up to 2 weeks or just a couple days.

You'll hear lots from me as I have never owned a reptile before

oh! P.S I'm sure I don't have to point out, but the "nickle" diameter is at the thickest part of his body

Okay, but what species of kingsnake you have at home now?
And can you show us a pic of your snake?

You got any photos?

As far as feed...make SURE that he has a good warm end (high 80s) that he can access, and feed 2x week with one prey animal about as thick as he is.

I have to say--if he's only 12" he should be thinner than a nickel...a nickle is a pretty thick coin IIRC (It's been a long while since I've had actual change though).
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

Congrats! ...and welcome to the forum. It's a happening place to say the least.

Nutshell: try to use an enclosure that is at least as long as your snake, PLEASE do secure it's enclosure appropriately, use appropriate substrate materials such as newspaper, paper towels, Aspen bedding, pine bedding (WITHOUT cedar as this is toxic), cypress mulch, or astroturf (which should be cleaned/disinfected periodically), offer temperature gradients (one end warmed, which would be easiest for you as a beginner having one snake to use a heat lamp atop the enclosure screen lid with a 75 watt bulb), clean water bowl that can not be tipped over situated on the cooler end of the enclosure, hide spots in the middle and cooler ends of the enclosure, and for thermoregulation purposes you may use a folded up newspaper or cardboard for them to either sit atop and hunker down underneath - and this should be situated on the enclosure floor where the bulb warmth is present, and use appropriately-sized feeder tongs for meal offerings or place food atop something something appropriate such as a plastic container lid if the snake isn't receptive to manual offerings, and remember to allow your snake to digest/poop before handling. THose are the basics. Enjoy!!
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Jerry Kruse

UPDATED!
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Couple important things

1) Get an undertank heat pad. Above lighting dehydrates kingsnakes even if they have a water bowl.

2) For your size king. I would feed small adult mice. You know, the young ones. Not weanings!

he will grow fast if fed right. So you will have to bump up the mouse size in a couple short weeks.
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www.Bluerosy.com

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If the new snake is only a foot long but as thick as a nickle at its thickest place, it is built more like a rattlesnake than a king!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Yes, something is definitely "off" with the dimensions given.

12 inches in total length and nickel diameter seem impossible unless the juvenile is ready to literally explode..

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

And the reason why is because they are new, as I'm sure you probably know. I remember when I started measuring my kings, I was way under their actual length once I straitened them out. An 18" king looked like 12" to me.
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Either that or they are way off on the diameter, but to me that's a lot harder to get wrong.
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I agree Ross. I think the snake is a good bit longer than thought.
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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

A simple one inch grid.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

And then if you were to actually measure the tile grid there with a tape, the total span of 12 tiles is actually around 13-3/8 because of the approx. 1/8th" grout joint between each tile.

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>And then if you were to actually measure the tile grid there with a tape, the total span of 12 tiles is actually around 13-3/8 because of the approx. 1/8th" grout joint between each tile.

That's Sharpie on paper Doug.....No tile and grout, but we know what you mean......LOL
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

That's a good idea.
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

>>2) For your size king. I would feed small adult mice. You know, the young ones. Not weanings!

Please do NOT feed adult mice, even small ones, to a foot long king. It's to big a meal and might well kill a 12-inch long snake.I think Rainer might have misread your post. (Rainer, if that's not the case, I challenge you to change my views by posting a short video or short series of pix showing one of your foot long kings being fed a small adult mouse. With a ruler in one of the pics for size verification.)

But like others, I think the foot-and-nickel estimates are way off base. A one footer might be the diameter of a pencil. Are you sure your snake is a king? Best advice is what was already stated, use a food item no bigger than snakes largest diameter.

Good luck and have fun.

The OP made it clear that the snake was a nickel size in diameter.

Since it is common people make mistakes on length. I took the girth of the king to be more reliable. Especially since he posted the size of the diameter twice.

A small mouse in a nickel size belly will hardly even show. A snake that size could probably handle a med mouse.
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www.Bluerosy.com

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>>The OP made it clear that the snake was a nickel size in diameter.
>>
>>Since it is common people make mistakes on length. I took the girth of the king to be more reliable. Especially since he posted the size of the diameter twice.
>>
>>A small mouse in a nickel size belly will hardly even show. A snake that size could probably handle a med mouse.

Hi Rainer. According to "coin specifications" at usmintgov a nickel is 0.835 inches in diameter. I do think a snake that size could eat a small adult mouse. I also think a king snake that diameter would likely be two feet in length, not one foot. (people on this forum have hundreds of specimens to measure and provide data on: it'd be interesting to see some data on length and body diameter of various sizes. Will several of you measure a half dozen of a couple different lengths and provide that data?)

My only concern is that feeding smaller items can do little harm, whereas feeding too large a food item can have unwanted consequences. I think you and i can agree a two-foot king 0.835 inches in diameter could safely be offered a small adult mouse. Can we also agree that if the OP first sensed his snake was only a foot long, it might be best to err--not knowing WHICH of his measurements was more off the mark--on a little more moderate food-item suggestion?

Meantime, I'll be watching with interest to see what actual, measured length he finally reports on that king! Cheers...

td

This is what I would consider a medium size mouse. It actually looks bigger because it's frozen. The kingsnake is a Florida king, which you can see, it smaller than a nickel in diameter.

The snake in the pic is a nickel round and can eat bigger.

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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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I meant to write- "a snake that is a nickel round can eat bigger".
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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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>>This is what I would consider a medium size mouse.

that looks like a rat, or is it one of those hairless mouse varieities?

daveb
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odelay odelay odelay hee hoooo...
heeeeya huhhhh!
~Back in the saddle (Aerosmith)

That's a Rattus freezerburnii.
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

That's a Rattus freezerburnii.

Nope, that's a mouse.

And that is not freezer burn either. It was a frozen one I just took out for the pic. They pinken up when they deforst.
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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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So, how many and how often would you feed that snake?
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Gerard

Snakes do thousands of different things, picking a couple to give them doesn't mean your animals are thriving. They are still just being kept alive, so stop crying.

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

So, how many and how often would you feed that snake?

As many times as they will eat. Or as soon as the lump is gone.

I don't feed all my snakes the same. Some that will not be big enough to breed this season will get less. And that is because I am more focussed on the females that are big enough to breed. If it is a breeder female I feed them as many times as they want. They need to to ovulate and produce as many clucthes as possible. If you support them this way. They will reward you with more clucthes. Females that are fed sparingly...well,.. they will only lay once per year.

Adults males also don't get fed as much, as they don't need it. It takes a lot less caloric intake to produce sperm than it does eggs.

Feed a female if you want to breed her. After she lays, feed the heck out of her 2 days after laying (females usually need that time to recoup from laying because they are to weak to eat). Then throw the male back in with her right after she eats her fill (as many mice/chicks as she wants).

That's what I learned from the late Lloyd Lemke. Some of my kings triple clutch. I have even gotten clutches from off times of the year because as well. Like in feburary, march. I bond my kings and they stay together year round except right before egg laying. So they dictate when they want to breed. It surprised me when housing communually and not have a foced cooling to have them breed during off times.

Feeding the females is key!
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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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That's what you consider thriving? I consider that feeding for breeding. A simple formula to produce as many eggs as a snake possibly can. To get out of them what you want. There is nothing wrong with it, I do it with my turtles too. You say you only do it with the breeders so why tell people to do it with normal pet snake? It is expensive and risky for someone who has not been doing it for years. Also, it's still just being kept alive that way. There are no choices in captivity, you still make them no matter what your setup is.

P.S.
Send me that female NE that your not doing anything with...........

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Gerard

Snakes do thousands of different things, picking a couple to give them doesn't mean your animals are thriving. They are still just being kept alive, so stop crying.

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

That's what you consider thriving?

Unlike humans that have sex. Snakes do it to reproduce. But I think they enjoy it as well.

So yes, I consider that thriving.
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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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it's an adult hairless mouse...I get them for 25 cents each.
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"Some don't consider that thriving.....I've seen the difference between being kept alive and allowing to thrive'

JLassiter

...Amen John!

www.Bluerosy.com

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that's what i thought, i used to get those as well.

cheap and no hair. yum.
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odelay odelay odelay hee hoooo...
heeeeya huhhhh!
~Back in the saddle (Aerosmith)

>>2) For your size king. I would feed small adult mice. You know, the young ones. Not weanings!

Remember Rainer....This is not just the L. g. floridana forum.....or the getula forum.....

If this "kingsnake" she is speaking of is a Pyro, Knoblochi, Zonata, Alterna, Mexicana, Ruthveni, Thayeri, Greeri or Calligaster it will not eat that big of a meal......

Most getula emerge from the egg at 12" in length......
I have a hard time believing a 12" Floridana hatchling or any getula hatchling will eat a small adult mouse......

Maybe after a few months of fuzzy, crawler then weanling feeding it will.....
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

That's right, my occiptolineata only like to eat smaller meals. They will eat skinks that are really big but only like small mice pinks.
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Reminds me of when he suggested that a newbie feed her little 20" alterna two adult mice at a time a good while back. Not like that was even possible at all either. So the suggestion this time to feed a no more than nickel-sized diameter snake that is 12 inches or so adult mice would be more than TWICE as ridiculous!

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

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>Reminds me of when he suggested that a newbie feed her little 20" alterna two adult mice at a time a good while back. Not like that was even possible at all either. So the suggestion this time to feed a no more than nickel-sized diameter snake that is 12 inches or so adult mice would be more than TWICE as ridiculous!

Maybe he was just going by diameter and did not realiz it was suggested that it was only 12" long......

A nickle size diameter snake can and will eat a small adult mouse.....But we all know it depends on the type of kingsnake and that a nickle size diameter snake is probably around 18 to 20 inches or so.......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

>>>>Reminds me of when he suggested that a newbie feed her little 20" alterna two adult mice at a time a good while back. Not like that was even possible at all either. So the suggestion this time to feed a no more than nickel-sized diameter snake that is 12 inches or so adult mice would be more than TWICE as ridiculous!
>>

>>A nickle size diameter snake can and will eat a small adult mouse.....But we all know it depends on the type of kingsnake and that a nickle size diameter snake is probably around 18 to 20 inches or so.......

I'd like someone who's got an 18-20" king handy to post a pic of it with an adult mouse. I think feeding like that is like the guys (I was gonna say jerks or schmucks) who revel in filming their giant snakes the most inappropriately oversized creature they can find, with oohs and laughter in the background )

Anyway, I wanna see a pic or two. Not eating the mouse--I'm sure it CAN be done--but just with it, for a visual size comparison. Maybe I'll be proved wrong. Bidi.

It depends on what YOUR definition of a "small adult mouse" is......
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

>>It depends on what YOUR definition of a "small adult mouse" is......

To me a small adult mouse isn't any bigger in diameter than a nickle.........
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John Lassiter
Poor planning and procrastination on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part...

I've got one right at 22" (she's as long as her tub) and she can scarf an adult mouse (30 grams or so) no problem.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

" I'd like someone who's got an 18-20" king handy to post a pic of it with an adult mouse. I think feeding like that is like the guys (I was gonna say jerks or schmucks) who revel in filming their giant snakes the most inappropriately oversized creature they can find, with oohs and laughter in the background ) "

You are describing what you have seen on this forum to a tea!

It simply is just not possible Terry, and only said for attention seeking.
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Genesis 1:1

EITHER his species is off or his length estimate is way off.
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We wouldn't have 6 and a half billion people if you had to be beautiful to get laid.

Is it a Florida kingsnake?
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A fat little baby snake! LOL!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

......
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

....
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

Oh, I should have mentioned this is not my hand holding this rattlesnake. I got this photo off an ad where a guy was selling baby rattle snakes. Although they are awfully cute, they are not a good thing to hold in one's bare hands! D'OH! It is about a foot long and as thick as a nickle, though.
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.

Then he should be able to eat a full grown rabbit every couple days. Yeah, rattlesnakes are not good snakes to get a kiss from. This guy was 18 inches and ate day old pinkies...

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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

"Then he should be able to eat a full grown rabbit every couple days"

That's right, and I'm sure your EDB there is eating full-grown capybara...

~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

>>"Then he should be able to eat a full grown rabbit every couple days"
>>
>> That's right, and I'm sure your EDB there is eating full-grown capybara...
>>
>>
>> ~Doug
>>
>>-----
>>"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"
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>>serpentinespecialties.webs.com
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
Jorge Sierra

My Site > www.Sierrasnakes.com

Gee Doug, where'd you find the really little kid? I'd say he's about a foot tall and the girth of a dollar bill?

Hahahahahahahaha!!!
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Gerard

"Faith, of the unknown one, the deliverer. Wait, something must be done, for hundred years."

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

"Gee Doug, where'd you find the really little kid? I'd say he's about a foot tall and the girth of a dollar bill?"

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Lol!! That is a funny pic!
Jeff

lol, this guy wants to know

I did it many times when I was a kid. It's still stupid!!!
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Gerard

Snakes do thousands of different things, picking a couple to give them doesn't mean your animals are thriving. They are still just being kept alive, so stop crying.

www.livebaitclip.com

GONE FISHING!!!

So thank you to those who realized that I'm new at this and probably under estimated his length, which I did.. I haven't measured him exactly, He's also been hiding out since I fed him, I barely remember what he looks like lol I've checked on him and he seems fine, looks like he's shedding now.. But he's not much more than a foot and a half. Maybe I over estimated his girth, but I did see the pinky move down his body.. But with what you've told me, I'm getting bigger mice.

We await pics of your new snake.

You can throw in some coin if you like! LOL!
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Bob
Pyromaniac AKA Greatballzofire
Keeping cats allows man to cohabitate with tigers. Keeping reptiles allows man to cohabitate with dinosaurs.