My baby boa is acting weird

[Eternalavenger]

well she's not really a baby...she's about 7 or 8 months old, 26 inches long...and all that jazz...but she hasnt eaten in a month or so...each time we feed her she strikes like normal (she doesnt respond even remotely to f/t so we feed her live)...then she just lets go...looks around the body...tries to eat it from the back...realizes that she cant get it like that (after a few tries) and gives up. Im afraid if she keeps going on like this she's going to die of starvation...any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated thank you!!!

[cougar]

what is the temp like? are u feeding her in the cage or out?

[Eternalavenger]

well the temp is a normal 83 to 88 on the hot side of her tank...but i dont feed her in her tank...i feed her in a separate little rubbermaid thing...it's awfully cold in my house (around 68 or so) so i keep it in the bathroom when i feed her and there's no air circulation in there so it's a little warmer...probably 70 75 or so...

[DaemoNox]

How long are you giving her before she 'gives up'? Some snakes it can take a little while; I would suggest next time feeding her in the enclosure and if she kills it but doesnt eat it just leave it in with her and leave her alone for a few hours or overnight.

[Eternalavenger]

i give her about 30 minutes with the mouse...i'll actually try that next time we feed her...she doesnt seem to be responding to anything but live mice...any tips for weening her to f/t??

[twiztidjuggalo]

i have tha same problem with my central american boa the only thing she will eat is live adult mice and gerbals you can get a live mouse and wack it in the head with a pencil and dangle it infront of the snake leading it to temptation

[Eternalavenger]

yeah i figured that and tried it a few times but she just seems like she knows the difference and wont eat anything accept live mice...still looking for weening tips also

[spikes666]

i had the same problem. what i do is feed mine about 2 or 3 meals live but kinda small for them so that the rodent wont harm them, once i know for sure that they will take live right off the bat then i start doin pre killed (i usually just brake their neck so that they are still flintching, it may seem in-humane but thats what it takes to feed them). Once they get used to that then i start feeding them pre killed in a shoe box so its nice and dark, i dont know why that helps but it does. once they get used to that then i start feeding f/t. after the food is thawed out i keep them under a heat lamp until im ready to give it to them. this way the body of the food still feels like it is still alive. this has worked for me for a few different snakes but some snakes are just very finicky eaters. make sure that when you feed them pre killed and f/t that once they strike you hold on to the tail and start pulling back so it gives the snake the idea that the food is still alive, shake it real good and it should do the trick.

[viper99]

try feeding it in the tank

[Eternalavenger]

yeah those are great suggestions...i really appreciate the advice thanks guys

[LukeLikesSnakes]

Try feeding it smaller live mice. My boa swallows mice backwards all the time but will give up trying to swallow a rat backwards. The legs mess him up.

[henry viii]

i have two red tail boas, and they both are anyoing eaters. my younger one is about the same age as yours and she dose the exact same thing as yours. i was worried two but in the end I wasn't giving her enough time. i have discovered that she eats the mouse about an hour after she kills it. also she really likes it when i turn off the lights, i think it gives her privacy. so anyway i suggest giving her along time to figure things out and maybe stepping back s she dosn't feel like your interfering.