Arizona Mountain Not Feeding

[Bellabob]

So I went to summer camp for BSA (Boy Scouts of America) and me and a friend staffed all week there as the "Snake Guys" (thats what they called us). The camp director happened to be an avid reptile keeper and has an amazing collection of American Kingsnakes. To thank me for my help that week he gave me a Jose Acosta (thats the name of the breeder) AZ Mountain King. The snake was $150. He came with a feeding card and hasent eaten since sometime in May. He is not full grown, he is an adolecent. I have tried giving him live pinkies many times. He is not interested and is almost afriad of it.

I heard that these snakes are very picky about what they eat and that sometimes people scent the rodents with lizards before feeding. I'm going to email the guy I got the snake from, and ask him about it. But I just wanted to come on here and ask too.

Thanks.

[TheWinWizard]

You may want to try braining the pinky as well as scenting the pinky. Try braining first.

[Bellabob]

What's braining?

[TheWinWizard]

You expose the brain using a toothpick on the pinkies head. It makes it more appealing to the snake.

[Bellabob]

And you do this to a ..live pinkie?

[TheWinWizard]

If you want to. I'd use a f/t for the braining.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

Ours will only eat mice. No ASFs no rats pinkies, only mice hoppers.

[TheWinWizard]

Any updates on this? Has it eaten?

[wilomn]

If it's a male, this is not atypical behavior. They slow way down or go off feed during the summer.

A straight edge razor will slice the pinky head in half much easier than trying to brain with a toothpick. If it has not been necessary to brain a pink in the past, do not do so yet. They can go a long time between meals.

The move may have thrown him off or he may be beginning a shed cycle.

Patience.