Reptile & Amphibian Forums

When I first got my Mexican Black King I told ya all about how intimidated I was by his large size and his intense feeding response. I also said that he hadn't been handled very much and was only fed from his enclosure and that I couldn't even make any movements outside his terrarium without his sticking at me.
Well, I worked with him on this issue for a little while and thought it was my fantastic training that got him to stop attacking me... but I also noticed that he quit wanting to eat too.... and it all seemed to have happened after I thought he had caught a RI. Then, while giving him some medicine we noticed a blood pocket on his mouth that I think he got from striking so hard, missing, and hitting the side of the enclosure once in a while. Now I have to beg him to take the food. It's like he can't smell it (taste it, detect it, what have you) and when he does finally take it it sounds like he is hissing when he's swallowing it. He will also occasionally open his mouth and make a hissing sound for no reason and occasionally I will hear a little popping noise from his nose. I have never heard him sneeze or cough, though, and there is no discarge from his eyes, nose or mouth. So now I'm wondering if he just hurt himself so bad that now he's reluctant to strike at me, or even his food. I feel so bad for him. Any suggestions, ideas, remedies, thoughts.... would be greatly appreciated.

I LOVE these forums
MissHisssss

MissHiss, (i have my idea's) but I’m not qualified so i leave it to the other more experienced folks on here, BUT I’d would really
Be interested in hearing more about the snake!
Where you got him, from who, under what circumstances and any other info you think would be poignant to the reptile, also
Cage set-up etc. etc. etc. etc.
Thanks
DJW

MissHiss
It is often very difficult to give advice over the net because we are not at your house with the snake and setup in question. I would advise that you make sure of these things:

1. The substrate is not causing a reaction. For any snake with possible health problems, I use newspaper as the substrate. It remains the best substrate for observing animals.

2. The temps are correct with no hot spots above 90 and no cold drafts coming in the tank

3. The snake has ample hiding opportunities. Newspaper under which the snake can hide is the easiest and is very effective.

4. You have brought the snake to a vet who can hopefully help.

The above are my prectices. Others may differ. Also realize that temperate zone snakes like kings can behave differently in different times of the year. For adult snakes, Fall often results in reduced or completely absent feeding response. I'm concerned though that your snake may have a cold or RI, not so much that it may not want to eat.

Go to the vet! People on a website can't tell you things a specialist would know. This could be serious.
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~Banana~

"People on a website can't tell you things a specialist would know. "

A lot of the people here are "specialists". I go to the vet but just because he has access to lots of cool toys and all the right drugs. There's nothing wrong with consulting this forum. There are people here who have been breeding and raising snakes their entire lives.
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International Snakes Meetup
International Herpetology Meetup

Thanks Jones... I needed to hear that. For a while there I was beginnng to think I'd done something wrong by askin even though I've seen countless others ask questions like mine. I didn't expect to get answers if people didn't have an answer, actually I was just asking to see if it was from his hitting the side of the cage and hurting his nose... or if it was something I should take to the Vet. I guess I got my answer on that. So thanks to all.

I LOVE these forums
MissHisssss