Kingsnake feeding issues

[anendeloflorien]

Ok, I've never heard of anyone having issues with a king not eating but I've got one here. It's really getting frustrating.She's an albino cal king I picked her up about a month and a half ago at the Manchester NH show. Since then she has eaten once, a small pink that I left in her tub overnight the day after I got her. She's just a little worm and while she's not really losing weight she just seems to be getting somewhat sluggish and not really as active as she was. I've tried just about everything and I'm just wondering if anyone with more experience with kings might know of some other things to try.

So far this is what I've tried:

#1 leaving a f/t pink in the tub overnight (worked once)
#2 tease feeding (no go)
#3 deli cup in tub overnight (no go)
#4 deli cup with live pink overnight (no go)
#5 brained pink in deli cup overnight (last night and still no dice).

Does anyone know of any type of scenting that can be done? Would scenting with another snakes skin work maybe? The temps are 84 hot side and 75 cool side with an ambient humidity around 45-50%. If I'm doing something wrong here or if there's something I should be doing please let me know.

My other king is just a freakin garbage disposal so I'm really surprised that I'm having this many issues with this little girl......
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[snowliz]

Try Kens method.......I am sure there sure there are some small nonfeeders out there somewhere that you could get your hands on.

[anendeloflorien]

Try Kens method.......I am sure there sure there are some small nonfeeders out there somewhere that you could get your hands on.

Lol, I would try that but she's only about 6g right now. Just a little worm. Maybe a small small lizard or something but I don't even know where I would find something like that.

[FloridaHogs]

Prepare to have an anole as a pet! I have found that if I can catch my anoles in shed, and "assist" them so I can keep the skin, I have better luck. I just wrap the pinks head in the skin. Have you tried washing a live pink so that the mouse smell is not as strong? Have you contacted the breeder?

[anendeloflorien]

Prepare to have an anole as a pet! I have found that if I can catch my anoles in shed, and "assist" them so I can keep the skin, I have better luck. I just wrap the pinks head in the skin. Have you tried washing a live pink so that the mouse smell is not as strong? Have you contacted the breeder?

Yeah I sent the breeder an email to try and see what methods they use but I still haven't heard back from them. I wouldn't mind terribly having an anole or two I had some when I was a kid lol. Would any other type of lizard work? Like a leo or a crestie or do they prefer anole scent? I haven't tried the washing a pink but I might just have to try that. I'm gonna see if I can't get a live pinky this week to try, that seemed to get her interested last time I tried it she just didn't really go for it.

[FloridaHogs]

Is it possible she is in blue? I have had the hardest time telling when my two are in shed. One will eat regardless, the other will not if in blue.

[anendeloflorien]

Is it possible she is in blue? I have had the hardest time telling when my two are in shed. One will eat regardless, the other will not if in blue.

It's possible... She hasn't shed since I've had her but this has kind of been ongoing for a while now. I'm gonna give her a couple days and see if she looks like she's going to shed. I can never tell when my other albino king is getting ready to shed and that's about the only time he'll refuse food.

[snowliz]

I hope you get it figured out soon.

[kare]

Ok, try this:
Soak the king in a mildly warm bath for 10-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, if using f/t wash it with some hand soap and rinse well.
Put everything(Snake, pink) in a clean deli with a napkin at the bottom.
Leave in a quiet/no traffic area (like the closet....)
Worked for a few stubborn critters...not all, but a few - I still lose one or two a season, cuz nothing works on those stupid few.....

[FloridaHogs]

Believe it or not, I had a little western born in August. Had never eaten, so last week when it was feeding time, I decided to force feed it a pink. Today it ate by itself. Don't know how that would work with your non feeding kings Kare but worth a shot in the future.

Hey Kare, how are those two girls doing. That one ever settle in for you and stop being a brat?

[kare]

Believe it or not, I had a little western born in August. Had never eaten, so last week when it was feeding time, I decided to force feed it a pink. Today it ate by itself. Don't know how that would work with your non feeding kings Kare but worth a shot in the future.

Hey Kare, how are those two girls doing. That one ever settle in for you and stop being a brat?

We've force fed, before. That works on some, but every now and then you get one the just won't be helped. Fact of life when you get so many critters. There are about 7 different tricks to try, but nothing is ever guaranteed.

The hoggies are doing great! I can't believe how fast they get their chow down. Both eat 2 f/t pinks within seconds! They are blue right now, so I'll get some pics once they shed.

[FloridaHogs]

Glad to hear they are doing good for you!

[anendeloflorien]

Yeah! She ate finally! :rockon: She must have been hungry lol. I just got done feeding her a small pinky, I tried Jeneas method of just washing the pinky and I got it nice and warm for her. I thought she was just being agressive when I first put it in cuz she was striking and rattling like crazy but the second or third strike she just held on and started wolfing it down :drum:. So hopefully she'll keep it up I was getting worried there for a little while lol.

[SNSnakes]

Congratulations!! Yeah, baby kings can be real buttheads at times. The desert variety are the worse. Once they get going though, they turn into chow hounds...lol.