Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri Rescue

[nmalnar]

SO I had posted a thread in the cornsnake forum about a possible purchase I was interested in on a classifieds ad. A corn snake or possible king/corn hybrid but after posting a pic on here everyone determine it looks like a pure Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri kingsnake. So my craigslist "20 dollar corn snake" turned into an uncared for 3 1/2 foot king, The tank stun k and had excess shed all over it. The guy told me the snake hadnt ate in about a month and a half partly because it rejected food a couple times and then he just forgot to feed it. Well I got him home and he is a very calm docile snake although he was very cold possible from the ride home. The guy had two uth on the cage both on one side on the sides of the glass not the bottom. Is this what you are supposed to do for kings? I moved one to under the tank and I am just using that one right now. He also has some shed around one eye but it doesnt look like the eye cap just some shed bunched up before his eye with a piece of shed hangout in front of his eye but not touching. What should I do about this? Also mu las question is that I tried to feed him in his cage after I cleaned it all up with new beeding.(is aspen ok for kings?) and he struck at the mouse the first time he saw it but missed and hit the glass and then just ignored the mouse the rest of the time. Did he get discouraged after hitting the glass? Sorry for the long post but Ive never dealt with a rescue snake before. Thanks, Pics coming soon.

[nmalnar]

btw im trying to feed an adult mouse but I read you should try and feed two hoppers over one adult mouse because they eat lizards in the wild. Any suggestions?

[wilomn]

Give him water and keep him warm for a few days before you try feeding him again.

Aspen is fine.

Was the mouse alive?

It's not uncommon for kings to be off feed at this time of year, especially the males.

Post a pic of the eye for a better opinion about what to do.

Post a couple pics of the whole snake too if you can.

[nmalnar]

The mouse I tried to feed was live yes but he said that he fed him f/t and he took it so he bought a 10 pack of them and he ate a couple and then just quit eating, but he doesnt seem lethargic at all and after I put him in the clean cage he was actually very active. Before he was on some kind of bark and now he was on aspen and he was burrowing around and it looks liek the burrowing has removed the skin from around his eye because it is no longer there anymore. I will get a couple pics up as soon as I can but here is a pic from the previous post I had. http://images.craigslist.org/3k33p63...1c0152184c.jpg

[wilomn]

He looks fine in the picture.

If he ate recently I wouldn't worry if he goes a few weeks without eating. This time of year, short daylight hours and lower temps, are common factors in kings not eating, particularly the adult males.

[nmalnar]

the previous owner says he hasnt eatin in like 1 month or so is it still ok if he doesnt eat?

I dont know how old the pic is so I will try and post one but he looks healthy, and is very active when u hold him/her. He came with two half circle hut hides should I get a couple ceramic pots like i use for my bp for hides instead of the huts?

the guy says he is like 3 years old, is this to old to try and sex him/her?

[wilomn]

I've kept that species, and many other kings, and during the winter months my males skip meals from Nov. to Feb. or sometimes even March.

Humidity should not be an issue so use the hides you like best.

As for anything else, pics help but, from what you've posted so far, I would not be worried about him.

[nmalnar]

my main concern about the hides is that he isnt using either one he just burrows underneath the water dish which is in the center and net over the hot or cool side, are the temps to high maybe?

[wilomn]

my main concern about the hides is that he isnt using either one he just burrows underneath the water dish which is in the center and net over the hot or cool side, are the temps to high maybe?

Probably. Get a temp gun or place a thermometer directly on each hot spot.

Those guys don't really need much heat at all.

[blackcrystal22]

Basically me echoing Wes, that snake looks like he has a healthy girth to him and will be fine even if he refuses a few more meals.

Kingsnakes don't need nearly as much heat as pythons or boas. An ambient temperature above 70 (usually in the upper 70's-low 80's is fine). They aren't really particular with heat or humidity at all, as long as it's not cold. What are you using to control the UTH? I really think you only need one UTH, and keeping it on the warm side at about 85-90F on the glass (under the substrate) would be satisfactory for warming the whole cage. (unless it's huge or something)

For the shed, giving him a luke-warm soak for about 20-30 minutes and using a q-tip with some contact solution (or water) and lightly rubbing the retained eye cap or access skin should take care of it. Can't really tell what you mean without a picture though.