Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My graybanded kingsnake (14 years old, almost 4 feet long, kinda thin normally - he was the smallest of his clutch) had surgery last spring and went months without eating. He's now super-thin. I've been trying to get his weight back, but he will only eat one small mouse per feeding (about 2 inches body length). I tried to feed him a bigger mouse, but he vomited it up and I had to wait 2 weeks to feed him again. He ate a small mouse last week and kept it down, and has now eaten another. My question is will feeding him a small mouse every week put some weight back on (although not as quickly as if I could give him the size he should be eating)? Also, at what point should I chance feeding him a bigger mouse? Any tips on feeding him up? I'd really appreciate any help - this guy is my first and favorite.
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1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.0.0 Ball Python, Frank Langella
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
1.0.0 Boa, Benedict Cumberboa (or Big Ben)
1.0.0 Sweet Rosy Bourke Parakeet, Didgeridoo
1.0.0 Ringneck Dove, Pimmdale Plumington
0.1.0 Smart & Loving Daughter

Have you provided a good termal gradient for the snake so he can get warm to digest?

If so, I'd try adding a couple pinkies to his small mouse meals each week for a while, then add a fuzy to the small mouse, the 2 small mice, then a large mouse. All over the course of 3 months or so.

I once had a female corn that was pencil thin and in bad shape after laying her first clutch of eggs. She wouldn't eat mice that were even half the size of her normal meals at the start so i just added in pinkies cuz they are basically like a nacho to an adult snake and she bounce back just fine. I still have her now at about 17 years old.
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1.1 Argentine Boas
1.1 Dumerils Boas
1.1 Black Milk Snakes
2.3 California King Snakes
1.1 Nelsons Milk Snakes
2.2 Corn Snakes

Thanks for your advice - it's working! I read your post the morning after I fed him last week, ran out and got some pinkies, offered him one that night and he ate it (already had a small mouse the night before). Tonight I fed him and he ate a small mouse and 2 pinkies. Here's hoping he keeps it down!
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1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.0.0 Ball Python, Frank Langella
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
1.0.0 Boa, Benedict Cumberboa (or Big Ben)
1.0.0 Sweet Rosy Bourke Parakeet, Didgeridoo
1.0.0 Ringneck Dove, Pimmdale Plumington
0.1.0 Smart & Loving Daughter

Make sure its hot, mid eighties and with a hotter spot. Feed it fuzzies daily, then twice a day. Wait until its strong and heavy then you can think about larger food items. Cheers

Thanks so much! He's never eaten more than one food item before, and I wouldn't have even tried without your post and the previous one!
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1.0.0 277 Graybanded Kingsnake, Boris Karloff
1.0.0 Crockett Graybanded Kingsnake, Julien Sands
1.0.0 Ball Python, Frank Langella
1.0.0 Pastel Ball Python, Claude Raines
1.0.0 Boa, Benedict Cumberboa (or Big Ben)
1.0.0 Sweet Rosy Bourke Parakeet, Didgeridoo
1.0.0 Ringneck Dove, Pimmdale Plumington
0.1.0 Smart & Loving Daughter