Red-Tail Wont Eat

Chris Steele · 01-09-04, 05:01 PM

My 'new' red-tail won't eat. How can I get it to? Its been about a month since I got it and it hasn't ate anything.

AnniesMom · 01-09-04, 05:06 PM

Sorry to hear that Chris. My boy Jake hasn't eaten since the 10th of Dec, but he has been ill. Sometimes, they won't eat when you first get them until they are settled into thier new home. Be patient. If he is healthy, he should be ok for a while without eating, I think. Not too long though.

Invictus · 01-09-04, 05:19 PM

How about explaining to us first what you have tried already to get him to feed. I have a BCI that won't eat unless you leave the prey with her in a dark room overnight. Have you tried this?

BOAS_N_PYTHONS · 01-10-04, 12:54 AM

CHRIS STEELE:

Sorry to hear that dude.

Like INVICTUS said in this type of question with so many varibles it is best to indicate what you have tried and have not tried. This way people can help out much better without saying ideas you tried or can' t try. The clearer the question the better the answer.

If the overall health of the boa is perfect, then time will indicate the boa has stress or something is very different in its normal life and eating.

If the boa is a new addition to the collection then again with some calming and stress free period of time this boa will start eating.

If this boa is of mature age and breedable, nature says it might go off food because its naturalistic attitude is to find a mate.

If the overall care and cage of this boa has been changed or replaced or new to it completely then stress is a factor.

If boa is a new addition and you did not allow it enough time (about 2 weeks or so alone) then again it is stress of some sort.

If the boa has been tramatized in some form it may feel unsecure and again stress.

If its food is not like it was before your saw it eat or original owner was training it then that is a factor, although I find a healthy, stress free boa will eat anything. If you boa eats live and your feeding frozen thawed that is something to rethink or reteach.

All these factors come into play when caring for any animal.

Tricks to try if everything I said is in the positive with your boa is like INVICTUS said try a dark feeding time and situation with frozen thawed never live prey, turn off lights or place in a well ventulated paper bag.

Try heating up the food to 91 - 100F either with water or heat (I use a heat lamp) this is how I feed most of my boids to simulate prey was alive at the time of feeding. Or use live but have control over the situation with using tongs to hold prey from damaging your boa (teeth, claws and so on).

Try different times of the day and night in feeds to see best response and stick to it.

As you can see many things and tricks can be learned to make your boa be active and normal in a feeding.

And again if none of this is proper to your question, detail your question to obtain best result of an answer.

Cya...

Tony

Linds · 01-10-04, 04:24 PM

LOL... well I don't have too much to add to that! One thing that I'd like to ask though, is how are you keeping your snake (temps, setup, etc) and what is the snakes' history (imported baby, CBB adult, etc)?

Chris Steele · 01-11-04, 04:12 PM

ive tried mice and rats ft and live and i have left ft in overnight

temps are around 80 and its imported

nuno · 01-11-04, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Steele
ive tried mice and rats ft and live and i have left ft in overnight

temps are around 80 and its imported

80 isn't hot enough for a boa, Increase the temps. Most care sheets would explain that a "red tail" REQUIRES 85-92 in the basking spot and the rest of the cage 80-85proper temps are essential. Leave your boa alone with his food overnight and make sure the room is dark. NEVER leave live prey overnight.

what is imorted? the boa? That could be your answer.

Chris Steele · 01-11-04, 06:00 PM

Yes, the boa is imported. That probably is why it won't eat. Any suggestions on how to get it eating? Its basking spot is 90 right now.

nuno · 01-13-04, 12:31 AM

Is your boa wild caught?

nuno · 01-13-04, 12:52 AM

Do you know what kind of "red tail" you have?

zouleous · 01-13-04, 01:15 PM

Wild caught snakes can be very picky to get feeding. You haven't said what size the boa is. Is it just a baby? If so I would put him in a small container maybe the size of a shoebox but half the height. If he's bigger than a baby then you may have to adjust the size of the container accordingly. Put him in it overnight with a frozen thawed rodent once every 5-7 days until he eats. Don't attempt to feed too often. This worked for me when my baby hog wouldn't eat.

Make sure the container allows for a little ventilation and that the top is secure so you don't wake up in the morning to find a missing boa. You may want to keep the container locked in his cage so if he does get out he'll still be locked in his enclosure. Good Luck

Z

Chris Steele · 01-14-04, 04:28 PM

thanks, I will try that. How often do you leave the ft mouse in overnight?

cheekeebandito · 01-14-04, 09:31 PM

Hey Chris , my 9 yr old Columbian went off food for nearly 6 months. He looked healthy , and had just finished mating for about 2 months with my female. Anyway, I couldn't get him to eat anything. A local herp guy told me to try to feed him a ft Degu. He had some in his freezer. I thought "well, what the hell ? " He took it immediately, and has been back on his diet of ft rabbits ever since. The guy told me that there's something about Degus that they really go for................ Good luck ! Les