Baby boa not eating

Guy234 · 06-01-20, 02:53 PM

Excuse me but recently I have gotten a baby red tail boa, a little more than a week ago to be exact. Though I’ve have him and offered him a lot of food, he seems very frightened by the food. He moves around the enclosure a lot also like he’s hunting. I’ve put my finger up to the glass and his tong flickers very fast and he almost chases it, but as soon as the top comes off he gets very frightened. I’ve held it in from of his face and his tongue starts going, but as soon as he gets close enough and smells it he just backs down. The only time he ever took the food was like 3-4 days after I got him. He tools it in his mouth but I made a mistake and tried to put the lid back on and he got scared and let go. I’m not sure if he’s ever eaten before as I bought him offline from underground reptiles. I’ve tried braining the mouse, leaving it in there over night, and even chicken broth, nothing has worked. The hot side of his 20 gallon is around 90 degrees and I spray it twice a day. Please give me any ideas. Oh and one more thing I haven’t tried feeding him every day so I don’t stress him out too much, and I covered all sides of his enclosure except the front. Please help.

phenyx · 06-01-20, 06:35 PM

He's still settling into his new surroundings and getting used to his new environment and he needs time. Give him a full week with no handling or putting fingers on the glass before you try to feed him again. You shouldn't be feeding him more than once a week anyway.

craigafrechette · 06-02-20, 08:08 AM

A) you're stressing the crap outta your poor snake.

B) you're stressing the crap outta your poor snake

C) be consistent

D) you'll need to tell us more

A) offering too often can stress the snake and lead to further refusals.

B) things like moving your finger along the glass is NOT helping. You want to leave him alone to acclimate, not stress him further.

C) you're all over the place with your offerings. Stick to what he was already eating at the store. Braining is basically a myth that I honestly don't know how is still around. Chicken broth is an absolute last resort. But just stick to one type of prey offered the same way every time.

D) tell us about your setup:

What are your temps? How are you measuring temps?
Are your heat sources REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT?

What size enclosure?
Are at least two appropriately sized hides offered?

Are you handling the snake?
(NO HANDLING until he's eating consistently without refusal)

How are you heating the prey?

The more you tell us the better we can help.

Guy234 · 06-03-20, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigafrechette

A) you're stressing the crap outta your poor snake.

B) you're stressing the crap outta your poor snake

C) be consistent

D) you'll need to tell us more

A) offering too often can stress the snake and lead to further refusals.

B) things like moving your finger along the glass is NOT helping. You want to leave him alone to acclimate, not stress him further.

C) you're all over the place with your offerings. Stick to what he was already eating at the store. Braining is basically a myth that I honestly don't know how is still around. Chicken broth is an absolute last resort. But just stick to one type of prey offered the same way every time.

D) tell us about your setup:

What are your temps? How are you measuring temps?
Are your heat sources REGULATED BY A THERMOSTAT?

What size enclosure?
Are at least two appropriately sized hides offered?

Are you handling the snake?
(NO HANDLING until he's eating consistently without refusal)

How are you heating the prey?

The more you tell us the better we can help.

Yeah I realized now I stressed it like hell, I’ve been leaving him alone for a while and I’m gonna do it for like a week before I try to feed again. And alright I’ll try offering the same way everytime I just looked up and saw a bunch of different things and tried them all at once, I know realize this was a mistake. As for his setup, he is in a 20 long, he was two hides(one on each side) his temps are around 90-95 degrees on the warm side. I’m heating the enclosure with a heat emmitter on the top and a under tank heating pad. Unfortunately I have not been using a thermostat but have since ordered one. I have not handled the snake as I am aware I shouldn’t until he is eating regularly and I’m heating his prey in warm water. I believe the fuzzie is a good size since it is no bigger than the biggest part of his body.