Kingsnake keepers-- a little help please???

[adamanteus]

Great idea, Lori. Won't need to be too thin, maybe half, lengthways.

[drache]

congrats Lori
that's great news
if you cut a pinkie in half, maybe you can just try giving him the side with the tail

[adamanteus]

maybe you can just try giving him the side with the tail

Why the tail side particularly, Rhea?

[Lori P]

congrats Lori
that's great news
if you cut a pinkie in half, maybe you can just try giving him the side with the tail

Rhea, thank you for reminding me to go slow and caaalllllmmmm with the snake... I didn't realize how much tension I was holding onto when previously dealing with her. Once I relaxed, she relaxed, and presto, she ate. It really is like dealing with the horses in that they feel every bit of tension you have, even if you don't know you have it!!

[drache]

Why the tail side particularly, Rhea?

because the snake had tail before and that way Lori wouldn't have to post

[adamanteus]

because the snake had tail before and that way Lori wouldn't have to post

But that would mean swallowing the pinky backwards, not so easy for the snake that way.

[Lori P]

I plan to slice it long ways and go face first, because the nose is thin, you know, and would fit in better... plus the brain would be exposed and that seems to be important from all I read and heard from you guys on braining...

So, ewww, do brains have a stong odor??? OMG, do I have a STINKY BRAIN?????

[drache]

But that would mean swallowing the pinky backwards, not so easy for the snake that way.

you can always trim off the legs
one of my kings will only eat mice rear end first
I think he's afraid of the nose end

[Lori P]

It's been a week the tail-- should I try again? She has shown no interest in the sliced pinkies, which does not surprise me, but I did want to give her a chance a couple of days to eat on her own. Or should I wait? She is still very active and is calm when being held.

[RZL36]

It really could be the internal clock. I'm pretty sure this snake would not survive hibernation in the wild, but it's not in the wild so it should be fine.

One of my kings has slowed considerably (the same species as you) and one is really picking it up. They are at the same temp too. Sometimes snakes are that way.

If the mouse tails are working, try this. Tie the tail around a pink. Leave a little bit of the tail exposed so that it can get about a few centimeters down the throat before being forced to swallow a pink.

If possible you might want to keep weight records for the winter, but in the summer I promise, that thing will not refuse a meal.