Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone,

About a month ago I purchased a baby California Kingsnake of Rays Reptilia. He said it was feeding on pinkie mice.

So about a week after I bought the snake. I bought him a frozen pinkie, because those were onyl avialble at the time, I thawed it, held it with some tonges, and he ate it perfectly! I was so happy!

Come 10 days later, I bought a live pinkie now that htey were available. He struck at it, as if it were a predator, and that was it. He started gnawing on its leg at one point lol, but he had absolutely no interst in eating it. So I froze it, and 2 days alter tried feeding it again. Same results, nothing happened.

So I waited another 10 days to se ei fhe woudl eb really hungry, that happens to be today, and I bougth a live pinkie, and he was strikimg it for the entire 20 minutes, and for the first time, he bit me. But he would nto consider eating th epinkie. I'm really worried for him. He hasnt eaten in about 2 weeks, and I am freezing this pinkie to see if he'll eat it again in about 2 days, but I really need some help! Contact me asap!!!!

Thansk so much,
Michael

First thing is to relax. Kings can go many weeks without feeding so your little guy isnt starving at all. Now I would suggest you not feed live pinks unless you have a reliable steady stream of them if not switch to frozen thawed as they are more economical. Plus FT pinks digest easier than live pinks. Anyway thaw yourself a pink and put the King and the FT pink in a deli cup and put this back into your enclosure and either kill the lights or put a paper towel or something over the deli so its sorta dark for him. Leave him be for a 4-6 hours (you can carefully check him after a couple just dont startle the snake). Also dont hold the King a couple of days prior to feeding in fact dont hold him at all until you get him feeding regularly. Sounds like the little guy is a bit stressed out so just leave him be. To him you are a predator and the last thing he is thinking about is eating lol. Make sure your temps are good as well 75 coolside 82-85 warmside. Also make sure he has nice snug hide areas. Kings like to squeeze into tight spots they dont want hides they dont feel secure in ones that would 7 Kings comfortably so as small as he can fit into. Good luck if you have further questions or need me to elaborate more email me at easternkingsnake@charter.net

Keith
-----