Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Need advice. I have a Durango black mountain kingsnake(Lampropeltis mexicana greeri). It is 3ft. long and looks very healthy. It has been 5 weeks since last feeding. 6 1/2 weeks since last shed. Average day temp is 80, night temp is about 65 on cool side of tank. I'm at a loss on what my next cause of action should be. I've tried feeding once a week but cleo, the snake, seems non-interested. I've been giving adult size mice except my last attempt a few days ago I gave a pinkie.
Any suggestions?

Your nighttime drop, or possibly just instinct, may be telling this snake not to feed.

I would advise to follow the same advice as the folks here who have been having the same problems with pryos.

Find a nice cool dark corner of your basement and let him brumate for a few months.

He'll probably be ready to eat on emerging.

Thanks for the response. But do you mean that my tank temp is off? I dont have a basement, but allowing the snake to brumate means the snake believes it to be winter, right? Should I remove all heating? How much longer? Do I need to shut off the day and night light as well? Do i allow normal household lighting or does the snake prefer darkness? I seem to have more questions than answers.
More info please.

The way I see it you have 2 choices.

1- you crank the heat up so it's warmer at night (like not dropping below upper 70's) and see if that works.
If this doesn't work within a couple weeks...then it's time to put the snake into a period of inactivity. Yes...it could be the snake instinctively feels that winter is coming and it needs to have it's gut clear. Sometimes warming it up will do the trick...somtimes they just "know" and they won't eat anyway.

2- Gradually start reducing temp and light. Gradually change until you get the snake to a temp of 55-65, and in complete darkenss within a few weeks. I'd leave him in those conditions for 2-3 months.

If the snake is this cool...it will not burn body fat, and as long as it has good bodyweight now, it will be fine.

When you have trouble is when it is not eating and is kept about 65 degrees. In this case, the snake will continue to burn body fat while not eating and lose weight.

Hope this helps...

Thank you. Yes it does help. I believe you are right. Snake has become less active and tends to hide even at night. His last meal was a rather large mouse. Winter is coming. I was planning to brumate at end of month, but the snakes' instinct surely has final say.
One more question. Once the temp is down to 60 and snake is curled up inactive and sleeping, i will keep it in darkness but should i just go ahead and unplug the heat pad that is on the "warm" side of tank? I think so. She's not using it.