Male Cali King Not Eating...

I have a King snake that wont eat! I got him back in July for my daughter from a local friend near me. When I went to get him I personally watched him eat 3 mice hoppers. My friend told me that he believes this snake is 4 years old. Now ever since I brought him home he has yet to eat for me and I offer every week. I don't have mice, I raise rats and have been only offering him them. Can King snakes be that picky just like Balls? I also have him in the same room as all my BP's and no UTH, just room heated. None of my BP's have refused any feed and are all eating weekly. Any ideas? I never raised King snakes.

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Originally Posted by ROACH

I have a King snake that wont eat! I got him back in July for my daughter from a local friend near me. When I went to get him I personally watched him eat 3 mice hoppers. My friend told me that he believes this snake is 4 years old. Now ever since I brought him home he has yet to eat for me and I offer every week. I don't have mice, I raise rats and have been only offering him them. Can King snakes be that picky just like Balls? I also have him in the same room as all my BP's and no UTH, just room heated. None of my BP's have refused any feed and are all eating weekly. Any ideas? I never raised King snakes.

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What are your temps at?

I would offer mice just to rule it out, you can get f/t. I've never had an issue with king snakes refusing food before and the ones I've dealt with readily accept anything offered.

Edit: Neal posted while I was typing.

Aside from not having a hotspot, what are your temps/setup like?

Mouse hoppers sounds small for adult IMO. How big is he? Have you noticed if he's lost any weight?

Cali kings are notorious garbage cans. A few others will probably agree. Oreo will eat anything I toss in for him whether it's mouse or rat with a stretch of time where he would refuse rats. I'd assume there are a few which would be picky eaters.

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Originally Posted by Pyrate81

Edit: Neal posted while I was typing.

Aside from not having a hotspot, what are your temps/setup like?

Mouse hoppers sounds small for adult IMO. How big is he? Have you noticed if he's lost any weight?

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I agree they are too small especially to be offered that many not enough time to digest could cause regurgitation or sickness. try something bigger small rats or breeder sized mice

I have only had one CalKing go off feed, a few weeks later she laid a 5 slugs. Never paired.

None of mine have ever been picky about rats or mice.

Did he brumate her? Might be used to the cycle?

Like other have asked. What are your temps?

The temps in the room run between 85-90. I don't have a UTH on him. The guy I got him from had this guy in his dads business, a local feed store, the snakes whole life without any UTH. I can go and get some mice from him anytime, just been offering rats though. I will try that tomorrow on feeding day. He hasn't lost any weight that I can notice. Hes really fast so I haven't weighed him. I know that's a poor excuse, but I haven't. He does however lay in his water ALOT!!!!! He seems to always be soaking in it. Could it be too hot in there for him?

http://lllreptile.com/info/library/a...ia-king-snake/
Give that a read through from what you had mentioned everything seems to be in range

85-90 should be fine. I'd try mice as you say you will do tomorrow and I'd get him on paper towels to check him for mites.


I remember mine soaking in the middle of summer when he was younger but that was when I didn't know anything and his hot spot was 95+.


It is possible he's on a weather cycle but July sounds early for a "hibernation" unless the previous owner had him on a pattern that started in July.

Could be to hot if he is in his dish all the time.

I don't have any heat on my Rats or Kings. Last year I had them in a room that would get pretty warm during the day. High 80s 88-90 range, they would all be soaking.

Without having any heat and in a store. I'm guessing normal temps in the mid 70s.?
I think he is used to lower temps.

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Originally Posted by 3skulls

Could be to hot if he is in his dish all the time.

I don't have any heat on my Rats or Kings. Last year I had them in a room that would get pretty warm during the day. High 80s 88-90 range, they would all be soaking.

Without having any heat and in a store. I'm guessing normal temps in the mid 70s.?
I think he is used to lower temps.

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I agree with this as a possibility.