Kingsnake keepers-- a little help please???

[RZL36]

Just to clarify- I am a guy. (I know my name could go either way, but I dont)

Lol.

Lori, three pinks is really good. I totally agree with the others in saying keep the hands off the snake for a few days, but I think it got over the hump. Should be smooth sailing from here.

[MoJo]

Congratulations! I am thrilled she ate for you. With a belly full of pinks I bet she won't be cruising the tank for a while! It's great that she is eating and I am sure that she will switch to FT in no time.

Joanna

[drache]

congrats
that is great news
even if she's not eating what you'd loke her to - at least she's eating
and I have no doubt that it won't be that hard to switch her to f/t

[Lori P]

Just to clarify- I am a guy. (I know my name could go either way, but I dont)
Loren

OH!!! Loren-- so sorry-- LOL-- hard to tell on emails, you know?? Yes, of course you're a guy, your emails are big, strong and manly... LOLOL

Thanks again everyone for all the help!!! Desdemona is lying in her hide this morning postitively groaning and begging for a Tums...

[anji1971]

I'm surprised she's not plastered all over the tank after exploding...........

[Roy Munson]

That's great news, Lori! I really hope you can get her switched to f/t, but you should be prepared for the very real possibility that it may take quite some time and quite a few live feedings. I don't say this to be a jerk, or to discourage you-- I'm just trying to spare you some disappointment if the conversion to f/t is slow in happening.

A rodent-eating snake that demands live isn't a defective snake. It can be a pain in the butt, but it's not what I would call a "problem feeder". And don't be too sentimental about the pinks. A lot of cute baby animals grow up to be McNuggets, or bacon, or steak. A kingsnake's gotta eat too.

[Lori P]

Dean, ok, I had a talk with me. LOL I committed to this snake, so therefore I am committed to feeding her what she will eat. I just didn't expect to need to BE committed after feeding her live pinks... lol!!!!!

And I'm ok with baby animals growing up to be my meal; I raise my own meat animals. But when I eat my animals, they are killed VERY quickly and painlessly. THAT'S what gets me about this; the few times I peeked in there, those babies were struggling and gasping and THAT is what tears me up-- suffering, not death. Do you know what I mean?? And of course, I do know that nature is cruel... I just don't know why it has to be.

But I will do whatever Desdemona needs me to do for her. I just hope her sorry little black and white butt appreciates my suffering for her. LOL

[Lori P]

Bummed!!!!

I just walked by Desdemona's cage and she caught my eye as she was at the front, doing some strange contortions. As I watched her, she twisted around, mouth working, and then started crawling back to her hide, rubbing her face on the substrate, the hide, and the side of the tank. After she went into the hide, I looked closer around the tank and saw what I thought was poop... until I went to remove it and found she had regurged two of the pinkies. (And let me just say... pinkies 5 days later... UGH!!!!) She ate them last Saturday.

So what's up??? She has had no stress all week... nothing has changed... the only time I even went near her tank was Sunday to refill her water and yesterday morning when I took a pic when she was moving around. The temps have remained the same.

It's possible she regurged the third one, too, but I don't want to disturb her right now to look... I don't see it but it could be in one of the hides or under the aspen. I'll check in a little bit.

Help... this can't be good...

[adamanteus]

I wouldn't panic, Lori. There could be several reasons; too large a meal after a long fast, a sudden fright, or temperatures that are too low. You could check out the last option, but as I say, I wouldn't worry too much just yet. Try feeding her a smaller meal in a few day's time.

[Lori P]

Thanks James. The temps go down to the mid 70's at night in her tank. During the day, the cool part stays at about 75 and the basking spot is about 80-82 (I did lower it from 85-90). That's ok, right?

I will peek around for the last pinky. Maybe three was just too much. If the one stayed down, I'll feel better...

I would really really like to not experience 5 day old half digested baby mice again. That was uniquely unpleasant. lol