Kingsnake Not Eating

[Adrya]

I have a california kingsnake, her name is Harley.... She's 4 years old and I've had her for 3. She has always eaten great, every single feeding day, even eating while in shed. She always ate once a week up until several months ago I weaned her to every two weeks.

She hasn't eaten for the past 4-5 weeks. I tried offering her every week to see if she would take it after the week she previously refused. She wants nothing to do with the food. She has ALWAYS been a voracious eater and literally would always come lunging out of her enclosure after the food at first sight of it. She has NEVER gone off feed before.

She gets all defensive and a bit spastic when I bring the food close to her with tongs, offering to her like I always have. If I touch her with it if she's under the newspaper, she pushes up with her body against it and pushes it away. She does this if she's not under the newspaper also. I have tried leaving the prey item with her overnight, and she still won't take it. She backs away from it when I offer to her. When I hold her she's just the usual calm kingsnake she's always been.

She just won't eat and has been extremely active, more active than usual, going about almost all the time these past several weeks. She's certainly big enough to breed now, being 4ft in length.... she's really gained size in the past year.

......so I am just wondering if the change and length in daylight and it being spring and much warmer has triggered a "Breeding" season for her?

I am a bit worried but I know it's probably nothing too much to worry about, but I am concerned. I have never witnessed this behavior with her before.

Here's some info...
1. Snake: California Kingsnake (banded)
2. Temperatures: warm side low-mid 80s, cool side 70s, humidity around 50%..whatever the room humidity is.
3. Caging: 44"x18"x6" underbed sterilite..has been in this for a long time now and has done great in it
4. Feeding schedule: weaned rat every 2 weeks
5. Substrate: newspaper
6. Heating Elements: UTH on dimmer.
7. Food Type: Frozen/Thawed rats

I appreciate any advice you long-term kingsnake keepers have.

Thanks

	Under Tank Heater Under Tank Heater

[Sleepy_FF]

mebbe try scenting the food item with another one of your snakes?

[John_White]

I think she's probably entered a breeding cycle. As long as she maintains a reasonable weight, missing several feeding shouldn't be a problem. Recommend that you monitor her weight.

[Adrya]

Thanks, I thought maybe that's what was going on with her. She's got a great weight to her... pretty hefty kingsnake (but not fat). I'll certainly keep my eye on her.

I tried scenting the rodent with various things a few times...... nada. lol

[telefrag]

Originally Posted by John_White

I think she's probably entered a breeding cycle. As long as she maintains a reasonable weight, missing several feeding shouldn't be a problem. Recommend that you monitor her weight.

that sounds like exactly whats happening.

kingsnakes tend to act that way about a month or so before laying eggs.

they dont have to be with a male, or really be cycled to exhibit breeding behavior.

I bred cal kings for several years without any temp cycling.

she may lay a clutch of slugs.

I wouldn't worry about it too much, doesn't sound like your doing anything wrong.
she'll start eating again when she is ready.

[LukaTisus]

Definetely sounds like a breeding cycle to me, as mentioned.. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless she starts visibly losing weight.

[mark5019]

or my king snake wont touch any black mouse but if offered white bam he hits it like it was starved

[jimijaw]

Id also have to say breeding season! I had a male and female Corn snake that never missed a meal then at 3 years of age they both quit eating so I introduced the male to the female and it was less than 5 minutes they were going at it. She didnt eat for 15 weeks then after she laid her eggs she waited a week and then went in to a post lay shed and then she acted like she couldnt get enough to eat. The male went back to eating 3 weeks after breeding. Id be willing to bet its the breeding season and with Kings and Corns brumation isnt necessary to start the breeding season. Jimi

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