rat pups or fuzzy rats

[ortega]

I don't know what to feed my hogg isle boa. she is 2 feet and i have been feeding her adult mice. I want to feed her small rats but i can only find frozen ones. Sould i just feed her frozen ones? and what size rat is about the size of an adult mouse?

[Dani33]

Here's a good site for referencing weights and whatnot-
http://www.rodentpro.com/products.asp
All of my snakes are on frozen thawed. It's certainly easier for me and my snakes don't mind ;)

[CHRISANDBOIDS14]

Frozen thawed all the way. A live mouse can injure a snake badly. A small rat is even worse.

Chris

[ortega]

k i feed her a nice sized rat pup and i think she loved it! I don't think she will feed on frozen though, because last time i left a dead mouse in the tank she did not take it. I held the rat with tongs and offered it to her, but acted scared and tried to get away. If i feed her dead i dont think it will work out, but i want to feed her dead rats! whats the best way to feed Frozen thawed rats?

[BurmGuy87]

Well keep trying......but as long as she will only take live...definately only give her rat pups or fuzzies....no live small rats please!

[Derrick]

Well I make sure the f/t is nice and warm(feels warm on the back of your hand). then I just dangle it in front of the hide(not to close) and she comes out for a sniff and boom. once she wasnt interested so I left in in the cage for an hour then rewarmed it and repeated and she took it. I use hot water for heating. Maybe just give her 3-4 weeks with out a meal you could try talking the water dish away a feew days before feeding too. A warm wet rat might tickle her fancy then.

[Big_V]

It depends how strong the feeding response is. Some serious "moving" of the F/T rat should work fairly well. Ive heard of some ppl kinda lightly bopping the rat into the boa's face to get it to strike and take it. WIth a little acting and pretending its real it should take it.

[ortega]

I put her in a feeding tank and she is used to eating there. Today when I tried to move it in front of her she was scared of my arm in the tank, and just tried to get out rather than strike. Mabey I should let her get really hungry next time.

[Derrick]

you could throw a hide in the feedinging container and wait until she hides then she wont see your arm. As far as tapping her with the rat it may work. It does with my jungle carpet pythons. Sometimes I have to really get them pissed. I dont tap them on the face though just the body. I did try it with my boa once but had no luck.

I'ld try the hide in the feeding tank first mine always strikes from her hide

[ortega]

mine usually gets into the S position and either waits for the mouse come to her or sometimes goes after it. when i offered her the rat today she was scared of my presence. Mabey if i keep trying she will get used to me there. i'll try the hid idea next time to, that may work. thanks ps. would be easier if they were just like corns