King snake kills but won't eat

[pshisbey]

HELP! I've got a 3', 3 year old CA King that is RAVENOUS and kills fast but won't eat. Last ate successfully over a month ago. Since then it has killed 5 mice but hasn't eaten. This is very uncharacteristic; it has been a very good eater. After killing a mouse it unwinds and then starts sniffing/searching around like it CAN"T FIND THE MOUSE and eventually just abandons it! The only thing that has changed is about the time it ate last I put a piece of tree bark (from outside) in his tank, but have removed it about a week and 2 mice ago. Thinking perhaps it's something in the tank so am going to try cleaning the tank. PLEASE HELP. Thanks

[jarich]

Can you tell us about your enclosure and the parameters? Also, how long have you had it and how often are you trying to feed it.

It sounds like its killing the mouse defensively, and isnt interested in eating, but hard to tell from just this.

[pshisbey]

Thanks jarich, but I think we've had a successful feeding tonight. Went in to clean the tank and the mouse was gone. There's barely a lump in the snake, but since I can't find the mouse I'm calling it a successful feed. Not sure why it got so fussy over the larger mice all of a sudden; it was eating them last year. Maybe after coming out of hibernation it want's to start small? Anyway, smaller mice seem to be the fix. Thanks

[Starbuck]

depending on how you've kept your snake (it sounds like you brumated it?) it could have just been unwilling/not ready to start eating again. I had a milk snake do the same thing. Glad he ate for you.
In the future, i would toss the mouse in (STAY and watch the snake, if you are feeding live), wait until he kills it; and then leave the snake alone overnight to find and eat it. Sometimes they jut get shy, lol

[KORBIN5895]

^^^^^
Sounds like he doesn't want you around while he eats. So do what she said.

@Jarich

I haven't ever heard of a snake killing a rodent defensively. I'm interested in hearing more on that if you have any links.

[Aaron_S]

^^^^^
Sounds like he doesn't want you around while he eats. So do what she said.

@Jarich

I haven't ever heard of a snake killing a rodent defensively. I'm interested in hearing more on that if you have any links.

Really?

Snakes will sometimes kill something just because it's irritating them. I've had snakes here who after a bit of teasing will take the rodent from me but won't eat it.

Probably was just tired of having it shoved in around it when it didn't want it there in the first place.

I don't know if that's defensively or whatever but I've had a small number of snakes do it.

[Lankyrob]

My GTP "killed" his FT rat this week and i believe it was purely to stop us irritating him with the rat, he usually takes a while before he strikes and once he has the rat we leave him, this time after we had shut his viv he unravelled and dropped the rat on the floor.

[pshisbey]

depending on how you've kept your snake (it sounds like you brumated it?) it could have just been unwilling/not ready to start eating again. I had a milk snake do the same thing. Glad he ate for you.
In the future, i would toss the mouse in (STAY and watch the snake, if you are feeding live), wait until he kills it; and then leave the snake alone overnight to find and eat it. Sometimes they jut get shy, lol

I unplug the heat pad during winter. The room stays in the 50's and the snake is always sleeping/hidden. When it came out of hibernation back in mid March it did eat a couple of time. I usually do confirm that it caught and killed the mouse before leaving. It's just that for the past 4 times I've gone back a hour later to find the mice still lying there and the snake off in another corner.... However, again, yesterday's feeding (of quite a small mouse) seems to have been successfull. Thanks, I appreciate the support! Phil

[pshisbey]

My GTP "killed" his FT rat this week and i believe it was purely to stop us irritating him with the rat, he usually takes a while before he strikes and once he has the rat we leave him, this time after we had shut his viv he unravelled and dropped the rat on the floor.

I feed about a mouse a week; probably a little less. Usually he's got it in under a minute.

[Terranaut]

My king has done this. I feed f/t but sometimes I present and he strikes but then lets go so I go to pic it up and he strikes and coils again but a minute latet lets go again. He will keep striking and taking it from the tongs but doesn't eat it. Typically he goes blue a day or two later and sheds. Then he eats no problem. I think they are just to stupid to shut off the movement/smell combo reaction and attack. I have never heard of anyone having a king starve itself to death so I wouldn't worry. Personaly if I was worried I would just make my hot side something in the mid 90's to encourage him to eat or think it's summer.
Now I only have the one king and he is a Goins king but isn't he a little small for 3yrs old? What are your summer temps for him?

[Starbuck]

Terranaut, my kings are both just over 2.5 feet and 2.5 years (though both cali kings), and are certainly never short of food lol.... have also never skipped a feeding, even in winter. I think the OPs length/age seems about right. I totally agree though that some of them just can't seem to turn their feeding response off hahahaha, my female is a little pisser :)

My measurements are using snake widgets, so could be off, mine are about an inch in diameter, almost as big as a quarter, and take small adult mice.

[KORBIN5895]

Really?

Snakes will sometimes kill something just because it's irritating them. I've had snakes here who after a bit of teasing will take the rodent from me but won't eat it.

Probably was just tired of having it shoved in around it when it didn't want it there in the first place.

I don't know if that's defensively or whatever but I've had a small number of snakes do it.

Yeah, really. I've never had it happen. I usually throw a thawed rat in and leave.

[jarich]

^^^^^
Sounds like he doesn't want you around while he eats. So do what she said.

@Jarich

I haven't ever heard of a snake killing a rodent defensively. I'm interested in hearing more on that if you have any links.

Ya, fair enough, I suppose 'defensive' wasnt the best word there.

[charlesc84]

2 of my Carpets will "kill" a f/t rat and not eat it on occasion. I always wondered if snakes would constrict a potential predator or foe in the wild. There's videos of African Rock Pythons getting killed by Leopards, I think if the Python just constricted the leopard it can win. But I've never read anything about that happening.

[Crashcrashboom]

2 of my Carpets will "kill" a f/t rat and not eat it on occasion. I always wondered if snakes would constrict a potential predator or foe in the wild. There's videos of African Rock Pythons getting killed by Leopards, I think if the Python just constricted the leopard it can win. But I've never read anything about that happening.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=python%20kills%20leopard&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEQQtwIwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DD29 X78vcyHg&ei=61SYUZeiDJO29gSVhoGYCA&usg=AFQjCNG-hfJ1IHSke7M-fLpg92wMA6HymQ&sig2=NQhcceqyOn12BeAEKds0pQ&bvm=bv.46751780,d.eWU a python taking down a leopard. :)

[KORBIN5895]

Ya, fair enough, I suppose 'defensive' wasnt the best word there.

I was picking or being difficult. I am honestly curious about this. I have one guy that strikes, constricts the goes nosing about so I have to dangle then make the dead rat fight back before he eats.

[charlesc84]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=python%20kills%20leopard&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEQQtwIwBA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DD29 X78vcyHg&ei=61SYUZeiDJO29gSVhoGYCA&usg=AFQjCNG-hfJ1IHSke7M-fLpg92wMA6HymQ&sig2=NQhcceqyOn12BeAEKds0pQ&bvm=bv.46751780,d.eWU a python taking down a leopard. :)


It's an awesome video( I think I've seen it before), but I meant defensively.

[pshisbey]

My king has done this. I feed f/t but sometimes I present and he strikes but then lets go so I go to pic it up and he strikes and coils again but a minute latet lets go again. He will keep striking and taking it from the tongs but doesn't eat it. Typically he goes blue a day or two later and sheds. Then he eats no problem. I think they are just to stupid to shut off the movement/smell combo reaction and attack. I have never heard of anyone having a king starve itself to death so I wouldn't worry. Personaly if I was worried I would just make my hot side something in the mid 90's to encourage him to eat or think it's summer.
Now I only have the one king and he is a Goins king but isn't he a little small for 3yrs old? What are your summer temps for him?
I have no idea how big he/she should be. I am purposely not feeding him alot so he doesn't grow too fast/big. Summer temps are in the low to mid 80's.

[Lankyrob]

I have no idea how big he/she should be. I am purposely not feeding him alot so he doesn't grow too fast/big. Summer temps are in the low to mid 80's.

Deliberately starving an animal to restrict growth is abuse, i suggest you sell the snake to someone who will care for it properly OR feed the animal properly and deal with whatever size it gets too.

[Starbuck]

Deliberately starving an animal to restrict growth is abuse, i suggest you sell the snake to someone who will care for it properly OR feed the animal properly and deal with whatever size it gets too.

I didnt read the OPs post that way. I think what they meant was 'I'm deliberately trying not to powerfeed it, as im not trying to max its growth as super big/super fast' Hopefully that s the case :/

[KORBIN5895]

Deliberately starving an animal to restrict growth is abuse, i suggest you sell the snake to someone who will care for it properly OR feed the animal properly and deal with whatever size it gets too.

^^^^^^^This

[Terranaut]

I sure hope that is just a bad choice of words. You need to feed it what itneeds to eat . Please say your not starving it on purpose :(

[Lankyrob]

I didnt read the OPs post that way. I think what they meant was 'I'm deliberately trying not to powerfeed it, as im not trying to max its growth as super big/super fast' Hopefully that s the case :/

I also hope this is the case and if so i wholely apologise for my post above.

[jarich]

He said before that he feeds it one large adult mouse a week, so I dont think theres any worry about it starving. Seems like just a misunderstanding due to communication.

[Aaron_S]

He said before that he feeds it one large adult mouse a week, so I dont think theres any worry about it starving. Seems like just a misunderstanding due to communication.

Nobody has lied on the internet before....

[pshisbey]

Deliberately starving an animal to restrict growth is abuse, i suggest you sell the snake to someone who will care for it properly OR feed the animal properly and deal with whatever size it gets too.

It sure is Lankyrob and so is throwing around accusations of animal neglect and starvation. Would I contact this forum if I didn't care about my pet? Would I have dropped 5 mice in front of his face in the course of month if I intended to starve it? I suggest you watch what you write about others.

[KORBIN5895]

It sure is Lankyrob and so is throwing around accusations of animal neglect and starvation. Would I contact this forum if I didn't care about my pet? Would I have dropped 5 mice in front of his face in the course of month if I intended to starve it? I suggest you watch what you write about others.

Do you need some preparation h?

On the other hand I am quite curios as to what you plan on doing if he doesn't watch what he says? Will you caps lock him to death? Send mean pm's? Enlighten me as I am dying to know.

[Terranaut]

It sure is Lankyrob and so is throwing around accusations of animal neglect and starvation. Would I contact this forum if I didn't care about my pet? Would I have dropped 5 mice in front of his face in the course of month if I intended to starve it? I suggest you watch what you write about others.

This was not a blind accusation. It was based on your statement about reducing growth by reducing food. Don't be mad at Rob. Either you are doing exactly as he said or we all misunderstood what you meant. Regardless, he is only concerned for your snake and not blindly bashing you. Please reconsider where you are taking this thread.

[possum]

Many snakes (even 'ravenous' types like kings) don't like big ugly predators (aka- we humans) hovering in the room watching. Also, do you have several hiding caves in the cage? it helps the snake feel more secure, but you may still need to freeze in place or leave the room for this snake to relax & feed well. This is also typical for some snakes after they've been hibernated...to be fussy for a while.

Another possibility is that your snake prefers whatever you aren't offering: I know kings aren't usually fussy, but feeding f/t removes much of the scent & some snakes need to get used to this being offered; you can pinch/damage the nose to release more scent, btw. And in reverse, some snakes (having gotten used to f/t) are scared off by fresh kills...really.

[Lankyrob]

It sure is Lankyrob and so is throwing around accusations of animal neglect and starvation. Would I contact this forum if I didn't care about my pet? Would I have dropped 5 mice in front of his face in the course of month if I intended to starve it? I suggest you watch what you write about others.

I you read further i stated that i hoped i had misunderstood and apologised for my post should this be the case, i am not one to attack others without resonable cause, reread your own posts and you will see why i reacted like i did.