Amazon...............Eat

[Kevin McRae]

My adult female amazon tree boa I have had for about 2 months now has not aten.She looks great and has not lost any weight but won't eat dead mice/live mice or dead mice with mouse maker on it.

Why won't she eat and how do I get her to eat.

She is in a large cage that meausures 12x12x36 and the temp is an average 85 F, and the humidity is around 60.
She has no hide but she wraps around a log and hides beneath a hanging plant.

Why won't she eat?

She was eating before I got her.

Please help!

[Beardonicus]

Well, your husbandry sounds a bit off......the humidity may need to be bumped up a bit, and please provide the snake some hides...ATBs are not 100% arboreal and will mot definitely use ground cover if it is offered.

Is the snake WC or CBB? Most WC ATBs have internal parasites and this can cause them to go off feed....have you noticed any runny, discolored and/or smelly stool?

[Kevin McRae]

I don't know if my snake is WC, it was a private sale and they kept the snake for 2 years.

I will adjust it cage around

[Beardonicus]

I don't know if my snake is WC, it was a private sale and they kept the snake for 2 years

WHat do you mean by "private sale"? Whether it was private or not, you should always know where your snake came from......just my opinion.

[Kevin McRae]

I got the snake in the classifieds in my local news paper and the owner said he thinks the snake was WC, he was never told when he asked.

[Beardonicus]

Well if the previous owner isn't sure, then I usppose you can't be expected to know either, lol. ;)

If the snake does not eat soon, I would definitely consider taking a fecal sample to a vet ASAP and having it examined for internal parasites.

How are you offering the food to the snake? Do you handle the snake alot? Too much handling can induce stress which can lead to the snake going off feed.

[Kevin McRae]

I don't handle the snake for good reason..............he is a little aggressive lol.

I tryed feeding him f/t with forceps and just live.

[Beardonicus]

Hmm, well it sounds like you are going about it the right way.....I'd be concerned if it doesn't eat soon, and seek veterinary advice ASAP.

[jjnnbns]

I don't know how accurate this is, as I have only read it, but I have read that putting the head of the pinky against a light bulb or something else VERY warm helps trigger a feeding response.

I don't have an arboreal yet though, so this is not from experience, just reading...

Brent Strande

[Tim_Cranwill]

Whay don;t you just ask Vince? He had him eating just fine...

[Beardonicus]

Originally posted by jjnnbns
I don't know how accurate this is, as I have only read it, but I have read that putting the head of the pinky against a light bulb or something else VERY warm helps trigger a feeding response.

I don't have an arboreal yet though, so this is not from experience, just reading...

Brent Strande

This is true...I have found that many arboreal snakes react better to food that has been warmed up a littl more. I usually just run hot water over the prey then offer to the snake.

[Kevin McRae]

Just to let you guys know, she ate last night.

[Beardonicus]

Awesome! :D

[AmandaLynnS1]

Definately up the humidity level, and if in a few days the snake isn't eating I would take it to the vet.

About 4 months ago my ATB refused to eat for over a month other than that everything seemed to be fine. Any how I was worried so I took him to the vet, he had a repiratory infection and I had to administer antibiotic injections to him for two weeks( this was not fun) He is fine now though.

[Cookie]

WHat do you mean by "private sale"? Whether it was private or not, you should always know where your snake came from......just my opinion.
uhmmmmmmmm like seriously if i sell you a snake and tell you it is captive bred not wild caught is it captive bred because I SAY IT IS?????? lesson in life ...Don't always believe what you are told . If you don't know who your buying from you really don't know what your buying your asuming the person your buying from is telling you the truth there's no "test" that will tell you if it's cb or wc So if you that serious about not buying a wild caught snake then you best get your ( Y ) to a reputable breeder of ATB's or cooks tree boas especialy the cooks as there are only about 3% captive bred cooks in captivity and if you ever want a CAPTIVE BRED cooks then e-mail me because there are only 2 of us in canada breeding true cooks at the moment :)

[Kevin McRae]

Thanks for the heart to heart

[ib_inked]

lol

[JonD]

Originally posted by Cookie
especialy the cooks as there are only about 3% captive bred cooks in captivity and if you ever want a CAPTIVE BRED cooks then e-mail me because there are only 2 of us in canada breeding true cooks at the moment :)
Could I see some pictures of your Cooks tree boas? And who is this other breeder in Canada?

[ib_inked]

And where did you get the 3% from?

[JonD]

Originally posted by ib_inked
And where did you get the 3% from?
I bet I know...;) :D