question

[AzR@k]

i have 2 cali King's a male and a female. the female is a great eater but the male doesnt like to eat half the time...the guy i got them off of said the male didnt eat for 6 months.. and he is really thin now he is about 1.5 yrs old from what i was told the female is the same age and she is gorgeous....and also what should i use for bedding?
and also how old do they need to be for breeding?
the female is about 30 inches long
and the male is about 20 inches do to his eating problems

[Linds]

Snakes go off food for several reasons: Stress, sickness, or breeding, (and some may fast over the course of the winter). So you have to evaluate your husbandry, etc.

Have you had the male tested for internal parasites? Does he have at least two snug-fitting hides? What are your temps at? Are they housed together (snakes may go off feed as a result of being housed together if they are stressed by the other/s)? Does this snake get handled frequently (another stressing factor)? What kind of feeding strategies have you tried?

For substrate, shredded aspen is good, newspaper or papertowel also work well.

I am not up to par on my colubrids, so I cannot coment on breeding size :o

Good luck :)

[gunnerslakeshor]

Azr@k
First off check for parisite's (mite,s Ticks ect)What are you useing as food , Mice , Rats ,Live or dead.
If it wont eat dead try a live fuzzy or hopper mouse or a weanling rat.(once he feeds dont over do it to much will induce regurgitation)
Has he been over handled or dropped ? Run your hands down the length of him and feel for bumps or dents in his sides(broken ribs) If he seems ok then look at how your keeping him Temp wise should be around 80 - 85 day time drop to 75 at night (timers are great things)dark hide spots try old cardboard carpet tubes cut to fit you cage length wise in half work great for keeping him hidden( he will have less stress hidden away)
Keep fresh water available at all times
Good luck i hope he comes out of it ok.
Phil