Jason:

Have you reviewed Ryan Hoyer's web site? On the Rosy, Rubber, Sand Boa forum, I provided input to an individual that recently found a Rubber Boa in Idaho which may be of some help.



That being said, as a whole, the species is somewhat fickle with respect to feeding. During my field reacher effort this spring, I returned with more boas than I really wish to care for during the summer until I return to release them in the fall.

Of the 38 boas acquired this spring, there are still 7 specmens that have yet to take a meal.



Last year, a female from the Scodie Mts. in S. Calif. produced a litter of 5. Four of those juveniles have now take meals but there is one that still has yet to take a meal. In 11 months since birth, it has gone from 5.7g to 4.6g, a loss of 19.3% of its original weight yet is still in reasonable conditions. If it does not take prey by late Oct., I will try again beginning next mid March when I remove specimens from brumation.



On the flip side of the coin, a juvenile boa found this past 5/25 northwest of Bishop, Calif. in Mono County takes prey items just about every time offered.



If one is patient and maintains their Rubber Boa at relatively cool temperatures, eventually almost all boas with begin to take prey voluntarily. The major problem as I see it is that many herp keepers maintain their specimens at artifically high temperatures and if their snakes refused food for a considerable length of time, the snake rapidly uses up all body reserves and wastes away.



Richard F. Hoyer

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