Reptile & Amphibian Forums

The other day had a mole kingsnake hatchling brought in. It was found in a driveway. I've had adult wild caught mole kings before and kept them without difficulty on mice, but never had the opportunity to deal with a hatchling so I am unfamilar with how difficult it typically is to start hatchling mole kings on food.

Normal sized pinkies are definitely out of the question for some time though I managed to scrounge up a frozen runty pinkie (domestic mouse stock) to leave overnight in the cage with him. I potentially have some captive raised/wild deermice soon to be producing litters, but on the offchance that this snake is going to refuse rodents (which I don't doubt being wc) what would be some other alternatives to try ? I know that snakes per se really don't make up much of their diet in the wild (not that I could find small enough baby snakes for him anyway since the change in the weather). It is too late in the year to really catch skinks (hatchling or adult), but would the 'lizard maker' liquid likely work for scenting pinkies? I've had success with it on corn snakes before. I've read that sometimes their diet in the wild is comprised of insects...are there any particular types they might favor that anyone knows of?

Couple of photos of Henry below. They are a little on the blurry side, my digital camera is the pits for close up stuff. I have photos with my manual camera taken just have to get them developed later next week.

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PHWyvern

Not familiar with the lizard scenting product you mentioned. Our (South Florida) moles start on n/b pinks or small anoles.
Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Mole kings are REAL small as hatchlings and I have found several in the southern Md area. As adults they always seemed to favor pink rats but I would think that animal big enough for pink mice. Problem is he has been living off of baby snakes and lizards for a year so you will have to either scent a washed pinkie with such an animal(check a pet store skink or anole).The other alternative that usually works this time of year is to brumate it now...get it REAL cold(50s)and keep it there for a month or 2. They lose very little wieght in brumation and when they come out they are usually aggressive feeders.If you could, let us know a county locale...most of mine have come from Prince Georges,thanks,Jeff

>>Mole kings are REAL small as hatchlings and I have found several in the southern Md area. As adults they always seemed to favor pink rats but I would think that animal big enough for pink mice. Problem is he has been living off of baby snakes and lizards for a year so you will have to either scent a washed pinkie with such an animal(check a pet store skink or anole).The other alternative that usually works this time of year is to brumate it now...get it REAL cold(50s)and keep it there for a month or 2. They lose very little wieght in brumation and when they come out they are usually aggressive feeders.If you could, let us know a county locale...most of mine have come from Prince Georges,thanks,Jeff

With my luck, I'll probably end up with having to do the brumation. Yesterday was warm enough that I saw a single skink running around but its tail was already missing.

The locality is the southern part of Prince Georges's County (Cheltenham area just north of Charles County). Little Henry was lucky enough that the guy who found him knew just enough to know that he wasn't a copperhead (last mole king I had brought in several years ago had been doused with gasoline by the neighbor of the person who brought it in...dead by the time I got it).

Thanks for the help.
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PHWyvern

np

>>np

Cheltenham (where the snake was found) is on the PG County side of the line and Waldorf is on the Charles County side of the line. Brandywine sits between the two.
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PHWyvern

Read your post,I've bred "Rhombs" in the past,(I live in NC.)and,the other guy is probably right about the age of the one you've got,(mho) I've had great success in the past with lizard tails,(skink,or,anole)until I could get them to either take scented pinky heads,(for hatchlings),or,an appropriate sized lizard.I'd take the tails from adults,put'em in the freezer,and,let the lizard go.anyway,best of luck to you..."R"