Kingsnake keepers-- a little help please???

[Lori P]

Ok guys-- I am a sucker, I am a sucker, and I know it... LOL!!! But I have always been sooooo enamored by the pueblan milksnakes... so I brought this one home, she is a female apricot and I lover her coloring and markings!!!



But here's where I need help... I talked a lot to the nice man who had these snakes, and he told me when I decided on the above that he'd throw this one in for $5 extra because she is not eating yet. She is a coastal california king, and she is 6 weeks old. I figured, I could give her as good of a chance as anyone, right? Especially with all of you to help!!!! :-) So please please send thoughts on getting her to feed... he told me to start by "braining" (ugh) a pinkie for a few tries before force feeding...



Thanks in advance for any help!!!

[Lori P]

Incidentally, she is very active and alert.

[adamanteus]

'Braining' is good. Also you could try lacerating the pinky's nose a little, that works sometimes. If she's not too nervous, you could try pressing the pinky against the tip of her nose/mouth, sometimes that can cause them to open up and start swallowing. The trick is not to make it a trauma, for her or for yourself!

Anyway Lori.... It's a Cali King.... of course it will eat!

[Lori P]

Well, that's what he said too... he said they almost always start eating. But she is soooo much smaller than the others were. I should give her a couple of days to settle before offering her something, right?

How long can a baby go before starting to eat???? I mean-- 6 weeks already!!!!

[adamanteus]

Well, 6 weeks is a while, but she still looks okay so far. Patience and perseverance is the order of the day. You may have to force-feed to start her off, but you'll be fine. See what happens over this next week, just give her plenty of opportunities to hide, so she settles more quickly.

[Lori P]

Thanks James. She has a hide in her little tank, but right now she is busy busy busy!!! I hope that's a good sign. I need to go read everything I can now on king snakes. I kind of did that thing that I HATE when others do it: I jumped in without doing my homework ahead of time!! I never do that... but omg, they were just CALLING to me.... :-)

[adamanteus]

There is another trick you could try, Lori. Wash a pinky, dry it, then thoroughly rub it all over one of your Garters!

[Lori P]

Ohhhh... (brain is going) So now when the garters are bad I can threaten them by waving the king snake in front of them... lol!!! :-)

[KITKAT]

Check your local herp show or your pet expo next time it is in town, or look online. What you are looking for is African Pygmy mice... specifically, you want a pinkie or two.

Scent them with garter and try feeding them live. You will be amazed at their small size, and sometimes this helps... but they are durned hard to find!

[Sid]

Ohhhh... (brain is going) So now when the garters are bad I can threaten them by waving the king snake in front of them... lol!!! :-)

Lori, I believe that James' point was, a king snake will readily eat another snake when it won't it anything else. It's their nature. And....congrat's on both purchases. They were a real bargin ( even if not Garters).