not eating

[Pookie]

Recently my Cali king hasn't been eating. She looks at the mouse then just looks away as if it wasn't even there! I've tried a few times in the past 2 weeks and still nothing. I'm just wondering if maybe it's because i'm feeding F/T. She grew up on live mice and a few months ago i switched her. She's eaten about 4 times on the F/T but maybe she's decided that she doesn't want this anymore? Any thoughts? Should i just try a live mouse to see what happens?

[tai_pan1]

Could be that she is sensing it's time to brumate. I'm sure it's gotten colder there and the hours of daylight are decreasing. I have a male corn that's quit eating for me this time of year for two years running. If you don't brumate her just keep trying to feed her. If she doesn't eat she'll still be ok in the spring.

[vanderkm]

Most likely it is the time of year - most of our snakes have gone off feed voluntarily as the daylight hours decrease, in preparation for winter cooling. Even before we brumated ours, any that were over a couple years of age ate only rarely through the winter months. If you are not brumating her, I would continue to offer food through the winter, but only every 3 weeks instead of weekly - saves having to throw out the mice they reject. I would not switch back to live once you have her feeding on thawed - no point in going backwards.

mary v.

[Tim_Cranwill]

Also try offering her smaller meals. That worked to get one of my 18 month females eating again after a couple months. She would do exactly what you explained....

Good luck and don't worry if she doesn't eat for weeks at a time (especially this time of year). She'll start again eventually.

[The DOC]

Most of our snakes have done this at the year old stage!
Right now, our Banana Cali King and Dusty Hog have been off their feed for two months. We went back to live hopper mice, and they turned into natural born KILLERS! Our Pueblan is refusing F/T large mice, so we downsized to smaller prey. (F/T) All are eating well now, (sometimes you have to make a step backwards to go forward!) Try smaller live prey. Best of luck, The Doc and Jan

only a few of mine are still eating.

[eyespy]

As long as she isn't losing weight, just let her body do what it would naturally do. A winter slowdown isn't such a bad thing, it helps her body get the time it needs to regenerate. Some snakes even gain weight because they are forming strong new bone tissue which weighs more than the glycogen and fat cells they are burning.