Boa not eating - Page 3

thecrazycoop · 09-11-12, 01:20 PM

Originally we did outside, but then after I got advice, we switched to inside the cage. We also stopped handling him etc.

gareth.hooper · 09-11-12, 03:07 PM

Where are you sourcing your mice/rats from?
How are you presenting the food item to the snake? From hand, dropped inside and left, etc.

Perhaps a set of hemostats or similar will be a good investment.

thecrazycoop · 09-14-12, 10:05 AM

We get them from two different pet stores in the nearest "city." We thaw them (but we've also tried live twice) and then get run them under hot water to get the nice and toasty warm. We've tried leaving in the tank in a hidden, safe spot, hand feeding, using hemostats etc. Also tried putting him in a container with the food.

rmfsnakes32 · 09-14-12, 10:25 AM

I would wait 10 days to feed the next time since force feeding is stressfull for the snake and you just my opinion maybe someone would have some different advice!

lumpbump · 09-17-12, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terranaut

When I see threads like this I always wonder if snakes will starve themselves in the wild for no apparent reason. The answer is probably not. So why are so many people having trouble feeding their snakes? Or are they. Is it part of your snakes wild behavior to go months without food? Some adult carpets will only eat 4 meals a year in the wild. Or is something else wrong? Slightly wrong husbandry? Something is not right other than you having an anorexic snake. Now I am not "being cheeky" here or " having a go" at anyone , I am just trying to point out that some part of these non eating snakes care is not right. Keep looking at it until you find the root cause of not eating rather than stuff food into the snake. Again no offence intended. I just had to put that out there.

Stress or sickness will cause anything including humans to not eat

lumpbump · 09-17-12, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecrazycoop

No offense taken. I wondered the exact same thing. I asked people if the snake would die from lack of eating. If it would actually get to that point. I find that interesting as well. In the wild, it may happen and maybe it would just die. I don't have an actual answer but would love to know the facts. After talking to the breeder, who still seemed to think he "had to of eaten" but was rather vague, and a couple other breeders, the few said that they have about 1 out of 100 snakes that is a "problem feeder." Not sure. Our husbandry seems correct. I even bought an additional humidity gauge and thermometer to be on the safe side. So I now have two sets on one side and one set on the other. But I agree, something has to be off, just not sure what that is. ANd until we figure it out, I can't have him losing weight. I do hope this triggers his appetite. Thanks for the kind words as I do appreciate them. I feel like we did the right thing.

Bad breeder if he doesn't know for sure if the snakes he sells have or have not eaten. Even more so to sell a snake too young as to get rid of snakes before they know for certain they will eat, poop, pee, and shed with out problems is irresponsible. Sometimes snakes digestive systems are broken but they look healthy outside. I wouldn't buy a baby snake with out feeling comfortable. Lots of people breed em and also document things, feeding at a minimum to provide confidence in their stock. Birth date, date of feeding and what was fed, shed dates, poop/pee dates all go into my logs. I even go so much as to weigh feeders before feeding and once in a while tally up amount of food consumed and amount of weight gain in the snake. I usually weigh em after they shed and poop to try and be accurate.

lumpbump · 09-17-12, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecrazycoop

We get them from two different pet stores in the nearest "city." We thaw them (but we've also tried live twice) and then get run them under hot water to get the nice and toasty warm. We've tried leaving in the tank in a hidden, safe spot, hand feeding, using hemostats etc. Also tried putting him in a container with the food.

Be careful about "cooking" feeders. Boas aren't designed to digest "cooked" food. All of mine except the pickiest baby will take room temp thawed feeders. Roughly 80 degrees F. My 3 month old baby girl appears to like a heat signature. I have a laser temp gun I use to check temps. I will thaw her food then drop it in a glass of warm water. 90 degrees F give or take. Some tap water comes out real hot, hot enough to denature or "cook" meat.

SnakeyJay · 09-17-12, 10:30 AM

I'd like to point out that you assist fed your boa, not force fed... Force feeding is where you actually push the food down the snakes throat... Not a good idea unless you know how.

thecrazycoop · 09-18-12, 09:50 AM

Notes taken."Assist feed" sounds betterO

I realize now, not that it matters at this point in time, that our breeder was obviously not concerned for the wellfare of the snakes and was probably just doing it for money. Lesson learned for us. Thanks again for the info.

SnakeyJay · 09-18-12, 10:59 AM

Unfortunately there's always breeders like that out there and it's best not to do business with them.. However your doing your best and that's what matters.. Goodluck

lumpbump · 09-18-12, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakey-Jay-BRB

Unfortunately there's always breeders like that out there and it's best not to do business with them.. However your doing your best and that's what matters.. Goodluck

Yep. Keep it up. Go slow. Better to have a slow growing small snake than no snake at all.