Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am new to boas. I have just got 1.1 baby Nicaraguans the first boas to convince me to stray from colubrids). However, they seem to not care for F/T mice (I have yet to try live mice). This has never been a problem for my colubrids. Does anyone have any tips for me on how to switch these guys to F/T mice. Thanks a lot

Hello, I purchased a pair if nicaraguans about a month ago. I am also trying to get them to eat f/t but I had to start them out on live pinkies. I wash the pinkies very good in warm water before I feed it to them. They are very reluctant to eat at first,but after a few times of feeding them by hand they will get used to you feeding them this way and then try to switch them over to f/t. I also buy live and freeze them myself that way you know they are fresh because if they have been frozen for a while, when you thaw them they will smell real bad and alot of times the snake will not touch it. Hope this helps.

Of different methods for switching to, or introducing frozen foods to your captives. None are fool proof, every snake is an individual. Here are a few that have worked for me. Of course before offering the food, thaw it. After thawing, I like to heat it with warm water, they tend to like warm prey items better than cold. Offering the food on tongs usually works best. Try not to disturb the snake too much. This is very important with shy/finicky eaters. I like to feed at night, this is when they are most active. Sometimes just dropping the food item in the enclosure is enough....leave it in there over night. If that doesn't work you can try wiggling it front of the snake. Some snakes respond to "teasing" where you sort of tickle the snakes tail, neck, or head with the prey item. This method will usually ellicit a strike out of the snake, and hopefully a wrap. If not, keep at it, they'll usually get so fed up with the teasing they'll try to KILL whatever is bugging them. And then more often then not they will eat it. But like I said, there are tons of ways to try. You have to figure out which is best for you and your particular snake. Hope this helps, and good luck.

"Some snakes respond to "teasing" where you sort of tickle the snakes tail, neck, or head with the prey item. This method will usually ellicit a strike out of the snake, and hopefully a wrap. If not, keep at it, they'll usually get so fed up with the teasing they'll try to KILL whatever is bugging them."

Yes, some snakes do respond to teasing, but when they don't, it's not always a good idea to try to pester them with the prey item. Sometimes, they're scared of it and they're trying to get away and all you're doing is making it worse and putting off feeding for a LOOOOOOOOOOOOONG time to come. They may permanently associate that smell with danger/pestering. So, yes, it does work, but be cautious.
jb
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Jonathan Brady
My Kingsnake Photo Gallery