Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have hatched a few king snake clutches in the past and had very little problem getting them to eat, even on pinks. A little ground skink scent on a mouse pink and they were off.

This new clutch from Acadia is WAY different. The majority of the offspring have no desire at all to eat anything, including live snakes and ground skinks. I have had one eat a scented mouse tail a few days ago. He hasn't eaten since and has refused to since then. One other one has taken a live skink, and all of the others are refusing everything. Brained pinks, scented pinks wrapped in snake skin or skink skin, pinks washed with soap and then scented, left overnight, all day, live skinks. You name it they are just simply refusing to eat. This is quite odd behavior for these things don't you think? The others I have had ate with enthusiasm upon shedding. Any thoughts, ideas? Husbandry changes or environmental factors? Prey items I'm offering? I'm up for it all.

what do you supoose they eat in the wild fro their first meals? Alligator lizards?

Alligator lizards? I don't think they live in southern Louisiana.

I suppose they eat small snakes and lizards. Both of which are plentiful where they were collected, including small ribbons, dekay's, nerodia of all kinds, and frogs. I've tried all of their natural prey excpet small frogs, which I usually try to stay away from.

there have been some posts here on locality L.A. Calif kings. It might have helped to mention the spp of king.

Matt, sounds messed up but a small leopard frog or tadpoles or fish. They are usually found in crayfish holes here so close to water. 5 lined skink, or baby ribbon snake, scenting or the real deal. Mine ate a big ribbon and a broad banded water before getting on mice.
Todd Hughes

Try getting an anole and using a pinkie to irratate the anole till it opens it mouth when it does stick the pinkie's head into the anoles mouth. Wait and let the anole release the pinkie then offer this pinkie to the snake. I know this for what ever reason this has worked for me in the past when ALL else failed.

Toby
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haha people that say alterna are hard to get going should give holbrooki a try 4sure. my experience is that f1 spex are very very picky as all f1's they as wild snakes are engrained with fear and self preservation and are stressed very easily my advise is as lil outside contact as possible as it will only stress them more. have lots of substrate for burrowing and sevral hides and catch an appropiate sized ground skink and leave it in w/them. also make sure they are hydrated good some babies dont know what a water bowl is and will dehydrate themselves unknowingly again just leave them alone in a quiet undisturbed area w/a skink in the enclosure and they will come around after that first meal try a live pink left overnite maybe scent it w/skink. holbrooki are a challenge but are well worth it imho,,,,,,good luck,,,,,,,thomas

That is one of the nicest holbrooki I've ever seen. What locality is it? I have a c.b. 04 loyde lemke female I got from Isis Reptiles and she is 24 inches and getting yellower with each shed.

I will try anything short of forcefeeding them to keep them healthy. I have also tried the anole biting the pink head, and it worked for a couple in the past. I might move them all to slightly different enclosures and use Aspen shavings. I have them on apper towels right now. I wonder if they had Aspen to burrow in if they would feel more secure? It's worth a shot.

Specks are definetely engrained with fear as hatchlings. I would set them up with that reptibark stuff for more humidity and put a small curved peice of bark as a hide. When you offer a scented f/t pink stick it partially under an open spot of the hide and that might help alot. They won't have to worry about leaving safety for food.

My pyros still will not touch food if I keep them on newspaper... I go with sterilized cypress mulch a few inches deep, and they eat like pigs.

later

Matt