Kingsnake off food

[Moreau]

I have an adult female Grey Band, and she has been off food for the past couple of months. She is strictly using the cold hide, and is not venturing under the heat at all (RHP). Is she trying to brumate on her own? Should I just stop offering food at all? How long do they usually "winter" for? She has just been refusing all food. She has been less active as well. She has not lost any weight that I can see.
She is my only kingsnake I have ever had, so it is a new thing for me. My first colubrid really.

[EL Ziggy]

My male Cal King was off food for 3 months from Oct-Jan but has been eating steadily since early January. I was pretty concerned to say the least. The general consensus is there's nothing to worry about as long as the snake isn't losing too much weight. I would continue to offer food every 7-10 days. You could try scenting the mouse or a live feeder if that doesn't work. I had to feed my Cal King two live feeders before he started taking f/t again. Hopefully you can just wait her out and she'll get back on track soon. Best wishes, I know how frustrating it can be.

[sharthun]

If it has been too cool in the enclosure it may have triggered brumation, and the lack of interest in food.

[drumcrush]

My king went off food last year for a few months. This year, she slowed down (feeding every other week) but didn't go off. And like Steve said, if the temps were too cool, brumation could have been triggered.

I wish you luck in the meantime!

[Moreau]

The temps are definitely warm enough on the hot side, she has a radiant heat panel which gives her hot spot 88-92 temps, (depending where she is under the panel). But she hasn't used it for quite a while. She has hides on the cool end, in the middle, and on the hot end, she only uses the cold hide now.

[EL Ziggy]

The temps are definitely warm enough on the hot side, she has a radiant heat panel which gives her hot spot 88-92 temps, (depending where she is under the panel). But she hasn't used it for quite a while. She has hides on the cool end, in the middle, and on the hot end, she only uses the cold hide now.

Sounds like she has plenty of hides and your temps seem good. Maybe it's just that time of year. I knew the males would go off feed. I don't know if the females do as often. In any event if she's not losing weight, and displays no other health issues, I would keep offering food every 7-10 days until she comes around. And she will :)

[ssshane]

Hi, how long have you had the king? Just wondering if this was your first winter with the king. Do you know much about it's past? Prior to your owning it, Was it a breeder that may have been cooled every winter? Was it a pet that was never cooled intentionally?

[Moreau]

I have had her since end of April last year, I am not sure if she was a breeder. I will get in touch with the seller and find out. Thank you :)

[Brian ShedSkinz]

If there is window in the room that allows sunlight in it can trigger brumation as well. I've used shortened light periods to brumate many colubrids before.

[Kid Boa]

This is brumation seasons and a lot of snakes go off eating or have finicky eating habits during this.


First off, I would check your husbandry to make sure it is %100 on.

second, check the animal to insure that it is good health (no sickness or injuries). if all this checks out, your snake it likely going through brumation.

Simple weigh the animal and record its weight. Check its weight every few weeks to make sure its not loosing weight.

continue to offer the snake food ever week or so, eventually it will start eating again.

EDIT: One of my snakes who is a MONSTER eater is only eating a small meal every 3-4 weeks right now.

Hope this helps.