Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Does anyone have any other ideas to get an adult boa to eat? We've tried stunned, killed, f/t, and we've tried cutting open the rats stomach to no success. Any advice is appreciated.
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0.1 Het Albino
1.0 DH-Sunglow

well how long has it been since it ate? sometimes snakes will go on a fast of sorts. if the snake in question has good size then i wouldnt worry about it. however, a few things to think of are...

1. temps: having too high of heat/humidity will spoil just about any animal's appetite.

2. internal parasites:having these can give an animal quite an appetite but after awhile will leave an animal too weak to eat.

3. constipation: what goes in must come out. however, sometimes things have a hard time coming out so any extra company is not wanted.

4. privacy: if you are feeding p/k or f/t, then you may want to try feeding at night (snakes are nocturnal)in a dark room. just drop the prey in the tank, cover (the tank) with a blanket, turn off the lights...and leave. come back the next morning to check on it. hopefully the snake will have eaten.

hope this helps.
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1.1.0 Colombian Redtail Boas (normals)
2.1.0 Sumatran Blood Pythons (normals)
1.0 Black Blood Python (normal)
1.0 Dumeril's Boa (normal)
0.1 Coastal Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Jungle Carpet Python (normal)
0.1 Surinam Redtail Boa (normal)

Temperatures that are too low will also spoil a snake's appetite. Does the snake have a hiding box? Privacy doesn't just mean darkness; it also means a nice, tight-fitting refuge to retreat into.

Paul Hollander

Oh, yes; dehydration may also kill a snake's appetite. Has it gotten a good drink since you got it? Letting it sit in a plastic box with an inch or so of water in it for half an hour may help it get a good drink.

Paul Hollander

Shes a bit on the thin side for her size, she was like that since we've bought her and we haven't had any luck fattening her up yet. The heat ranges from 80 to 92. She has a hide box, but she doesn't like to use it, and she has a big tub to soak in, and does so often. Hopefully she'll eat for us soon!
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0.1 Het Albino
1.0 DH-Sunglow

A few questions first. Are you feeding live, f/t, or prekilled or stunned? Are you feeding rats (if not get some because most prefer rats)? What did the previous owner get this animal to eat? Is she wild caught? How did the previous owner feed her? Has she ever eaten for you? How long have you had her and how long since she has eaten? You can see if the snake is constipated because they will look bloated neat the vent. Does she look bloated there? You said she doesn't like her hide box, what kind do you have? She might want a different hide, and this is very important. If she can't feel comfortable in her hide she will be a stressed snake, and that could be your problem too. Get 2 new hide boxes, small enough so that she can touch the sides when she's in there. If that still doesn't work make opaque humidity bins, make two of those and put them one on each side, alongside the hides. Some snakes prefer the humidity bin to anything else.

Do you have a hot spot above the temps you mentioned? It is way more likly the cage is too cold than too hot too, because being too cold slows the metabolism of boas and is a more common mistake. Your temps sound ok on the surface but you failed to tell us exactly what those temps mean. You said the temps range from 80-92, is that on the warm side? You should tell us the following 5 temps. The high and low on the warm side, the high and low on the cool side and the temp of the basking spot. If you do that we can help you better. Here's some more suggestions:

*make a basking spot
*try different colored rats, black and white, all black, or albino
*if you're feeding F/T you can try dryer or wetter rodents, warmer or less warm rodents, this really works
*try feeding in a paper bag, this is the old school way but many still do it, and maybe that is what she's used to
*try feeding a few minutes after the lights go off, just dump the f/t (or prekilled) rodent, and leave the room
*dangle the prey, this helps a boa to 'see' the prey, and this really works for reluctant f/t eaters
*if all else fails try a different prey animal. Try a chicken from a farm (not the grocery store), or try an appropriate sized rabbit. Sometimes, especially is w/c, they might like different prey altogether.
*take a fecal sample to the vet to rule out parasites

That's all I can think of besides what the others have said. I look forward to your answers, and If all else fails, take her to the vet.

Good luck,
Caden

A few questions first. Are you feeding live, f/t, or prekilled or stunned? Are you feeding rats (if not get some because most prefer rats)? What did the previous owner get this animal to eat? Is she wild caught? How did the previous owner feed her? Has she ever eaten for you? How long have you had her and how long since she has eaten? You can see if the snake is constipated because they will look bloated neat the vent. Does she look bloated there? You said she doesn't like her hide box, what kind do you have? She might want a different hide, and this is very important. If she can't feel comfortable in her hide she will be a stressed snake, and that could be your problem too. Get 2 new hide boxes, small enough so that she can touch the sides when she's in there. If that still doesn't work make opaque humidity bins, make two of those and put them one on each side, alongside the hides. Some snakes prefer the humidity bin to anything else.

We got her in april, and she has eaten once for us (a live, albino rat... since you mentioned, that was the only albino we had, may have to buy and try another). The people who had her before us fed live and stunned, and the people who had her before him fed f/t and dangled it with tongs, but the most previous owner had no success with that. She was produced by Kahl in 96', so not wild caught. She hasn't eaten in about 4 weeks, but readily ate her first meal 5 days after we recieved her, then shed right after. She's not constipated, she deficated about a week and a half after her last meal. Right now her hide is the top cover of a large litter box (we couldn't find a regular hide large enough for her). Next week her new cage is coming in, a boaphile hide combo (hoping she'll like the hide in that better). She has 80 degrees on her cool side, 85-88 in the rest of the cage, and a 92 basking spot. Thanks a lot for the advice, we'll definately try those out!.
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0.1 Het Albino
1.0 DH-Sunglow

Try raising the ambient air temp up to 90 and the basking spot up to 95. That and a white rat might be all you need, but still, just get tupperware or any plastic tubs and melt or cut out entry holes and make the right sized hides for both sides, and you can do the same to make humidity bins too. It's worth the time and effort it takes to make the right hides first, and if that still isn't allowing for a secure feeling try bins too.

Good luck,
Caden