Kingsnake Feeding Problems

[Fenderplayer108]

Hey everyone, im sure most of you know Lenny my praire kingsnake. Anyway he has not eaten in over a month and im not sure why. When i first got him he was a great eater. He ate every Thursday for about 4 weeks. Then he went into blue phase and shed. Ever since then he has not wanted to eat at all. Its been over a month and though he doesnt look bad, im still worried for him.

Here are the things i have already tried.
F/T Small pinky (like before)
Live Small pinky
Washed pinky with soap
left in overnight on all occasions
scented with lizards
scented with dragons
brained the pinky
warmed the pinky up
left it in his hide in cage overnight
attempted to feed in a large container, and then smaller one
scented the pinky with another colubrid

If anyone can suggest anything else to me that would be great. Im really starting to get worried about him.

Here is the sick herp questionaire i will fill out.

Species:
How long have you had this animal? about 2 months
Ambient Temps:76-78 cool side
Basking temps:84-86 warm side
Size:hes about double corn hatchling size
Diet within the past year for snakes--the past 6 months for lizards: small F/T Pinkys each Thursday
Last time this animal ate:8/31/06
Frozen thawed/ live/ stunned/ freshly kiled? F/T and Tried Live too
Bulbs if any utilized (be as specific as possible--look on bulb to get make and wattage):40 watt
Heat sources (makes and wattage): heat light from petco
How are you measuring temps?temp stick put near water bowl
Cage size and type: 15 gallon aquarium
Substrate: Forest Blend
Symptoms: Acts completly normal, just refuses to eat anything.
Can you upload any pics? Yup



Now this is what im going to try next. I have a few tails i will try to feed them. Also my cousin had 2 corn snake hatchlings die pre-maturely and i was wondering if he was eat those possibly?

Thanks for taking the time to read this for me.

Ryan

EDIT: Please note those are pre-shed pictures, but he looks the same cept not in blue of course.

	Corn Snake The Corn Snake or Red Rat Snake (Elaphe guttata) is a species of Rat Snake.

[CharlieJ]

Without knowing why the corn hatchlings died, I would NOT feed them to the kingsnake. Otherwise, it sounds like you've been pretty thorough in your attempts. Hopefully BW or someone else with lots of colubrid experience can offer some tips. I hope all goes well! He's a handsome little fella.

[RioBravoReptiles]

Depending upon where you are at in Missouri your Prairie kingsnake may be experiencing conditions (cooler temps, shorter days) that are telling it it is time to rest until Spring..
.
If that is the case there may not be much you can do about it.
.
Gus.

[Fenderplayer108]

Charlie: They were pre-mature births, but you bring up a good point.

Gus: Thats what I was thinking too, we are still having warm tempatures but its been getting cooler at night with shorter days. Thats what i was thinking too, how would I go about letting him hibernate/brumate (?)

Im going to try to give him tails tonight, how do i feed him tails?

Ryan

[telefrag]

Dont worry about trying to force feed tails.

one month is not going to starve a well fed prairie king.

the last 3 years my prairie kings all stopped eating in mid november, and I just left them alone for several weeks, then eventually they started feeding again.

Best thing I can suggest is,
dont handle him/her often, make sure there is always fresh water availabe, and maybe try his normal food once the snake starts crusing around and acting restless.

good luck, and dont worry too much about it at this point.

[Fenderplayer108]

Originally Posted by telefrag

Dont worry about trying to force feed tails.
one month is not going to starve a well fed prairie king.
the last 3 years my prairie kings all stopped eating in mid november, and I just left them alone for several weeks, then eventually they started feeding again.
Best thing I can suggest is,
dont handle him/her often, make sure there is always fresh water availabe, and maybe try his normal food once the snake starts crusing around and acting restless.
good luck, and dont worry too much about it at this point.

Alright, thanks.

Ryan

[Fenderplayer108]

Okay guys, to this day he still hasnt eaten.

Any suggestions?

Ryan

[telefrag]

Originally Posted by Fenderplayer108

Okay guys, to this day he still hasnt eaten.

Any suggestions?

Ryan

Havent we already been through this

dont worry so much about it, its a wild caught snake, its October, your in Missouri.

just give it some time, and im sure he'll be just fine, dont stress it.