Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My Sinaloan turned 2 back in August (she is probably 3 - 4 feet long) and for the first time this winter is showing signs of not wanting to eat. Last feeding (a month ago) she only took half the number of hoppers she normally eats, now she just shed again and was not interested in eating at all when I offered her food.

I don't plan on breeding her or changing the temperature in the room where her tank is kept. So what can I do to keep her interested in eating?

Keep her warm... That's all you can try to do.

Some just are inclined to hibernate no matter the temperature where they are. They just "know" that it's time.
-----
Mike
KingPin Reptiles Inc.
Helmz777@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mikesnake
Updated 10/28 NEW PICS AND NEW SECTION!

I am going through the same problem with my Arizona kingsnake and its driving me crazy.
I dont know if to shut the heat off or not. What do you plan to do ?
My snake stopped eating 3 to 4 weeks ago was eating great than it stopped temp,etc all same so far he looks good.
I might go back a step and try pinkies again though he was eating large fuzzies.

I think the light-cycle has a lot to do with it. As well as temp. Do you have a light and is it on a timer. Leave the light on one night and he'll think it's summer.
Dave

I think your right it just occured to me it has been rainy and dark for last 3 weeks a bit of sun here and there but nothing like before.
The tank is in room where it gets indirect sunlight and was lit during the day granted the snake hid but knew sun was out than he would come out at night.
Tommorrow the weather gets back to normal and sunny all week. I think that might be it.
I will post if he eats thats the only difference I can think of after you mentioned it has been lack of sun for several weeks.
Thanks

Also, I heard that pyro's like it best around 72 degrees because they are from higher, cooler elevation. Remember too much heat is worse than a little cool.
Good luck he'll be fine!
Dave

Thanks for all the info yes his cool side is now 70 with warm area 82 .
I use a blacklight spotlight directly over a cement hide cave to keep that area at 82 than the cool side is room temp.
He is out now infact enjoying Halloween lol.
I hope he tricks or treats later and eats a pinkie.

Thanks for all the info! The snake is in a room that gets direct light and is also in use as a home office. The last few weeks we have been out of the country quite a bit so the room has been lit only during the natural daylight cycles. I have a heat lamp to augment the room temp in one corner of the cage.

Anyway, the snake seems determined not to eat. She was out a lot the last few days so I thought she may be humgry, but when I gave her a chance to eat she only took 2 mice when she usually takes 7 or 8. She has never been a temperamental eater before.

How long should she naturally go hungry before I take her to the vet? There is no way the temperature is coming down to much below 65 degrees because I have to use the room.

How does your snake look is it skinny now?
Mine actually ate 2 pinkies this am. It had not eaten for about a month but didnt lose weight but you can tell it kind of wanted to "sleep" as it stayed in the cool side but I still kept a warm side.
Mine usually eats hoppers so 2 pinkies is nothong but its not thin and I am glad it ate .
I have been reading on kings , milks going off food for awhile and some say it happens to them every year and some say it never does.
I dont have brumation temps in the house and no way going to put it in the cold garage,etc so will have to make due feeding here and there till Spring comes.

She doesn't look thin yet, but she has only been off her food for a couple of months. She ate 4 hoppers last month and she ate 2 this month, down from 8 every 3 weeks over the summer. And she is very restless moving around her cage much more than usual since she came out of her last shed a week ago.

Mine was the same but only went off food for about a month wouldnt touch anything today ate a large fuzzy ate pinkie 2 days ago.
Initially was an eating machine than just slowed down and stopped eating but would drink.
I was confused because he looked like he wanted to brumate yet he didnt stay in the cool spot he moved around at night.
A few breeders (mine is a baby) told me dont brumate give a cool spot in tank and cool area with hide areas over both.
Mine spent a month hiding during day in cool area than out at night but wasnt the same.
Now he is back to normal and back in warm area during day than explores at night. Doesnt mean he wont want to brumate again as I read this isnt uncommon during the months of Nov to Feb so if he takes a few fuzzies now and than during this time thats great.
If not than will keep set up as is .
Yours is still eating granted much less than before but this isnt uncommon this time of year.
If I was in your shoes for now wouldnt do anything but try to feed here and there and provide "cool" area in tank and warmer area.
Your snake is eating enough to easily maintan weight till Spring if it goes that long without eating normally but eats here and there.
I have a friend who has a rubber boa (granted not a king/milk)that wont eat a thing for 6 months than it would gorge itself for a few months than fast again. Never lost any weight 7 yrs later still doing same thing and growing.

I guess I'll just stop wasting money defrosting more than 2 or 3 at a time! I also cooled down the warm side of the tank by 5 degrees or so and she has settled down a bit under her warm side hide.