Boa not eating

thecrazycoop · 07-28-12, 11:02 AM

We have a baby Central American Boa. We've had him for 2+1/2 weeks and he has not eaten yet. The things we have tried are frozen fuzzies, brained fuzzies, live fuzzy, putting him in the bath for a bit and then feeding him, feeding at night, putting him in a brown bag with the fuzzy over night under the heat lamp, covering his cage etc. His temperature gradient is fine and so is the humidity. My son has been holding him a lot as he loves him, but think I'm gonna stop that until he eats. Anything else we could try? I really don't want to "force" feed him as I have never done that before and it seems kind of crappy. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so very much!

SnakeyJay · 07-28-12, 12:08 PM

You need to slow down how much your attempting to feed him.. Try, then leave for Atleast 5 days before you try again. Trying too often will stress your boa.. also yes it's a good idea to stop all handling untill it's feeding regularly as this may also be the cause.

If you tell us some details we may be able to help more.. Temperatures of hot and cold end, what's it housed in and how are you heating the viv/rub.
Also are you heating the prey well, my boa's will only eat if it's toasty warm

Jay · 07-28-12, 01:02 PM

Leve the boa alone for 14 days only providing fresh water, no other interaction. In 2 weeks offer a nice warm meal in his own tank.

thecrazycoop · 07-28-12, 01:13 PM

"If you tell us some details we may be able to help more.. Temperatures of hot and cold end, what's it housed in and how are you heating the viv/rub.
Also are you heating the prey well, my boa's will only eat if it's toasty warm "

It is housed in a tank with ecoearth substrate. The low end is 78 and the high is 91. The humidity is 50-60 % We have been heating the pinkies in warm water first and right before I run really hot water over it (in the bag of course.) There are lots of hides, things to climb on etc. Big water bowl too. I did read to not try to feed it so often, but that was just this morning so I will stop trying for at least a week. I'm just concerned about the fact that is hasn't eaten. I know they can go awhile, it just scares me.

(my son forced me to put the faceO

Thanks for your help. This is our first boa and we don't want to screw him up.

**millertime89** · 07-28-12, 02:17 PM

offer every 5 days, try bumping humidity, reduce handling to 0 until he's fed a few times and shed at least once.

thecrazycoop · 08-05-12, 05:34 PM

Okay, so we tried a week after posting and he didn't eat. My concern is for his health and I am wondering when I should start to worry (well technically, I'm already worried, but wondering when I should take other measures) My son has not held him at all since posting either. I've read about force feeding but from what I've read it is a last resort and very stressful. I truly don't want to do that but don't want the snake to be malnourished. I could try waiting the two weeks like one suggested, but is that too much time for him to go without eating? I've tried asking if he ate before being shipped to us, but am getting vague answers. Any ideas would be great or any opinions on force feeding. Thanks so very much!

Jay · 08-05-12, 05:55 PM

Don't force feed.

Do not attempt for another 2 weeks from today, make sure the prey is nice an hot. It's not rocket science.

Can you oust a current picture?

Becky Goings · 08-05-12, 07:18 PM

Snakes can go a long period of time without eating. Biggest thing is make sure the husbandry is correct, and it sounds like you're on the right path there. Next thing is no handling for a while. Cleaning is ok, just limit how long. Wait 2 weeks, then try again. No handling in the mean time. We try not to handle too much until several feedings have gone well.

thecrazycoop · 08-05-12, 08:35 PM

Everyone is a novice at some point. My son is 11 and the only experience we have is having a garter snake for 9 years and catching wild rubber boas. We just want to do the right thing. I am trying to post a photo and will do what you said about waiting as I'm assuming that he will be fine in the mean time. And again, I appreciate the help in any form I can get itO

)

mark24 · 08-05-12, 09:28 PM

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

Jay · 08-05-12, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark24

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

Great advice for a colubrid.

**Aaron_S** · 08-05-12, 11:03 PM

Your meal size is too small is my guess.

I'd go with a hopper mouse. I'd probably even feed it live to get it going. Then switch it to f/t.

**Aaron_S** · 08-05-12, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mark24

what you could try is cutting little pieces off a mouse so the scent is stronger hold in front of his face so he can smell it for a couple seconds then set it down he sould eat it. (i was having thee same problem with my bullsnake he wasnt eating for 2 months an i did that an eat it in a matter of seconds)

Awesome. I'm sure the mouse butcher in the wild makes a wicked lean filet cut for all the problematic snakes.

Personally, I just stick to whole prey, consistently offered.

I had a snake hatch out last year, it went about 3 months without a meal and it lived purely on the yolk it absorbed. I tried a few tricks and gave up and went back to the basics. Live hopper, every 5 days. She finally ate and is a great feeder now. Being consistent is key.

thecrazycoop · 08-06-12, 08:50 AM

I guess that is what I wanted to hear, how long is okay. Being that your snaked hatched and didn't eat for 3 months gives me some reassurance. I did try a live hopper but as you said, be consistent. We are in the waiting period again and I'm sure I'll be back on here shouting that he ate (just trying to stay positive.) Oh, and I did "brain" a hopper but I didn't cut pieces off. I could try that tooO

bcoop1234 · 08-08-12, 09:50 AM

I had the same issue with my new baby sunglow... I tried twice with a week in between but it did nothing. So i did the container trick.. found a piece of tupperware and poked some holes in it. I cut the head of the baby rat and put them both in there... I came back like 40 minutes later and the rat was gone... I have fed him twice since then and now he instantly snags the f/t baby rat right away.