I came here about my snake a month ago. He still won't eat. Should I switch up his diet?

Question

He hasn't eaten since November. He looks healthy, but you can never tell with snakes. My boyfriend, who owns a snake, said he may have mites, which you can't see, that may take away his appetite. I've used live mice AND dead mice. I've emptied the mice in there, I've keep the mice in the bag to let him slither in, AND I've tried putting him inside the bag like I used to when he was young. None of it seems to work. I told myself he'll be fine; he'll eat before he dies, although my boyfriend disagrees. I figured he was in some kind of hibernating state due to winter. It's beginning to warm up; it's in the 70's now. Should I switch up his diet and give him lizards or frogs? Should I take him to the vet? It won't hurt to try something. If you put a snake in the mouse bag, the snake will lay in there, feel a bite or two, and attack. My snake got sick once from a bite, I guess, and we figured he got scared, which is why we started killing the mice. He actually ate a few dead, so we proceeded

He's a dumb snake; we've interpreted that since we first got him. Though, these last few months have worried me. He's always had mice to eat. I don't want to try goldfish; he'll probably have no idea what to do. So, do lizards and frogs sound good? He IS a California King; I know King Snakes eat other snakes and reptiles in the wild. He's such a pussy, though....

Answer 1

if your snake isn't losing weight, he/she is probably just not hungry due to the colder temps. check your husbandry. you may try lizards, some kings prefer them, since they are more of a natural food source for kings, you can also get a "lizard-flavored" spray, for scenting mice. just be careful not to condition your snake to refuse food. it does happen, and it can be a pain to get them to feed again, so just be careful about how often you try to feed, just skip one or two attempts.

Answer 2

Mites can be an obvious and serious problem... look for little white specks on the snake or run a needle (eye end) around the eye socket carefully or under the chin and look for pin head sized bugs. Part 2 - It's beginning to warm up; it's in the 70's now. Temperature is a factor on snakes eating.. try about 80* F.

Answer 3

Leave your snake alone for a week or two, then offer him a live pinky. I don't think a kingsnake could say no to a live little pinky-it's like chocolate for snakes. Also, make sure the humidity is correct in the tank-give him a dish with some wet aspen or moss, he may be having a difficult shed. But don't keep tossing mice in every couple of days-wait at least a week before offering. If you don't want to do live, brain a dead one (poke a hole in the head with a toothpick), that's like kingsnake caviar.

Answer 4

From a snake owner - unless your snake is unusually inactive AND is obviously losing weight (is concave at the sides rather than round), WAIT! I have had snakes that regularly do not eat from Sept-Oct to Mar-Apr. depending on the weather. Especially if you live away from the equator. Fasting will not hurt them nearly as much as trying to force feed them and doing it improperly!

If your snake is still active, watch its behavior in the next few weeks. It will get increasingly more active as it gets hungry, maybe spend more time in its water bowl, and maybe wait till after a shed till he starts eating again. When he eats the first time, wait about twice as long as usual between feedings for about a month. Then feed as normal till about Oct - Nov when he will probably go off his feeding again. Temperature has some affect - so does day length.

And if your snake has mites, you can see them - one type can be seen best if you put him on newspaper (they will look like brown dust); the other looks like small black bumps near the edges of his scales. If he has mites, he will be spending his time in the water bowl and shedding - this is how they get rid of them in the wild.

I'd agree with you - as long as he looks healthy and is moving, it's best to wait. If you really get worried and he hasn't started to eat in two months OR starts to lose a lot of weight, try braining a mouse (removing the top part of the skull). It's disgusting, but will usually get them interested in food.

Answer 5

Yes I agree with the force feeding thing, a lot of professional snake handlers force feed a snake that is refusing it's food. If your snake is not eating you should NEVER put live prey in there, you really in all circumstances feed frozen thawed.You should be able to hold onto the sides of their jaws and force their mouths open and put the mouse in (frozen, thawed!!!!!!)

Answer 6

have you tried force feeding your snake? I have 2 ball pythons and when they were younger we had to force feed one of them for several months before he would eat on his own. You can feed him by holding his mouth open and forcing a pinky mouse or a full grown mouse depending on the snakes size down his throat just part of the way so that he can't spit it out. then he should swallow it on his own. This will at least give him nutrition and keep him from dehydrating.

Answer 7

You definitely need to contact a vet. Try and find one that knows a lot about reptiles.