Not looking good

[Mark Taylor]

:sad: I have 1 baby boa that still has yet to eat been almost 3 months now and looks to be loosing weight. It just is not interested as soon as it smells a rat or mice it stops flicking its tongue and turns away. I have tried everything apart from force feeding which I will not be doing.

Anyone else had a baby bci that didn't eat and how long?

Cheers guys

[MDT]

mark, i understand about force feeding. have you considered "assist" feeding (placing the mouse/rat in its mouth and seeing if it will then take it on its own.

[Mikoh4792]

At that point I'd just try leaving one in the enclosure every week overnight.


Have you tried scenting with chicken or tuna?


Edit: I also agree with assist feeding. My baby ball python showed no interest for two months and I began assist feeding when she was losing weight. I think I did this 4 times and she developed one of the strongest feeding responses out of the group. Would take a rat without hesitation after getting started.

[Mark Taylor]

mark, i understand about force feeding. have you considered "assist" feeding (placing the mouse/rat in its mouth and seeing if it will then take it on its own.

I have not tried that because the stress may have the reverse affect if it was to swallow it could cause a regurge, if it spits it out all I have achieved is adding stress.

But if I am convinced I would certainly try.

At that point I'd just try leaving one in the enclosure every week overnight.




Have you tried scenting with chicken or tuna?

I do leave it in overnight have done since first time I offered.

Yes tried that also tried braining.

[Mikoh4792]

I have not tried that because the stress may have the reverse affect if it was to swallow it could cause a regurge, if it spits it out all I have achieved is adding stress.


I wouldn't say assist feeding is too stressful. It's actually what got my ball python to start eating on its own. You can assist feed without securing the snakes head. Just bring the mouse to the snakes mouth and slightly push/maneuver it in. Once it's inside the snakes jaws it will usually constrict.

I only did this to two snakes in my life but both times it got them started on striking and constricting on their own after a few assists.

[formica]

have you tried some food a little less conventional? live amphibians or geckos? expensive food i know, but it might help in the meantime while u try and switch to something more practical?

my crb only strikes food which is above her and is much more interested when its moving, always strikes as the food moves away - i suspect this is an obv suggestion, but its the first time ive come across it with any snake

[morgans boas]

I've had several babies thru the years that refuse . After their 4th refusal I will force-feed the smallest possible meal (1-3 day old mouse) . This has worked every time but once, on a runty one . By the 3rd or 4th force-fed meal , they're hitting it on their own. I had a bab Aztec refusing food this season , and after 3 tiny force-feeding she's now consuming with vigor.

[Steve'O]

I would try assisted feeding by just cutting off a tail and gently inserting this into the snakes mouth and see if it will take that down. You can also expose the mouse or rats brain and rubbing this on the snakes nose. Sometimes this will illicit a feeding response. Is the snake drinking at all? Also, what is your set up? Temps, hides, humidity? If she looks dehydrated, does her skin look loose? If the assisted feeding doesn't work after several days I would consult an exotic vet.

[KORBIN5895]

This sounds harsh but I would (and have ) let it pass. It's nature's way of saying something may not be 100% right with this one.

[Mark Taylor]

This sounds harsh but I would (and have ) let it pass. It's nature's way of saying something may not be 100% right with this one.

This is my personal opinion, yes it is harsh but that's life 1 out of 24 is not bad. I did have concernes from day 1 on this snake, I tried again this week by dipping it in salmon it did seem interested at first but NO it refused and did not eat I give it a couple more months before I say goodbye I hope it changes it's mind soon.

I will keep everyone updated thanks for the comments and support.

[marvelfreak]

Have you try live?

[Mark Taylor]

Yes live mouse 2 day old tried 3 times. After the second shed 2 months after all the others I handled it and noticed it was solid around the vent then after a couple of minutes it craped and peed on me, I thought that may have been the reason but a month has passed since and no luck. I would love it if it ate my wife has said she want's to keep this one because of the patterns and the fact it don't strike at her lol I have tried everything up to now and never offered more than once a week.

[Caylan]

Not too sure on the background of this, but have you tried a different cage? Sometimes they don't like their enclosure... We had a pastel het pied in 2011 that would not eat at all, I force fed it multiple times to get it to go, and eventually I was told to put her down... I decided to try taking her home and see if I could get her going there first... first night home in her new cage, she took a frozen thawed rat right off the tongs... took her and my cage back to work, and once she grew, we were able to move her up with no issues and she eats great to this day and weighed in at 1080g today. I haven't had a problem feeder to her extent since, so this is my only real experience with this, but it's worth a shot. The cage I put her in at my place was larger then her original one we started her in, but had more hides and a larger water dish. Not sure what she has going now, but maybe she wants a more complex set up before she feels comfortable enough to eat. Good luck either way, it sounds like you had a successful litter otherwise, so congrats on that as well.

[Mark Taylor]

Just a quick update.

Unfortunately it refused again on Sunday and I found it dead this morning so sad.

Thanks for everyone's advice but it wasn't meant to be.

[formica]

aw :( sorry to hear!

[shaunyboy]

Just a quick update.

Unfortunately it refused again on Sunday and I found it dead this morning so sad.

Thanks for everyone's advice but it wasn't meant to be.


sorry to hear it died

you did everything you could,so don't beat yourself up mate

1 out of 24 is a good result imo

cheers shaun

[Aaron_S]

Just a quick update.

Unfortunately it refused again on Sunday and I found it dead this morning so sad.

Thanks for everyone's advice but it wasn't meant to be.

Bummer.

This is part and parcel with breeding reptiles. I know you knew this personally but a lot of people don't so thanks for sharing with the rest.

Everyone should realize that not all babies survive.

[Mark Taylor]

Cheers guys.

To be honest I was surprised how long it lasted I was in 2 minds weather to put it out of its misery but didn't really know when the right time was.

As for breading this was my first but not my last I have enjoyed every minute of it.

[Kid Boa]

Sorry to hear Mark, you did everything you could, some times it just isn't meant to be. :(

[Kera]

Sorry to hear that :(I'm glad all the others are doing well though. :)

[Salem]

i had to force feed 3 times with my baby hog, then move to assist, now he strikes and constricts every time. sometimes it can work, but i understand why youre hesitant. good luck!

[NagyReptiles]

Sorry about your loss!