Cal. King Snake

Question
QUESTION: My snake is approx 8 years old and for the last two weeks has been on the move constantly and not feeding, this is the first time he has been so active without resting, any advice would be helpful.
Thank you

ANSWER: Linda,
   Could be a lot of things. The two most likely that come to mind are A)he is about to shed or B) snake mites. Do not be alarmed unless he goes months without eating. Check for mites and give him a good soak. He should come around soon.

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QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response. It is not a shedding problem, but how can I see if it is mites what do I look for. Thank you

Answer
Hi Linda,
   Mites look like specks of pepper, maybe a little larger. Let him crawl through your hand starting with the head. Once he is 50% or more though your hand, see if you see any on your hands. Another thing to consider is that snakes are just plain odd. In winter, I have noticed that a lot of snake show odd behavior. I have a cal king that attacks anything that comes near him. In winter, sometimes he eats and sometimes he doesn't. I wouldn't worry too much about his activity level, especially if you find no mites.