Kingsnake feeding questions

Hey all,

Hope this is the right place for this, i know it doesnt belong in cornsnake feeding related, but didn't know if there was somewhere more appropriate...

I have a Mexican Black Kingsnake that is 30 grams and over 14 inches long. I don't know exact length because I have not measured him lately. Length in late March was 14". I follow the Munson Feeding Plan for our corns and assumed kingsnakes would be about the same, so I have been feeding him two pinkies every 6-7 days. Lately I have noticed he looks quite round and I can see wrinkles on the side of his skin. At first I thought it was only on the insides of bends, but when he is straightened out you can see it. I am wondering if he is getting a little too fat. I know pics would help, but I am not that good at gettting pics on the web and I think I can get my question answered without pics.

My question is this: should a kingsnake follow the same feeding plan as a cornsnake? what about a milksnake?

Thanks in advance,
Jimmy

The only thing I know is that their skin isn't as elastic as a corn's so you shouldn't use the 1.5x rule when feeding. Him getting "round" could just be him filling out into a more mature frame. I don't really know what to tell you. Pics would help though (sorry...I know you didn't want to hear that).

I have a peachy colored corn that gets those wrinkles...I feed my kings slightly smaller prey- because they just don't seem like they can open their mouths as wide as corns. But it's hard to imagine a baby snake getting fat- they just grow faster. If he's eating the two pinks and growing and doing fine, then I think he's ok! I for sure wouldn't try to cut back or anything.

I keep 3.4 MBKs here and I use the Munson plan. Snakes at that age can not get fat. It just goes into their growth. Once they get to 300 grams you can ease up a bit but until then keep following.

Now the crinkles could be almost dry skin. She may be dehydrated. Is your snake all Glossy?? They gotta look glossy and if they do not well then she may be in blue or about to go into shed soon.

Also Length means nothing at this time.. its mainly grams.
At this size, just only feed 1 fuzzy.

Regular fuzzies (7-9g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 30-50g)
-Hoppers (9-12g) every 6-7 days (Snake = 51-90g)
-Weaned (14-20g) every 7 days (Snake = 91-170g)
-Adult (20-30g) every 7-x days (Snake = 170+) See below.

Click to expand...

Now the crinkles could be almost dry skin. She may be dehydrated. Is your snake all Glossy?? They gotta look glossy and if they do not well then she may be in blue or about to go into shed soon.

Click to expand...

Good point. a retained shed will do that as well.

Thanks for the good advice, more to come?

Thank you so far! I did forget to mention that he/she did shed about two weeks ago. He eats like a champ, for some reason likes to make a bloody mess as he does so. Looks like a scene from texas chainsaw massacre. We put slices in their food, but noone makes a mess like this guy! He usually does look nice and glossy, part of the reason I had to have him, he is beautiful!!

According to the Munson plan he should be just starting to eat 1 fuzzy, but I wonder if I should keep him on 2 pinkies for a few more weeks just because kings don't stretch like corns? Tricksterpup, I don't want you to think I dont appreciate your advice, but I tend to not move my snakes up very fast, too worried about regurge, I guess.

Thank you all VERY much for the advice. All is appreciated.
Jimmy

LawDog1 said:

=
According to the Munson plan he should be just starting to eat 1 fuzzy, but I wonder if I should keep him on 2 pinkies for a few more weeks just because kings don't stretch like corns? Tricksterpup, I don't want you to think I dont appreciate your advice, but I tend to not move my snakes up very fast, too worried about regurge, I guess.

Thank you all VERY much for the advice. All is appreciated.
Jimmy

Click to expand...

Have you tried a small fuzzy, Peach fuzzy. At this size they should be eating larger prey. But its better to give them the Fuzzies over pinks at this time. Snakes start to jump up in growth once they are eating fuzzies. its the fat content in the prey item.