Wont eat

[carciady]

Hi I have had my female Boa for about 2 months now and she wont eat, she is a 100% het albino Khal strain and she is arout 7 foot long, she is starting to look thin,I was told to give her medium rats, please can anyone help.

Yours Ady

[carciady]

PS she shed 2 weeks ago.

[Chu'Wuti]

Ady, what are all your temperatures, the humidity, the set-up, etc.? Has she ever eaten for you? What are you trying to feed her, when, and how?

[carciady]

HI the temps are 92 and 84, humidity is 72. she is in a 48" by 18" by 18" viv. she has never eaten for me, She is a 7 1/2 foot long and I am trying to feed her medium rats I try to feed in the evening and I use tongs to move the rat around to make it look like live.

[Chu'Wuti]

OK, when you try to feed her, are you getting the rat thoroughly warmed and the head heated even more? If that's not working, you might try slitting the top of the rat's skull open, too; do it right after heating the head thoroughly. It's really gross, but sometimes it works.

Also, where are you measuring the temps? In a hide, on the floor, up on the side of the enclosure?

Humidity might be a little high but the small difference shouldn't be a problem, I don't think. Someone with more boa experience might have a better idea; hopefully, they'll jump on here soon.

[carciady]

I warm the rats to room temp over 8 hours then use hot water to heat the head of the rat. I have never heard of sliting the head, I might try that one.

Temps are at floor level at each end of the viv.

I am wondering if she may be gravid as I put her straight in with my male when I bought her (I was told to do this by the shop that sold her to me) I now know that that is the wrong thing to do as i didnt quarentene her.

Many thanks for taking the time to comment on the post, Ady

[Chu'Wuti]

Hmmm . . . from what I've heard, it isn't necessarily easy to tell when a boa is gravid.

However, it is fairly common for snakes to stop eating for one reason or another that have nothing to do with being gravid, such as being moved into a new home.

How often are you handling her? and I forgot to ask when you are trying to feed her.

[carciady]

YEY she has had her first feed with me, I tried the head spliting thing and its worked. Many thanks. Ady

[carciady]

I dont handle her much as he was snappy but i am getting her used to me now and i have started strokeing her.

[Chu'Wuti]

Congrats! I'm so glad she ate for you--what a relief!