baby sand boa not eating

[alessia55]

My cousin just got her first snake- a baby sand boa. We bought him at a reptile expo, and the breeder told us that he had eaten 4 times already. He weighs 7 grams. Now, I'm personally a ball python person, so i'm usually a bit lost when it comes to other types of snakes, hence my post.

She has tried feeding it, but it refused to eat. She left him alone with the prey for two hours with no luck. I know that with ball pythons, missing a meal here and there isn't a big deal, and that most snakes can go quite some time without eating. My concern is that i'm used to ball python hatchlings that already weigh 50 grams... and this little KSB only weighs 7 grams!

I know you're all going to ask these questions so here we go: the setup she has is correct for the snake's size, right temps, right humidity, enough hiding spots, and he's on aspen bedding. He is pretty active during the day exploring and climbing over some of his leafy decor stuff. From all the information we've read about KSBs and what we were told from the breeder, nothing about his setup needs fixing. She has left him alone, not bothering him or handling him, except to take him out and try to offer food.

She's going to keep trying to feed him, giving him plenty of time between tries, etc. I was just wondering if anyone else has any additional advice, and if you have experience with hatchling sand boas. Is 7 grams an OK weight for this little guy? He's only about 4 weeks old. Let me know. We would love to get some info from experienced people! Thanks!

[Kayla90]

It may just be that he is stressed out from the moving, just give him a few days by himself to get use to everything without bother and then try again...
I see that you say she is taking him out to feed him?? I'd say next time you try, try it with him in his enclosure..

[millertime89]

what Kayla said. The other thing you can try is leave the food on the lid of a butter dish or something similar and leave it in his cage, cover the cage with a blanket/towel and check to see if he ate it the next morning.

[alessia55]

Shes going to try doing what you've suggested: putting the pinkie on a small dish inside his cage overnight.

I'm still wondering though: is 7 grams an OK weight right now for his age? Again, he's about 4 weeks old.

[alessia55]

Shes going to try doing what you've suggested: putting the pinkie on a small dish inside his cage overnight.

I'm still wondering though: is 7 grams an OK weight right now for his age? Again, he's about 4 weeks old.

[ZARADOZIA]

Also have her wash & rinse her hands thoroughly before touching any food items and feeding him.

Lotion, scented lotion, hand sanitizer, etc, can transfer the scent to the food. I'm a lotion freak...I learned this one the hard way. Damn their sense of smell!

[Gungirl]

Ok I know nothing of sand boa's so forgive me if im wrong but wouldn't it be happier on sand than Aspen?

[marvelfreak]

Shes going to try doing what you've suggested: putting the pinkie on a small dish inside his cage overnight.

I'm still wondering though: is 7 grams an OK weight right now for his age? Again, he's about 4 weeks old.
This weight is find. They are a lot smaller than Balls.

[alessia55]

This weight is find. They are a lot smaller than Balls.

What a relief- thanks!

[totheend]

I find sand boas are hard to get to eat f/t right away. They usually need live for a while. Best way to feed in in a deli container with substrate (I use aspen chip). Feed a live pink. Leave the pink and the boa in the container for a few hours.

[Shmoges]

If I ever buy another kenyan it wont be a baby I don't know what my problem is with them but I've had too many wither and die from RI/not feeding problems. I would recommend spending the extra money for a juvenal at least, that way you know you are getting a snake that has ate enough consistently to grow.

BTW Try putting the snake in a small dish with air holes and the food item over night. that way they can't get away from it.

[totheend]

Shmoges, sorry that you have had such bad luck. I have never had any problems like that with babies. I buy babies that have had at least 3 meals. Were you buying from the same breeder??

[alessia55]

I no longer have this baby sand boa. I gave it back to the breeder who gave me no refund and only offered an exchange for another sand boa of the same age for $20. I didn't take the offer. Instead of another sand boa I went with a rosy boa, which was also a mistake: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/erycines/88889-sick-rosy-boa.html

[Shmoges]

Its just sand boas that I have had a problem with, babies and sub adults. Our Corn babies that we have raised have been easy to take care of.

[CK SandBoas]

I no longer have this baby sand boa. I gave it back to the breeder who gave me no refund and only offered an exchange for another sand boa of the same age for $20. I didn't take the offer. Instead of another sand boa I went with a rosy boa, which was also a mistake: http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/erycines/88889-sick-rosy-boa.html


I am so sorry! You just seem to be having the worst luck, not only with the baby sand boa, but now with your new Rosy Boa as well:(

[alessia55]

I am so sorry! You just seem to be having the worst luck, not only with the baby sand boa, but now with your new Rosy Boa as well:(

Yeah... :( My cousin and I are quite upset by the whole situation... Slowly trying to work it all out

[snake man12]

:)That sucks. Maybe try a rubber boa there a little more expensive but pretty cool. Or a ball:)

[totheend]

:)That sucks. Maybe try a rubber boa there a little more expensive but pretty cool. Or a ball:)

I agree with the rubber boa comment!!

[KORBIN5895]

Rubber boa? I am lost.

[snake man12]

It's the only boa [not including rosy's] that is found in the united states, Google it there oober cool

[snake man12]

http://i1098.photobucket.com/albums/g361/412bro/images.jpg

[Tiger_stripes]

I wonder if it was maybe because you weren't using sand? I can't say for sure, just because I have just bought a baby Sand Boa as well (and I'm clearly not very experienced), but what I CAN say is that she has eaten for me. The only real differences are that you used aspen bedding instead of sand, and that you removed her from her habitat to feed her (which has already been addressed).
I mean, my baby was willing to eat 3 days after her move, so It's definitely worth considering if you want to try your hand at a sand boa again in the future.

[lady_bug87]

The thing I don't get is that if you are so into bps which is awesome why not get your cousin one of those? You know that species inside and out and you would be about to assess the animal because of how familiar you are with them

Not a criticism just an idea

[alessia55]

Yeah- This is exactly what I told my cousin. I know BPs inside and out as you've said. But my cousin didn't want a ball python. She likes mine, but she wanted something that didn't get as "fat" or as "big" as a ball python, and she wanted something with less demanding husbandry (didn't want to deal with the humidity thing, etc). She finally got a cali kingsnake this past weekend and she's real happy with him. She'll try feeding him on Thursday or Friday this week, but I have a really good feeling about him. I also have a lot of experince with colubrids, so this was a fine choice for her. :) (but yeah, I'm totally biased towards ball pythons as we all know ;) )

[CK SandBoas]

Hope your Cousin enjoys her new Cali King! She should not have a problem getting the King to eat, they are eating machines:D

[CK SandBoas]

I wonder if it was maybe because you weren't using sand? I can't say for sure, just because I have just bought a baby Sand Boa as well (and I'm clearly not very experienced), but what I CAN say is that she has eaten for me. The only real differences are that you used aspen bedding instead of sand, and that you removed her from her habitat to feed her (which has already been addressed).
I mean, my baby was willing to eat 3 days after her move, so It's definitely worth considering if you want to try your hand at a sand boa again in the future.


I can say that all my Sand Boas are kept on Aspen Bedding, and i've had no problem with them eating. Babies are known to be difficult to get started eating, especially if you start with F/T right away. Also, the size of the pinkies can also be an issue, as not all suppliers offer x-small pinkies. It could be a number of reasons why Alessia's cousin's Sand Boa never ate, maybe it was the Aspen, who knows?:)

[alessia55]

Bah. Oh well. It's all in the past now guys. She has the cali king now (http://www.ssnakess.com/forums/lampropeltis/89036-my-new-cali-king-snake.html) and she's real happy with him. Like KKGal said, I'm sure it'll eat because kings are eating machines ;) We're looking forward to his first meal with her this coming Friday

[CK SandBoas]

Let us know how the first feeding goes!:D

[Tiger_stripes]

I can say that all my Sand Boas are kept on Aspen Bedding, and i've had no problem with them eating. Babies are known to be difficult to get started eating, especially if you start with F/T right away. Also, the size of the pinkies can also be an issue, as not all suppliers offer x-small pinkies. It could be a number of reasons why Alessia's cousin's Sand Boa never ate, maybe it was the Aspen, who knows?:)

Oh for sure, and from the sounds of this breeder, I would bet it was from coming from such a stressful environment in the first place. I wasn't too sure if there would be much of a difference in the two substrates in the snakes eyes. I guess it's just an owner's visual preference.