Male Boa not eating, female eating fine.

[greengriff]

This is the 3rd month in a row that my male boa has refused his rat. In the meantime the female has taken 3 without issue. He also seems to be relentlessly active, moving around the viv whenever I happen to look in on him, whereas the female is as chilled out as normal. Whenever I open the front of the viv he immediately moves to get out. The female is housed directly below him (they are in one large viv, divided horizontally into two floors and there are holes in the floor to circulate air). I'm wondering if he's trying to get to her?

I'm getting worried now. Should I be? Surely 3 months is too long not to be eating?

Can any of you suggest anything that I could do to perk up his appetite. Prior to this problem he has eaten, poo'd and shed his skin just fine.

[bigsnakegirl785]

It's very possible he's just wanting to breed. You don't need to breed him just because he's antsy, just give him a little more time, and once temps rise again he should go back to normal.

I fast my adult boas 3 months every winter, with almost no effect on their weight, they lose maybe a few ounces at most.

If your temps are bit low, you could try bumping them, but honestly he'll be fine without food until warmer weather.

[greengriff]

That's very reassuring, thank you! How many months would he have to miss before you'd be worried?

Do you think he can smell some kind of pheromone on the female? Perhaps I could mask it with some other smell? I feel sorry for him! I know how I'd feel if my wife was teasing me and I was unable to participate! :-)

[richardhind]

I ageee with bsg definitely hormones

I’ve got a male in with my female boa at the Mo and the other two adult males who’s vivs are in top are roaming as if hungry but refusing food when tried, they did the same last year, it stoped soon as she ovulated as I presume there is no longer a pheromone produced
Normally lasts few months depending the snake , so don’t worry too much

In the wild they may not eat for a few months

[greengriff]

Many thanks for your help and reassurance as always!

[bigsnakegirl785]

That's very reassuring, thank you! How many months would he have to miss before you'd be worried?

Do you think he can smell some kind of pheromone on the female? Perhaps I could mask it with some other smell? I feel sorry for him! I know how I'd feel if my wife was teasing me and I was unable to participate! :-)

If he doesn’t eat when warm weather comes again, or shows other worrisome symptoms then I’d concerned. Snakes can also go a long time without food, so he could like go 6-8+ months and be just fine. I’d only be concerned in this case since boas are hearty eaters. If he stills refuses even with warm weather, something else is probably wrong.

You can double check husbandry, and monitor health (judge behavior, keep a monthly log of weight, etc.) in the meantime, but I wouldn’t worry much about getting him to eat until spring/summer, and vet attention won’t be needed unless he loses more than 20% of his weight.