mexican king not eating

[mmichele]

:unclesam: Hi i just bought a mexican king snake and for about 2 weeks and a half. he has not been eating. I was told before i got the snake that he was a great eater. I now two weeks isent that importent but i was just wondering if you have any methods of feeding

please reply

thank you

[snappa]

Hey hows it goin? Now I think everything is probably o.k.Sometimes new snakes need time to adjust to their new surroundings and they won't feel comfortable to eat right away.Another thing is it could be or is close to shed.Snakes usually don't eat when this is happening . The whole shed process can take about 1 week and a half or more.Give it time.If he still lookin healthy otherwise its probably nothin to worry about.

A snake can go without food for a couple months ,no prob. but a younger snake usually is ready to eat often and they shouldn't be left too long without trying something to get it to eat.

There are countless things you can try to entice it to eat.Move it around(I assume you are feeding it dead prey).TRy puttting it in its hide box with the mouse.It might be a shy feeder.Make sure you are feeding it the right size of mouse.Try teasing the snake by gently bumping the mouse against the snakes nose.This should trigger the snake to get defensive and strike at the prey.Make sure you have all the environmental conditions correct as well.(thermal gradients)You can also do what they call BRAINING . This is where you make a small cut in the mouses head to expose the liquid.Its supposed to stimulate feeding.Cup feeding can also be effective.Put the mouse in a small container with a securable lid as well as the snake.Leave it in a warm spot over night and it might just dissappear by morning.In such tight quarters the snake has nothing to focus on except the mouse and nothing can distract it.And it goes on and on.....

I really dont think you will have to do all these things but just be patient and keep trying .I hope i've helped.

[mmichele]

thankes so much

[Adamrivers]

wow....i didn't know Mexico had a king.....dont they have a president....anyway i hope his majesty feels better.... o>

[rrrrr]

Originally Posted by mmichele

I now two weeks isent that importent...

nuff said.

[wild4reps]

As stated by snappa ..snakes often become timid in new surroundings , when we first got maxi, a ball python who was definetly in a state of undernourishment it still took him 3 weeks to sort himself out.....A trick I used was to offer the food ...do you know if it was live or frozen ....just that change can make a difference...anyway we cover the tank 3/4 and put food inside leave him alone and he is on top of it in no time.....and max eats frozen thawed at slightly warner than room temp, sometimes alittle privacy goes along way...GOOD LUCK.
EM wild4reptilz@yahoo.comWILD4REPTILZ :ashes: :medfrown: :hammer:

[mmichele]

thankes alot

[gonesnakee]

Husbandry? Is it correct? Hot side/ cold side temps, setup size, heat pad? lamp? etc. the more info inreguards to how it is being kept the better. Age of the snake? Is it an adult? Chances are if its an adult it won't eat because of the season. It is winter afterall & it is in its nature irreguardless of age not to eat right now, especially if it is an adult that is usually brumated thsi time of the year. Lots of reasons why a snake won't eat. Look at the husbandry first & if its correct go from there. Mark

[gonesnakee]

Also you say he, but your signature reads 0.1.0 which means female. Male would be 1.0.0 & undetermined sex would be 0.0.1 ; ) Mark

[mmichele]

oh whatever i will start calling her a she