I need help with baby king snake

[Darkelly1]

I found this baby eastern king snake about a month ago, and I have tried to feed it three times since then. I bought a tank for him, a good snake kit, but no heat lamp. I always figured that the snake needed a heat lamp, but somewhere I read this snake is nocturnal and only needs a heating pad. Can someone help me with this problem I have? He hasn't eaten and I am not sure why yet.

[Brandon Osborne]

Kingsnakes are both diurnal and nocturnal depending on the weather. I would suggest an undertank heat pad or something similar. As far as feeding goes, easterns are probably the most problematic ssp of king to get started. They are notorious reptile and amphibian feeders, and often will only feed if started on snakes, lizards, or frogs. I hope this helps.

Good luck.

[FloridaHogs]

WC animals are even harder to get started.....

[fergie]

Kingsnakes are both diurnal and nocturnal depending on the weather. I would suggest an undertank heat pad or something similar. As far as feeding goes, easterns are probably the most problematic ssp of king to get started. They are notorious reptile and amphibian feeders, and often will only feed if started on snakes, lizards, or frogs. I hope this helps.

Good luck.

Thats news to me! Very rarely have I heard of Easterns being problematic feeders. Their ferocious appetite is second only to the mighty Mexican Black.

In my experience, Grey Bands tend to be the worst to get started on f/t rodents but seeing as your Eastern is wild caught, this is probably why it is refusing prey items, namely stress. Personally I would set it free and let nature take it's course but obviously it's your shout.

Good Luck
Fergie

[Brandon Osborne]

Thats news to me! Very rarely have I heard of Easterns being problematic feeders. Their ferocious appetite is second only to the mighty Mexican Black.

In my experience, Grey Bands tend to be the worst to get started on f/t rodents but seeing as your Eastern is wild caught, this is probably why it is refusing prey items, namely stress. Personally I would set it free and let nature take it's course but obviously it's your shout.

Good Luck
Fergie

Fergie, I assume you've never hatched eastern kings. They are notoriously difficult to get started on rodents. They naturally prefer snakes, lizards, and frogs, and scenting is required about 90% of the time. Even then, there is a large percentage that only wants snakes for their first few meals. I'm not saying these won't be ferocious feeders as adults, but they are the most problematic common king to get feeding on rodents.

I will agree with you on the graybands. I have several graybands and so far, my hatchlings have even refused live baby skinks. They seem to be species specific to certain lizards native to their habitat. I will just cool them for a month or so and see what happens.

As for aggressive feeders, nothing beats the Florida/Brooksi kings or Goini kings. They are the garbage disposals of any collection. My favorite kings for nearly 20 years.