Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

thomas mcpherson · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 613

i bought a Mexican black king snake i have almost kept it for a week have you got any solutions

Scott W · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:07 am Post subject:

are you feeding it 'wet' or dry defrosted food?

Also how big is the snake? (if it's adult it may be wanting to hibernate now it's getting colder)
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thomas mcpherson · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 613

it is a yearling and i feed it wet

Scott W · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:12 am Post subject:

has it fed for you before?
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thomas mcpherson · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 613

yes it was a really good feeder in the shop i bought it from

Scott W · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:18 am Post subject:

Try offering the food dry and warmer (I defrost mice over night, then place them on a warm surface for 15 mins before feeding), sometimes defrosting in water washes away the rodent smell.

Failing that check with the shop what / how they fed it, do you know and trust the shop well? Some other the less reputable shops will say anything to get a sale Sad

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Please DO NOT pm orders for reptiles, send email instead scott@captivebred.co.uk

thomas mcpherson · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 613

thanks Scott

Peter Parrot · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 8:53 am Post subject:

Hope it feeds for you soon. Wink

What are the temperatures in the viv and does it have a hide?
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thomas mcpherson · CaptiveBred Addict! Joined: 27 Aug 2006 Posts: 613

the temperature is round 30
he has a hide which in made but he wont use it do you think that would be the problem.

Peter Parrot · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 9:08 am Post subject:

Hi Thomas, an ambient temp of 75-85f (sorry, not good with centigrade! Rolling Eyes

) is ideal. Having the heat source at one end rather than in the middle will create a temperature gradient (must use a thermostat of course) which will suit the snake much better than an even temperature everywhere. A hide is essential for a snake to feel secure enough to feed. A nice snug one that the snake can feel both sides of when coiled will make a king feel secure and hence ready to feed.

It may be that the hide is positioned in too warm a spot. One hide at the cool end, and another at the warm end allows the snake to make a choice. What I do is have one long narrow hide (I use a length of plastic guttering turned upside down, all my kings love to use them) which stretches from the cool end to the warm end so that the snake can move from one to the other and still stay out of sight and feel secure if it chooses too.
_________________
YSBRYDOLI POBL, GWELLA LLEOEDD
INSPIRING PEOPLE, IMPROVING PLACES
www.btcv.org
Visit our website - Gwelwch ein Gwefan
www.btcvcymru.org
Llinell Gymorth / Helpline: 08702 40 48 41