California Kingsnake tremors.....?

[mr. s]

I have a pair of california kingsnake which I picked up in the summer. The male always had trouble eating, since the previous owner fed live, and I was trying to switch them to f/t. The female switched easily, first time. I assumed the male wanted to burmate since he was always avoiding the heat and would not eat, so I burmated him, but the female stayed at normal temperatures. I took the male out of burmation about 2 months ago and I noticed that he was so weak that he could not pull his body up if it was hanging. He also began to shake during the effort. I assumed that being off food for so long made him weak because the female was still fat and healthy. I began feeding him heavily to get weight back on. Since warming up, he now eats great, but the shaking and weakness has not gone away. He still eats like a champ, and is always active in his enclosure. Recently, the female also began showing similar symptoms. She too is still very active in her enclosure, although she refused food for the first time this week.
I am really not sure what this is, has anybody else had this happen?
(Oh, and I have checked their mouths for a respiratory infection, and there seem to be no signs. No heavy breathing, no bubbles or extra saliva.)

[West Coast Jungle]

What do you mean by shaking? I have seen them shake their tails like a rattlesnake when scared which is normal but most grow out of that behavior. I am not very experienced with kings as I only have had two for a year or so. Maybe someone more qualified like Wilomn can step in.

The fact that they are eating well is a good sign.

[mr. s]

No, they are tame as can be. They do not shake their tails when threatened. It is like their muscle is weak. When they exert a lot of force to hold their bodies up or pull them up, they have a slight shake, a shake they did not always have. It is also not like they are star gazing or something. When they are in their inclosure, you would not think anything is wrong, or when striking or wrapping up prey. You can only tell when holding them.

[CoolioTiffany]

No, they are tame as can be. They do not shake their tails when threatened. It is like their muscle is weak. When they exert a lot of force to hold their bodies up or pull them up, they have a slight shake, a shake they did not always have. It is also not like they are star gazing or something. When they are in their inclosure, you would not think anything is wrong, or when striking or wrapping up prey. You can only tell when holding them.

My King does that as well, though he is one healthy big boy. Nothing to worry about. Since they use so much effort trying to pull themselves up or try going straight they will shake their bodies a bit which is a little odd but mine does it.

[mr. s]

Interesting. I guess I just think about my bps which would never do that with their super strong short bodies.
I do, however, still feel like it is something abnormal. The degree by which they do it is fairly bad. Worrisome for sure. And the fact that it was only my male for a very long time, and now my female......
Anyone seen this develop in a king or think that it is a sign of something worse?

[wilomn]

It could be a parasitic infection or bacteria. There are some of both that will affect the brain and movement. Have a fecal checked and make sure they check thoroughly, strongyles included.

How are the feces? Colour and consistency? Got any pics?

[mr. s]

Pictures of the feces? I'll get them when they come I guess.
Is there anything that I should be looking for specifically?

[CoolioTiffany]

Pictures of the feces? I'll get them when they come I guess.
Is there anything that I should be looking for specifically?

Normally if there's something going on inside the snake (parasites or bacterial infection) they will have discolored or runny stool.

[kc261]

I have no idea, but, if you are able to get a video of the shaking, it would help others understand what you are talking about.