Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello all. First let me introduce myself and background. I've been keeping and breeding snakes for over 10 years, and currently produce several clutches of python eggs each year. I'll post my web page link below.

Anyway, Right around Easter, I purchased a beautiful baby desert phase cal king for my wife. This is my first kingsnake, although I've had several corns and rats throughout the years.

Well, this snake (sex unknown) had always been a super eater...I mean it would have eaten every day if food was offered. The thing is super healthy, has been growing great, and finally has stopped biting everything in site when held (yeah, I don't miss that...lol).

Now, for about the last month, it shows absolutely no, and I mean no interest in food. It seems to be frightened or at least annoyed by the same size mouse fuzzys and hoppers it had been eating. What gives?

I consider myself to be a highly knowledgable guy when it comes to my pythons, but I don't know an aweful lot about kingsnakes. Is it normal for them to go off feed this time of year? Does it think its preparing for brumation? Could it be thinking that its time to mate? I haven't changed its set-up at all...

I'm really at a loss...Is this common...? What should I do?

Thanks a bunch for your help!
Joe Pociask Pythons

A lot of cali kings will refuse food this time of the year out of natural instinct. I wouldn't get worried unless it begins to lose weight or becomes lethargic.
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Reptiles
0.1 - Early 2002 Anery Motley Corn 33 1/2"
1.0 - Late 2003 Yellow Rat Snake 15 2/3"
0.0.1 - 2003 Banded California King Snake 29 2/3"
1.0 Green Anole
0.0.0 House Gecko
0.1 Painted Turtle

Mammals
4 female ferrets,1 male cat and 1 male doberman...and a few kids!

RIP - Nala my Rottie 08/19/2004

I had the same reaction when my Cal King stopped eating his 2nd summer. Usually, this reaction is strongest the 2nd summer, because at age 2.5 or 3, they are sexually mature. Males especially go off food for awhile to find a mate.

He will eat again later; it may be a few weeks. Never worry that a snake won't eat unless it's been over 4-6 months. And remember that in the wild, they normally don't feed from late November until about March. Captive-bred specimens usually eat light or dont' eat at all during the heart of winter.

np