Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Have had my arizona mountain kingsnake 4 a year and a half. It began eating a couple of pinks and stopped eating 4 about a year. recently gave it chicken feet it ate them 4 about 2 feedings. Because it dont want the pinky's anymore.Then it stopped again altogether. I try every so often but no dice this my last try to get any kind of help because it looks so skinny I dont think it will make it!!

I can see why this works for you. My last excursion there I came to learn of a chicken outbreak in the Huachucas and Santa Ritas and, lo and behold, the pyros got it under control. But I see that the chickens are not working for you sir. May I ask what brand you are using? I find Perdue works best, and then Shady Brook Farms would be my next bet.......
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Jerry Kruse

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look to his friends." -- Japanese Proverb

We need a bit more information about it's captive conditions, your husbandry for it, and what temps you offer, hide spaces, substrate, etc etc. It doesn't have to be a long-winded response, just the basics of how you're keeping and caring for this kingsnake. And yes, sometimes these montane animals will go off feed on their own in response to thier internal "biological clock", if you will.
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Jerry Kruse

"When the character of a man is not clear to you, look to his friends." -- Japanese Proverb

I am not sure I understand how many times your little guy actually ate. If he didnt eat for an entire year...hmmmm. I would suggest you obtain some western fence lizards; either live or their droppings, some way of scenting your pinkies. Use live pinkies scented with the lizards, or if possible a small live lizard to get a meal into him. Some people brumate these snakes for a couple months then warm them back up and they eat again. But if he is already scrawny that may not be the best thing to do.

If you can't get swifts or side blotched lizards where you live try a dealer to get lizards. I've used F/T yellow head geckos when nothing else was available for baby zonatas that would not take pinks.

I had another thought on the weak feeding response: I read in a UK forum about an Arizona Mtn Kingsnake owner who was having trouble with her snakes having a weak feeding response, then there was a heat wave in the UK and she had to turn off all her heaters, and the temperature went down into the low 70s Fahrenheit, and her snakes all perked up and began feeding better. Before she had been keeping them too hot. Arizona Mtn Kings are a cool weather snake from the mountains (lol)so maybe if you try keeping him in the mid to low 70's he will perk up, too. The reason I think this could be a clue is your snake ate pinkies at first and then went off his feed. Usually if they are not going to eat pinkies, it is in the very beginning, not after they have already been eating them.