Help a new RTB owner

scurrie2000 · 09-23-04, 03:17 PM

Hello, I just got a new red-tailed boa on 9/11. Contrary to the pet store's recommendation I fed it two days after on 9/13 and it jumped all over the mouse. Since then, he has not been active at all and started moving around a lot less. I know that they need a few days on the hot side to help digesting, but he is still a lot less active. He does move when I spray mist the enclosure. One other perplexing this is that I looked all over his enclosure and couldn't find the feces for the mouse anywhere. Could there have been something wrong with the frozen (heated up of course) mouse? I tried feeding him again yesterday (9/21) but he wouldn't eat again because his eyes are white. I'm assuming that it is because he is in shed. Basically, the reason for my worry is that I had a similar experience with a ball python last year that ultimately died after behaving similarly (i.e. eating right away, then becoming somewhat lethargic and reclusive, then ultimately me coming home to find him spread out straight and dead with his mouth wide open). I'm just inexperienced, but love my snake that I have only owned for a small time and dont want to do anything wrong so I stress over anything that could even remotely be a sign of any problem.

Other info: Temperature hovers around 80 most of the time, heated by undertank heater on the left side, mulch substrate, hide and water on cold side, humidity stays around 40-50 most of the time (sprayed down at least 2x per day + a humidifier going in room to make sure it is at a decent level)

Thanks for any help you guys can offer to the worrywart that I am and just out of curiousity does anyone know what possibly could have been the problem with my ball python?

UPDATE 9/23:
I'm not sure how old he is. I just know he is a baby. He's only about a foot long. Are they usually active when they shed - he has been sitting in the same spot for the last three days and I only see him move when I mist the terrarium. It looks like his eyes have cleared up, but there is no shed skin anywhere.

Linds · 09-23-04, 03:46 PM

Both when they are digesting and when they are in shed, snakes will become significantly reclusive, so I wouldn't be at all concerned by that. However your temps need to be straightened out a bit (or at least the way you measure them). What is the temp on the warm side? UTH can easily get too hot and burn snakes when not controlled properly by a dimmer or thermostat. 80 is a good ambient temperature, but how are you measuring it? Those stick on thermometers suck, and only measure the ambient temperature of where it was stuck at. What is important are the actual surface temperatures where your snake hangs out. The best way to find these are with either a temp gun or digital thermometer with a remote probe. I give all my boas a gradient of 80 to ~95 degrees and find they do well. As for the matter of the missing feces, that too is normal. Boas can eat several meals without defecating in between, and they are rarely ever constipated. If they are, it is typically because they become impacted with foreign debris. They also clear up before they shed as well. He should shed within the next several days

Anyways, good luck with your new little guy, hopefully it works out better than your Ball Python.

TexasAggie04 · 09-24-04, 08:51 AM

Snakes don't tend to move around a lot, so you might be just seeing normal behavior. It is a treat to me when I walk by an enclosure and see one of mine milling about.

Also, you will not see shed skin RIGHT after their eyes clear up. It will be a day or a few before he actually sheds, so don't worry about not seeing skin.

bistrobob85 · 09-25-04, 12:14 AM

Well i would FIRST make sure that your temps are good, because if your snake first ate and then doesnt want to feed again, it might be that it's kept too cold... I keep my boa constrictor with a cold spot at 81-82 and a hot spot at around 92-93 degrees. He has always been a never ending feeding machine, thats why i schedule my feedings to keep him healthy!!! Its possible that you lost your ball python due to the exact same reason that your snake isnt doing well at the moment... Make sure your temps are good...