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Kingsnake advice needed...

T

Tess

New member
Hello, all! Hope this is in the right place.

I picked up a handsome variable kingsnake at a reptile show this weekend, and just wanted some feeding advice. I have definitely searched the 'net and other forums, but have found conflicting and/or non-specific information. I know a lot of members here have kingsnakes, too, and I don't feel as comfortable or trusting about any forum other than this one, so, here I am!

The critter in question (named Cassidy after a character in a comic series, ha) was described as a "late '05 or early '06" by the fellow who owned him. He wasn't the original owner, so he didn't know for sure.

I am not sure on the length (put him in his new viv posthaste after a quick weighing so he could settle in) but his weight is 160g. Now, I'm sort of ignorant in the ways of kingsnakes, but isn't that a little small for, let's say, an early '06 kingsnake of the thayeri sort? The fellow I bought him from did readily say that he has been on a strictly-maintenance diet, as he wasn't needed in breeding plans. He also said he thought it was a slow-grower, as these things go.

No backbone showing or anything alarming. Hasn't been fed for a little more than 14 days, but I am still going to give him at least three to settle in here before I try it.

So, the question is...what size mouse/mice should I be feeding him, and how often? I'm not planning on breeding him so I am in no hurry, but I of course want him to grow into a full-sized specimen.

I wish I could find a neat-o guideline like The Munson Plan for kingsnakes, ack!

Any input?

Thank you!
 
Now I just found something that suggests that thayeris stay rather small. Am I perhaps just confused because of this? If so, question on size of prey/frequency still stands, and my apologies for the size confusion. :)
 
I would look at the diameter of the snake and feed a mouse no bigger than the snake's diameter. Kingsnakes aren't as stretchy through the head as corns for some reason. I tend to feed my kings double of the next size down from what I'd feed a corn of the same size. So If I thought the snake was big enough for a hopper, then I'd feed two fuzzies. If the snake is big enough for an adult, then maybe two weaneds. But some snakes don't like multiple prey items.

I feed my guys every five days until they are 200 grams, or sometimes even 300g, and that's a generous feeding cycle. You could easily feed once a week if you wanted to.
 
It doesn't really matter what the average weight for his age is- he is what he is. And you say he isn't thin, so I wouldn't worry. I have two 2007's that are 35 grams! And others that are 150! Everybody grows at a different rate, but they all end up nearly the same.
 
Thayeris do tend to be smaller. 160 at 2 years old is pretty small, but as Nanci said...as long as he isn't unhealthy, I wouldn't worry about it. He may have been brumated every winter, cutting his growing time in half.

Nanci is correct...prey should be about the same as the thickest part of the snake, and about once week is good.
 
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